NCEA Level 3 Science General
Course Description
Teacher in Charge: Zev Fishman.
You will be assessed against multiple Achievement Standards, contextualised within relevant socio-scientific issues, such as ocean acidification and Kauri dieback.
Three or four of the contexts offered need to be completed over the course of the year, depending on their credit value.
You will need to consider the number of credits and course endorsement when choosing which contexts you wish to study, however conversations with your teacher will help you make those decisions.
Course Overview
Term 1
Following a trip to Stardome, students will be studying how planets are formed, comparing the inner and outer planets. This learning will then be used to complete their first Internal Assessment (AS91415 - Internal, 4 credits).
Term 2
Students will learn about nuclear power as part of their progress towards their second Internal Assessment (AS91527 - Internal, 3 credits) before completing a biology investigation as part of their final Internal Assessment (AS91601 - Internal, 4 credits).
Term 3
Following a trip to Kelly Tarlton's, students will be studying for their External Assessment (AS91413 - External, 4 credits) about Ocean Systems - Ocean Composition, Ocean Circulation and the Carbon Cycle.
Term 4
This term is about exam preparation and course completion. How this looks will depend on student needs, however students are expected to be working towards completing their NCEA certification.
Recommended Prior Learning
You should have gained at least 12 credits from any Level 2 Science course, including 4 from external standards.
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
This course is eligible for subject endorsement.
This course is approved for University Entrance.
External
NZQA Info
Chemistry 3.3 - Demonstrate understanding of chemical processes in the world around us
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Earth and Space Science 3.2 - Investigate a socio-scientific issue in an Earth and Space Science context
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Earth and Space Science 3.3 - Investigate the evidence related to dating geological event(s)
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Earth and Space Science 3.6 - Investigate an aspect of astronomy
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Biology 3.2 - Integrate biological knowledge to develop an informed response to a socio-scientific issue
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Biology 3.4 - Demonstrate understanding of how an animal maintains a stable internal environment
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Biology 3.6 - Demonstrate understanding of trends in human evolution
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Biology 3.7 - Demonstrate understanding of human manipulations of genetic transfer and its biological implications
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Education for Sustainability 3.2 - Evaluate measures that may be taken to sustain and/or improve a biophysical environment
Approved subject for University Entrance
Number of credits that can be used for overall endorsement: 32
Only students engaged in learning and achievement derived from Te Marautanga o Aotearoa are eligible to be awarded these subjects as part of the requirement for 14 credits in each of three subjects.
Pathway Tags
Agricultural/Horticultural Scientist, Pathologist, Zoologist, Chemist, Marine Biologist, Microbiologist, Biochemist, Biotechnologist, Science Technician, Meteorologist, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Forensic Scientist, Geologist, Environmental Scientist, Food Technologist, Forestry Scientist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Geospatial Specialist, Epidemiologist,
Disclaimer
Course availability is dependent on numbers and staffing, and course entry cannot be confirmed until the beginning of the 2025 school year.