The External Assessment Specification Guidelines

The External Assessment Specifications Guidelines were developed to inform the preparation and development of External Assessment Specifications (EAS) to ensure a consistent approach in the structure and design of written exams for TASC accredited Level 3 and 4 courses. The guidelines promote a consistent approach to the writing of future External Assessment Specifications (EAS) as well as providing guidance to update the current EAS.

External Assessment Specifications Advisory Panel (EASAP)

The 2023 External Assessment Specifications Advisory Panel (EASAP) met on Wednesday 1 March to discuss recommended amendments to External Assessment Specifications (EAS). Please read the External Assessment Specifications (linked below and on the relevant course page) carefully and contact TASC if you require any further information.

External Assessment Specifications Advisory Panel convened – minor changes to the External Assessment Specifications required:

  • AAP315116 Australia in Asia and the Pacific
    Section A Response Type has been changed from “Short Essay Response” to: Responses to this section will be in the form of an extended written response. Students must use structured paragraphs and sentences and responses must be written in a logical, coherent manner, using specialised terminology and appropriate English grammar. Students must provide clear and reasoned arguments supported by examples.
    Australia in Asia and the Pacific AAP315116 – External Assessment Specifications

  • BHP315116 Psychology
    IP topic rotation has been updated.
    Psychology BHP315116 – External Assessment Specifications

  • BHS315116 Sociology
    Removal of references to the 2016 exam papers in the EAS as they are no longer available. TASC provides the last five years of exam materials on the website.
    Sociology BHS315116 – External Assessment Specifications

  • BST315116 Business Studies
    Section C has been updated; there will be only ONE stimulus material and students will respond to ONE question related to the stimulus material.
    Business Studies BST315116 – External Assessment Specifications

  • CHN315114 Chinese
    An addition to the EAS for guidance around multiple choice questions – questions must only have ONE correct answer. If students mark more than one answer, no marks can be awarded for the question.
    The marks for exemplar questions have been removed on the EAS as the mark allocations are not relevant.
    Spoken texts (single and dual) have been updated to reflect correct specifications – two single-person texts and two dual-person texts.
    Chinese CHN315114 – External Assessment Specifications

  • CGD315118 Computer Graphics and Design
    TRACS folio upload limit has been updated from 100 megabytes to 500 megabytes.
    Computer Graphics and Design CDG315118 – External Assessment Specifications

  • EAL315120 English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD)
    An addition to the EAS for guidance around multiple choice questions – questions must only have ONE correct answer. If students mark more than one answer, no marks can be awarded for the question.
    The marks for exemplar questions have been removed on the EAS as the mark allocations are not relevant.
    Section C structure reworded for clarity – texts must be of equal complexity.
    Section C – inclusion of a list of possible text types that are suitable for Section C – advertisements, webpages/websites, posters, brochures/flyers. Additional wording in Section C has been drawn directly from the EALD course document.
    EALD EAL315120 – External Assessment Specifications

  • ESS315118 Environmental Science
    Added “where possible” to the end of “Questions will be arranged in order of difficulty”.
    Environmental Science ESS315118 – External Assessment Specifications

  • FRN315114 French
    An addition to the EAS for guidance around multiple choice questions – questions must only have ONE correct answer. If students mark more than one answer, no marks can be awarded for the question.
    The marks for exemplar questions have been removed on the EAS as the mark allocations are not relevant.
    Spoken texts (single and dual) have been updated to reflect correct specifications – two single-person texts and two dual-person texts.
    French FRN315114 – External Assessment Specifications

  • GRM315114 German
    An addition to the EAS for guidance around multiple choice questions – questions must only have ONE correct answer. If students mark more than one answer, no marks can be awarded for the question.
    The marks for exemplar questions have been removed on the EAS as the mark allocations are not relevant.
    Spoken texts (single and dual) have been updated to reflect correct specifications – two single-person texts and two dual-person texts.
    German GRM315114 – External Assessment Specifications

  • HSM315117 Modern History
    The dates in Section A – Modern Western Nations in the 20th Century were incorrect on the EAS. They have been updated as follows: USA: the earlier period will relate to 1917 – 1932; the later period will relate to 1933 – 1945.
    Modern History HSM315117 – External Assessment Specifications

  • ITN315114 Italian
    An addition to the EAS for guidance around multiple choice questions – questions must only have ONE correct answer. If students mark more than one answer, no marks can be awarded for the question.
    The marks for exemplar questions have been removed on the EAS as the mark allocations are not relevant.
    Spoken texts (single and dual) have been updated to reflect correct specifications – two single-person texts and two dual-person texts.
    Italian ITN315114 – External Assessment Specifications

  • JPN315114 Japanese
    An addition to the EAS for guidance around multiple choice questions – questions must only have ONE correct answer. If students mark more than one answer, no marks can be awarded for the question.
    The marks for exemplar questions have been removed on the EAS as the mark allocations are not relevant.
    Spoken texts (single and dual) have been updated to reflect correct specifications – two single-person texts and two dual-person texts.
    Japanese JPN315114 – External Assessment Specifications

  • MED315117 Media Production
    The option has been included to submit folios via TRACS as a ZIP file, no larger than 500 megabytes.
    Media Production MED315117 – External Assessment Specifications

  • MTG315123 General Mathematics
    The Information Sheet is now available.
    The EAS have been updated. Criterion 3 is now assessed in Sections A, B and C only. Sections A, B and C will take students approximately 48 minutes to respond to and will be allocated 48 marks. Section D will take students approximately 36 minutes to respond to and will be allocated 36 marks. Section D is divided into 2 parts and students will choose to respond to either Part 1, or Part 2.
    General Mathematics MTG315123 – External Assessment Specifications

  • PHY415115 Physics
    Amended Criterion 7 to match the course document as it was missing the word ‘general’; identify and apply general principles of wave motion.
    Physics PHY415115 – External Assessment Specifications

  • PSC315118 Physical Sciences
    Added “where possible” to the end of “Questions will be arranged in order of difficulty”.
    Physical Sciences PSC315118 – External Assessment Specifications

  • SDD315120 Drama
    Section B – changed “Experimental Drama” to “Documentary Drama” to align with course documents.
    The 2022 COVID considerations have been removed and the specifications will now return to standard. However, the consideration that past students (from the previous year) may fill in for absent students will remain indefinitely.
    Drama SDD315120 – External Assessment Specifications

  • SDP15120 Theatre Performance
    The consideration that past students (from the previous year) may fill in for absent students will remain indefinitely.
    The Coverpage Proforma has been updated to include Word Count.
    Theatre Performance SDP315120 – External Assessment Specifications

  • All Mathematics courses
    All EAS for Maths courses have had a minor amendment for approved materials, from “a TASC approved calculator” to “TASC approved calculators”.


    Information Sheets:
  • BIO315116 Biology
    Changes for greater clarification to the Information Sheet.
    “Cell Respiration” – updated for clarity.
    “Prokaryotic Cells” – definition has been updated.
    “Exchange of materials” – updated for clarity.
    “Evolution” (previously “Selection and Speciation”) – updated for clarity.
    “Plant Defences” removed as this is historical and not in the course document.
    Biology BIO315116 – Information Sheet