Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91374 about?

Accepted Answer

This standard asks you to show you understand how electronics work in real-world systems. You need to describe how electronic components do their jobs, explain why certain components are chosen for particular functions, and discuss how changes to circuits affect their performance. It's about understanding the "why" behind electronics design, not just knowing what components do.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91374?

Accepted Answer

1. Describe how advanced electronic concepts work, such as power management, voltage, heat dissipation, and how components like resistors and capacitors function in circuits 2. Explain the purpose of specific components in circuits and how their values or properties affect how the circuit behaves 3. Discuss how multiple factors in a circuit interact—such as resistance, temperature, power supply limits—and what happens when you change them 4. Compare different component choices and explain which would be better for solving different electronic problems 5. Use calculations and real examples (like resistor values in LED circuits or timing circuits) to back up your explanations

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91374?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You describe how electronic components work and give examples of how they're used in circuits (e.g., what a resistor does to voltage). Merit: You explain how and why components are used in specific ways, and show how changing component values affects circuit behavior (e.g., calculating resistor values for an LED circuit). Excellence: You discuss how multiple factors interact in a circuit, compare different component options for the same job, and explain the real-world trade-offs and consequences of design choices (e.g., how temperature affects resistance and motor performance).

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91374?

Accepted Answer

1. Providing descriptions without explaining the 'why'—students list what components do without explaining how changes to values or conditions affect the overall system 2. Not making connections between concepts—treating power, heat, timing, and signal concepts as separate ideas instead of showing how they interact in real circuits 3. Avoiding calculations or specific numerical examples—staying too general instead of working through actual resistor values, power ratings, or time constants to show understanding

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