Work samples


Year 9

Above satisfactory

Chemical change

Summary of task

Prior to the sample task, students were introduced to the atomic model and the ways in which this could be used to explain chemical structures and processes. They had investigated a variety of chemical reactions and classified them as endothermic or exothermic, linking this to energy transfers and transformations.

In this task, students were asked to research how chemical changes impact on society and develop a report suitable for a general public audience. Students were given two weeks to complete the task outside of class time.

Achievement standard

By the end of Year 9, students explain chemical processes and natural radioactivity in terms of atoms and energy transfers and describe examples of important chemical reactions. They describe models of energy transfer and apply these to explain phenomena. They explain global features and events in terms of geological processes and timescales. They analyse how biological systems function and respond to external changes with reference to interdependencies, energy transfers and flows of matter. They describe social and technological factors that have influenced scientific developments and predict how future applications of science and technology may affect people’s lives.

Students design questions that can be investigated using a range of inquiry skills. They design methods that include the control and accurate measurement of variables and systematic collection of data and describe how they considered ethics and safety. They analyse trends in data, identify relationships between variables and reveal inconsistencies in results. They analyse their methods and the quality of their data, and explain specific actions to improve the quality of their evidence. They evaluate others’ methods and explanations from a scientific perspective and use appropriate language and representations when communicating their findings and ideas to specific audiences.

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