Memorandum to Schools 118/2008
14 December 2008
VCE PHYSICS EXAMINATION 1
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has rescored one question in the June 2008 VCE Physics Unit 3 examination. Consequently, a small proportion of students have a higher total mark for this examination than was originally reported to schools through VASS in August 2008.
This rescoring is the result of Question 3 in the detailed study Einstein’s Relativity being reassessed. A number of Physics experts have debated this question without reaching a consensus. The VCAA has determined that the question should not be used for differentiating student performance on the examination. Consequently, all students who attempted this question will receive full marks for the question.
For a number of students this will have the effect of increasing their final score and might also result in an increased grade. This change has been included in results issued in December 2008.
Affected students have been notified of the change and sent a Statement of Marks. The majority of Physics students, including some who undertook this detailed study in Physics, are unaffected. No student’s results have been lowered by this rescoring.
If you have any questions about this matter, you should contact the VCAA on Ph 9225 2349.
