The sample assessment activities exemplify a broad range of strategies teachers employ to obtain information about their students' skills and understandings, and range from asking questions during a lesson to giving a formal standardised assessment. The activities reflect the Principles of Assessment and the assessment strategies outlined in the Ways of Assessing section in each Phase 2 and 3 syllabus.

A sample marking key has been provided with many of the tasks. These keys vary in their format according to the years of schooling and the assessment strategy, and should be developed by teachers at the same time the assessment activity is being developed. The summative marking keys are detailed and can be used at the end of a teaching cycle to provide additional evidence for reporting purposes. The marking keys:

• help to ensure a consistent interpretation of the criteria that guide the teacher's judgement
• provide the basis for feedback to students, and
• enable the fair and valid ranking of student achievement.

The assessment activity and marking key formats are not prescriptive.