Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91602 about?

Accepted Answer

This standard asks you to pick a real-world issue that involves biology and society (like vaccination, plastic pollution, or genetic engineering) and develop your own informed position on it using solid biological knowledge. You'll explain your position, suggest practical actions people could take, and justify your choices by examining the biology, weighing different viewpoints, and evaluating the quality of information sources.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91602?

Accepted Answer

1. Select and apply relevant biological knowledge (concepts, processes, and implications) to address a socio-scientific issue 2. Develop and clearly present your own personal position on the issue 3. Propose specific, realistic action(s) that could be taken at personal and/or societal level 4. Explain the reasoning behind your chosen position and proposed actions 5. Evaluate the biological evidence and sources by considering their validity, currency, peer-review status, and potential bias

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91602?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You integrate biological knowledge and present a personal position with proposed actions, showing you understand the issue. Merit: You integrate biological knowledge and explain why your chosen position and actions make sense, demonstrating reasoned thinking about the issue. Excellence: You integrate biological knowledge and justify your position and actions by analyzing and evaluating the biological evidence, weighing competing implications, and critically assessing the reliability and bias of your sources.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91602?

Accepted Answer

1. Presenting a position without using sufficient or relevant biological knowledge to back it up—the biology must actually support your argument, not just be mentioned in passing 2. Proposing actions that are vague or unrealistic rather than specific and actually achievable at personal or societal level 3. Failing to evaluate the quality and limitations of sources—simply citing information without questioning its peer-review status, currency, or potential bias

Socio-scientific issues

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