π§ͺ𧬠Year 11 Science β NCEA Level 1 Learner's Guide
Chemistry and Biology (ChemBio) Β· Standards 1.1β1.4 Β· Spotlight on CB 1.4
4 Achievement Standards
20 credits total
CB 1.4 deep dive + practice
What's changed at Year 11: under NCEA Level 1, science is taught through a single subject called
Chemistry and Biology (it replaced separate Level 1 Biology, Chemistry, and Science subjects).
It weaves together the Living World (biology) and Material World (chemistry)
strands of the curriculum across four Achievement Standards worth up to 20 credits β 1.1 and 1.2 are internally
assessed, 1.3 and 1.4 are externally assessed by exam.
π The Four Standards
1.1
βΌ
Microorganism and the environment
AS92020 Β· Biology (Living World) Β· Internal Β· 5 credits
Purpose
- Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between a microorganism and its environment β how a life process (e.g. nutrient uptake, excretion, replication) is affected by an abiotic or biotic factor, and how the microorganism affects that factor in turn.
Achievement criteria
| Achieved | Describe the relationship between a microorganism and the environment. |
|---|---|
| Merit | Explain the relationship between a microorganism and the environment. |
| Excellence | Analyse the relationship between a microorganism and the environment. |
Example contexts
Bacteria in a compost heap
Virus infecting the human body
Wetland/pond ecosystem
Food production (yoghurt, cheese, rΔwena)
1.2
βΌ
Chemical reactions in context
AS92021 Β· Chemistry (Material World) Β· Internal Β· 6 credits
Purpose
- Demonstrate understanding of chemical reactions occurring beyond the laboratory, describing reactants and products with equations, and linking reactions to conservation of mass.
Achievement criteria
| Achieved | Describe chemical reactions in context. |
|---|---|
| Merit | Explain chemical reactions in context. |
| Excellence | Interpret chemical reactions in context (discuss implications of conservation of mass). |
Reaction types covered
Neutralisation
Combustion
Precipitation
Combination
Decomposition
1.3
βΌ
Genetic variation
AS92022 Β· Biology (Living World) Β· External (exam) Β· 5 credits
Purpose
- Demonstrate understanding of genetic variation in relation to an identified characteristic (trait), including how variation arises (e.g. mutation, sexual reproduction) and how gene tracking methodologies are used to identify genetic relationships.
Achievement criteria
| Achieved | Describe genetic variation in relation to an identified characteristic. |
|---|---|
| Merit | Explain genetic variation in relation to an identified characteristic. |
| Excellence | Evaluate findings from tracking genetic variation. |
Example contexts
Conservation of endangered species
Forensics
Tracking inherited conditions
Origins of foods
β Spotlight: CB 1.4 β Physical Properties of Materials
This is the standard you asked about. Full breakdown, study notes, and resources below β expanded by default.
1.4
βΌ
How the physical properties of materials inform their use
AS92023 Β· Chemistry (Material World) Β· External (exam) Β· 4 credits
Purpose
- Demonstrate understanding of how the physical properties of materials inform their use, by linking observable, macroscopic properties to the underlying arrangement of particles and the strength of attractive forces between them.
Achievement criteria
| Achieved | Describe β describe the use of materials with reference to physical properties; describe the physical properties of materials with reference to particle arrangement and the relative strength of attractive forces between particles. |
|---|---|
| Merit | Explain β explain the physical properties and use of materials in relation to particle arrangement and the relative strength of attractive forces between them. |
| Excellence | Evaluate β evaluate how materials will behave when used, by linking physical properties to particle arrangement and the relative strength of attractive forces. |
Types of materials (5)
Molecular substances β water, iodine
Metallic solids β lead pipe, magnesium alloy, copper wire
Ionic materials β nitrate fertiliser, salt
Natural/synthetic polymers β DNA, proteins, non-stick coatings
Covalent networks β diamond, graphite
Physical properties examinable (5)
Density
Thermal & electrical conductivity
Melting & boiling points
Solubility in water
Malleability & hardness
Particles referenced (4)
Atoms
Ions
Molecules
Electrons
Study notes β how each property links to structure
ConductivityIonic solids don't conduct because ions are fixed in place β but molten or dissolved, the ions become mobile and can carry charge. Metals and graphite conduct because they have free-moving (delocalised) electrons.
Melting & boiling pointsExplained by the relative strength of attraction between particles and their arrangement β no need to quantify the forces, just compare them.
SolubilityA substance dissolves when the attractive forces between solvent and solute particles are stronger than the forces holding the solute's own particles together, breaking those bonds.
Density & malleabilityIn metals, atoms are closely packed and can slide past each other without breaking bonds, because mobile electrons keep providing the attractive force as atoms move β this is why metals bend rather than shatter.
PolymersLong chains of monomers joined by strong covalent bonds along the chain, but with much weaker forces between separate chains β giving properties like flexibility, non-conductivity, and mouldability.
Exam tips
- You do not need to quantify attractive forces β just compare their relative strength (e.g. "stronger than," "weaker than").
- Use correct chemistry vocabulary, symbols, and names/formulae for higher grades β Merit and Excellence answers should read like a chemist's explanation, not just a description.
- Always link the property back to particle arrangement and attractive force strength β that link is what examiners are grading.
- Practice explaining conduction, change of state, solubility, and malleability/density in your own words using a real material each time.
Practice questions drawn from the CB 1.4 achievement standard (physical properties of materials), plus a handful
of general questions on the other three standards. Filter below, answer, then check your score.
0 / 0 answered
0 / 0
Official Ministry of Education and NZQA resources. The CB 1.4 links below take you straight to the standard,
past exam papers, exemplars, and assessment schedules.
CB 1.4 β Physical properties of materials (AS92023)
π
Official standard page (Purpose, Achievement Criteria, Explanatory Notes)
NCEA Education β full unpacking of the standard, teaching guidance, and possible contexts.
ncea.education.govt.nz/science/chemistry-and-biology/1/4 β
ποΈ
AS92023 external assessment resource hub
NZQA's central page for all past exam papers, assessment schedules, and exemplars for this standard.
nzqa.govt.nz β AS92023 resources β
π
2025 exam paper
The most recent official NZQA exam paper for AS92023 β great for exam-format practice.
2025 AS92023 exam paper (PDF) β
β
2024 assessment schedule
Shows exactly what markers looked for at Achieved, Merit, and Excellence in the 2024 exam.
2024 AS92023 assessment schedule (PDF) β
π
2024 exemplar β Merit-level response
A real (anonymised) student answer showing what Merit-level work looks like.
2024 AS92023 Merit exemplar (PDF) β
Other CB standards
π§«
CB 1.1 exemplars hub
Annotated student work examples for the microorganism/environment standard.
NZQA ChemBio past exams & exemplars β
βοΈ
CB 1.2 expected student responses (Achieved / Merit / Excellence)
Sample responses for chemical reactions in context, showing the standard expected at each grade.
CB 1.2 Excellence exemplar (PDF) β
π§¬
AS92022 (CB 1.3) external assessment resource hub
Past papers, schedules, and exemplars for the genetic variation standard.
nzqa.govt.nz β AS92022 resources β
Whole-subject resources
π«
Chemistry and Biology subject page (NCEA Education)
Big Ideas, key competencies, learning matrix, sample course outlines, and pathways.
ncea.education.govt.nz/science/chemistry-and-biology β
π«
NZQA subject page β Chemistry and Biology
NZQA's official subject page with links to every standard and its resources.
nzqa.govt.nz β Chemistry and Biology β
π¬
SCENZ (NZ Institute of Chemistry) & BEANZ (Biology Educators)
Subject associations offering extra teaching and revision resources.
nzic.org.nz/scenz β
Β·
beanz.org.nz β