The ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) requires teachers of Year 11 and 12 classes to participate in system wide moderation of student work twice each year. Moderation is a valuable process which provides teachers the opportunity to ensure assessment across the ACT meets the underlying principles of being fair, equitable, transparent, rigorous, valid, reliable, timely and reviewed regularly.
Due to Moderation Day 1, Tuesday 2 March will be a student free day for all students of the College, except for Year 11 and 12 students who are completing a Tertiary Package and are intending to receive a University entrance score (ATAR). These students are required to attend the College to participate in ACT Scaling Test (AST) Trials as detailed below.
Date: Tuesday 2 March
Venue: Brother Wallace Hall
Test Details:
| Time | Year 11 | Time | Year 12 |
| 8 .45am – 11.25am | Multiple Choice Test | 8 .45am – 10.55am | Short Response Test |
| Leave | 10.55am – 12.00pm | Lunch (not provided) – students can leave campus | |
| 12.00pm – 2.40pm | Writing Test |
Students in Years 4-10 and those Year 11 and 12 not completing the AST trial will not be required to attend the College and are encouraged to allocate some time towards home study, organisation or assessments.
In preparing for Year 11 and 12 studies, students completing Tertiary (T) courses have also been presented information regarding BSSS expectations and processes. For many, this is a whole new set of information and language around life as a senior student which they should familiarize themselves with. These presentations can be found on Canvas in the Elevated Learning pages and via the BSSS website, specifically the Policies and Procedures Manual.
To assist in the preparation of the AST, Mr Benjamin Jelfs-Smith, an Old Boy of St Edmunds now studying at the ANU has offered to run preparation sessions for Year 11 or 12 students. These sessions will focus on the different types of questions the AST presents and strategies to answer them. Sessions will run weekly beginning on Friday 26 February at 8.00am in room 306. Thank you to Mr Jelfs-Smith for his willingness to volunteer his time to this program between his study and work commitments in Diverse Learning at the College, it is greatly appreciated.
For questions regarding Moderation, study packages or the AST students are encouraged to speak with Mr Bibbens or myself in the Teaching and Learning Office.
Dale Argall
Teaching and Learning Coordinator