Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91280 about?

Accepted Answer

This standard asks you to plan and carry out your own investigation into a social issue or question that matters to you. You'll gather information from different sources, listen to what different people think about it, and then think carefully about what you've learned and whether your inquiry process could have been better. It's about being curious, critical, and reflective about a real social topic.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91280?

Accepted Answer

1. Develop clear questions that focus your inquiry into a social issue, topic, or conflict you're interested in 2. Gather information and background ideas from multiple sources to understand the topic thoroughly 3. Describe the different points of view, values, and perspectives that people hold about your topic 4. Reflect on and evaluate what you've learned, including whether your sources are reliable and what gaps remain in your understanding 5. Consider how your inquiry process could have been improved or done differently

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91280?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You conduct a social inquiry by developing questions, gathering information, describing different viewpoints and values, and reflecting on what you've learned. Merit: You go deeper by explaining why people hold different viewpoints and values, and you show more thorough reflection on your sources' reliability and what your inquiry process revealed. Excellence: You make justified generalisations that go beyond your specific case study—showing how your findings could apply to similar situations or broader contexts, and demonstrating sophisticated reflection on your inquiry's strengths and limitations.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91280?

Accepted Answer

1. Only describing viewpoints without explaining why people hold them or what values underpin those viewpoints—you need to dig into the reasons behind different perspectives 2. Not reflecting critically on your own inquiry process, sources, or remaining gaps in understanding—reflection isn't just summarising what you found 3. Staying only in your specific case study without making any connections or generalisations to the broader context—Excellence requires you to show how your learning applies beyond the narrow topic

Social inquiry

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