1. VCE Extended Investigation

2. Features of the study No pre-requisite Units 3 and 4 sequence only
no discipline-specific prescribed content
student directed
Extended Investigation Journal
lodgement of research question
Critical thinking

3. Extended Investigation Journal
Required for satisfactory completion of
Units 3 and 4 – student responsibility
record & monitor progress of research, milestones & timelines, record of b/ground readings
bibliography
mentor involvement
Maintained over duration of study
For authentication purposes, usage must be monitored by supervising teacher
Subject to VCAA audit

4. Research question Mandated criteria for design of the question
lodgement of proposed research question through VASS
date will be published annually
VCAA intervention if there is duplication with any other VCE study, whole group submissions, recycling of questions…….

5. Pedagogy
Unit 3
Peer discussion, sharing, group activities about research skills, critical thinking exercises
Unit 4
Independent preparation, writing of investigation; independent preparation of oral presentation

6. Role of the supervising teacher
Prepare students for undertaking research through practical exercises in critical thinking
guide
support
monitor
supervise and authenticate

7. VCE rules apply
VCAA Administrative Handbook rules for school-based assessment
No undue assistance:
Administrative information: Students section
Rules of authentication:
Scored assessment: School-based Assessment section
No drafts – annotated or otherwise by teachers or mentors:

8. Authentication Extended Investigation Journal
Submission of research question
Critical Thinking Test
Oral defence
Authentication declaration

9. Audit Unit 3 – School-assessed Coursework
Unit 4 – Extended Investigation Journal

10. Vigilance research ethics
robustness and integrity of research question
duplication of VCE content
authentication

11. Assessment: S/N judgements
Unit 3
Outcome 1 Research question
Outcome 2 Research plan and oral report
Outcome 3 Practical exercises in critical thinking
Unit 4
Outcome 1 Written report submission
Outcome 2 Oral presentation at school, (not scored) prior to external assessment

12. Assessment for study score: Unit 3
Outcome 1 Research question
Outcome 2 Research plan and oral report
School-assessed Coursework for Unit 3 contributes 30 per cent to the study score.

13. Validity and reliability
Mandated assessment criteria and performance descriptors for Outcome 1 and 2 in Unit 3
Performance descriptors on a 10 point scale
Critical Thinking Test
Externally assessed Task (EAT)
Specified conditions of assessment for orals

14. VCAA website study page
Study design
Advice for teachers
Unit 4 marking rubrics
Resources list
Sample/past Critical Thinking Tests
Assessment reports

15. VCE Extended Investigation
Externally assessed Task (EAT)

16. Externally assessed Task
Two discrete but connected components:
Written Report
Oral Presentation

17. Unit 4: Assessment
Unit 4 Externally assessed Task (EAT) = 60% of study score Outcomes Assessment Tasks
1. Complete a written report for a non-specialist audience that presents and evaluates the results of the extended investigation
Written report
(4000 words) marks
2. Explain the investigation and defend research findings in a presentation to a non-specialist audience.
Oral presentation including response to panel questions
(15–20 mins) marks

18. Unit 4 Assessment for levels of performance
Marking rubric for written report
Marking rubric for oral presentation
10 point scale

19. Externally assessed Task Written Report
Written report including:
final research question
4,000 words with 10% tolerance
a word abstract
body (development/methods/results)
conclusion/evaluation
bibliography/reference list
appendices (if applicable).
Submit to VCAA via SFTP in pdf format

20. Written Report Assessment
Submitted in September
Teachers mark and submit initial mark to VCAA
Report independently double marked at the VCAA
Discrepancy marking where necessary
Teacher initial mark can be referenced for resolving unexpected, i.e., anomalous, external assessment outcomes

21. Oral Presentation
Students assessed by two non- specialist assessors representing a general audience
Assessors will have access to the abstract and written report
Oral presentation 7-10 minutes
Response to panel questions 8-10 minutes

22. Oral Presentation Speaker notes are permitted
Presentation software may be used
No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) or props (e.g. laboratory equipment, costumes, scientific models or simulations) are permitted
Timetable coordinated by VCAA
MP3 voice recording
Discrepancy marking from recording if required
Assessors may confer but must submit independent, confidential scores
conducted at venues organised by the VCAA

23. Timing of assessments Unit 4 Written report
Student submission to school mid Sept
Electronic submission of tasks
& initial teacher score to VCAA early October
Oral presentation
First three weeks of October – simultaneous with Language orals and performance exams

24. Extended Investigation – Assessment
The Critical Thinking Test and Externally Assessed Task (which are both double marked) provide an external reference score which forms the basis of the external assessment scale
Statistical moderation is applied to GA1 (Unit 3 SACs)
The GAT will be used where it improves the reliability of the alignment of the internal and external assessment scales
Normal quality assurance processes would apply - these include the identification of groups where the internal and external assessment scales have a low correlation