Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91079 about?

Accepted Answer

This standard is about building a working electronic system (like a circuit board with components) and writing the software code that makes it run. You need to construct the hardware properly, write code that actually works, and test everything to make sure it does what it's supposed to do.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91079?

Accepted Answer

1. Build a functional electronic circuit on a PCB or breadboard by soldering components together according to a circuit design 2. Write and debug embedded software code that controls your electronic system and follows a logical structure 3. Test your complete system (both hardware and software) to check it meets the specifications you were given 4. Follow safe workshop practices while constructing and testing your system

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91079?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You build a working electronic system with soldered components and write code that runs without major errors, testing both to check they meet the basic requirements. Merit: You skilfully construct a system with reliable, well-soldered connections and write clearly annotated code with a logical structure, with reliable testing showing everything works as specified. Excellence: You efficiently build a system with optimised layout and secure connections, write code that is logical, efficient and well-annotated, and demonstrate thorough testing that everything works reliably and meets all specifications.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91079?

Accepted Answer

1. Poor soldering quality or unreliable connections that cause the circuit to fail intermittently or completely 2. Writing code without clear structure, comments, or annotations that make it hard to understand what the programme does 3. Insufficient testing and debugging — not checking thoroughly that the final system actually meets all the specifications you were given

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