1. The examination guidelines for all National Senior Certificate (NSC) subjects were issued in 2009.

2. In 2010, amendments were made to the Mathematics and Physical Sciences examination guidelines, and these accompanied Assessment Management Minute 0006/2010.

3. In response to concerns raised by teachers, a few amendments have been made this year to the examination guidelines for Design, Computer Applications Technology, Consumer Studies, Music and Civil Technology.

4. Design
There is a need to specify the criteria for marking "the process and the preparation" for LO 1 of the Practical Assessment Task (PAT). The attached guideline provides the criteria for marking both the PAT and the Design practical examination.
(See attached Annexure A: Amendments to the Examination Guideline for Design NSC 2011)

5. Computer Applications Technology
The Learning Programme Guidelines of 2008 refers to 'new technology' in the Content Framework. The examination guideline of 2009 refers broadly to 'new technology' and stipulates that out-dated technology will no longer be examined. It is, however, not clear to teachers which new technology will be examined. There is a need to specify what constitutes new technology, which is examinable, and out-dated technology, which will no longer be examined.
(See attached Annexure B: Elimination of the existing confusion)

6. Consumer Studies
Detail has now been included in the current Consumer Studies examination guidelines so that the scope and depth of the content to be assessed is clear to teachers and learners.
(See attached Annexure C: Detailed guideline for Consumer Studies replaces the previous one of 2009)

7. Music
The total marks for the two Music papers have reverted to those stipulated in the Subject Assessment Guideline document of 2008, viz. Paper 1:125 marks, Papers 2:33 marks. The total mark for the Performance examination is 142.

8. Civil Technology
The examination guidelines of 2009 did not stipulate the spread of cognitive levels. The weighting of cognitive levels for the Civil Technology question papers will be as follows:

  • Lower-order questions: 30%
  • Middle-order questions: 50%
  • Higher-order questions: 20%
9. If required, schools that offer the above subjects may call upon the relevant WCED officials to clarify these amendments to the teachers concerned.


SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT
DATE: 2011:06:22

Annexure A: Design Examination guidelines  (size: 76 KB)
Annexure B: New and relevant technologies that may not be specifically listed in the content framework of the LPG  (size: 24 KB)
Annexure C1: Consumer Studies Examination guidelines  (size: 99 KB)
Annexure C2: Management of the consumer role  (size: 114 KB)