Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91191 about?

Accepted Answer

This standard asks you to explain what causes extreme Earth events in New Zealand—specifically earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. You need to describe what these events are and explain how they happen by linking them to processes in the Earth's crust, oceans, and atmosphere. Since New Zealand sits on plate boundaries, these events happen frequently here and are a key part of understanding how the planet works.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91191?

Accepted Answer

1. Describe the characteristics and basic features of extreme Earth events (earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis)—for example, what happens during each event and what we observe 2. Explain how magma forms in volcanic areas, why it has different compositions, and why some volcanoes are steep versus gentle 3. Explain how earthquake energy is generated by plate movement, how it travels through the Earth, and why some earthquakes cause more damage than others 4. Explain how earthquakes or volcanic activity under the ocean create tsunamis and how tsunami waves behave differently in deep water versus shallow water 5. Link your explanations to Earth processes happening in the geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere—show how these spheres connect and influence each other

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91191?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You demonstrate basic understanding by describing what happens during extreme Earth events (what magma does, how earthquakes release energy, how tsunamis move) and identifying the main processes involved. Merit: You explain how different geological processes link together—for example, how density differences cause magma to rise, how earthquake depth affects energy distribution, or how seafloor uplift connects to tsunami generation. Excellence: You explain comprehensively how interconnected processes across the Earth's systems work together, showing deep understanding—for example, explaining how silica composition of magma links to volcano shape, how earthquake energy relates to both depth and distance from epicentre, and how seafloor friction changes tsunami wave behaviour.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91191?

Accepted Answer

1. Confusing hotspot volcanism with subduction zone volcanism, or not identifying the correct tectonic plates and their movements in New Zealand's context 2. Making generic statements about magma or processes instead of explaining the specific mechanisms—for example, just saying 'magma rises' without explaining why or how density is involved 3. Not reading the question carefully enough and replicating memorised model answers from past papers instead of adapting your explanation to the specific scenario being asked

Extreme Earth events

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