Understanding assessment tasks
Use the following points as a checklist to help you to meet the requirements of your next assessment task.
Setting aside a little time to understand your task requirements early in the trimester can actually save you a lot of time, and stress, later on.
Juanita Custance, Language and Learning Adviser
Read the assessment question carefully
- Note: some assessment tasks have multiple parts and additional instructions.
Understand the scope
- What length is required? What level of complexity?
- What type of response is required? e.g. an essay, a report or a presentation?
- Are there any additional tasks you must undertake to complete the assessment?
- How does this assessment relate to the weekly topics and learning outcomes of the unit?
Check the rubric
- Where are most of the marks allocated in the rubric?
- Consider why these areas are important for this task.
Identify the task words
- Task words are important because they indicate the types of investigation and writing required.
- Are you being asked to analyse, compare, discuss, describe, reflect, or critically review?
Identify the topic and focus
- Look for the broad content words: What is the main subject matter?
- Check for detail: Are there specific questions or subtopics you are being asked address or limit yourself to?
- Narrow your focus: What is most important for you to focus on? It is impossible to include everything about a topic within the word limit.
Learn more about identifying task, content and limiting words (PDF, 187.8KB)
Make a plan
Now that you have reviewed the assessment task and rubric and identified what to focus on:
- What are the next steps and how much time do you have to complete them?
- Keep in mind you will need to make time for research, reading, planning, writing and reviewing your assessment. Use Deakin’s assessment planner to create an individualised plan.
- Get further tips on planning and drafting your assessment.
In summary
- It is essential to fully understand your assessment task well before you begin writing.
- Review your assessment rubric, and the unit weekly topics and readings.
- Stay in scope by noting the task type, as well as the task, content and limiting words.
- Start early and define your focus before making a plan.
