Assessment and exam practice.

Try this with Outdoor Leadership

1. Check the task format, time limit and permitted materials with your school.
2. Start with one timed section or task and record where you spent the most time.
3. Review errors before attempting another section. Separate missing knowledge from timing problems.

View Outdoor Leadership resources on ATARMAXXING ↗

Practice paper focus areas

• Exam 1 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Day three of a Frenchmans Cap walk: a swollen creek crossing, a tired group split over waiting or crossing; apply and compare two theories (given scenario).; Section B (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 3): attributes for an anxious first-time abseiler; hard, soft and metaskills on a windy sea-kayak day; DECIDE model for a route choice; SMART individual goals; reflection through journals; Section C (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow at the first campsite; Tuckman storming on a canoe trip; two conflict techniques compared; semantic noise and overload in a briefing
• Exam 2 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Candidate's own scenario (may be the IOLP): compare two contrasting theories and the different consequences each produces.; Section B (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 3): sources of leadership power; equity versus equality on a mixed-ability trip; experience-based judgement in deteriorating weather; risk rating and a minimisation strategy; Section C (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 5): group, task and individual needs on a caving day; channels of communication underground; Tuckman forming stage techniques; avoidance versus collaboration over tent groups; facilitation and active listening
• Exam 3 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Rafting a grade-3 section of the Derwent: a participant freezes in an eddy and the group loses confidence; apply situational leadership and one other theory.; Section B (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 3): core competencies: stewardship, safety and technical ability; naturalistic decision making; solo/isolation as reflection; preventing emergencies on a river; Section C (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow and a cold, wet participant; two-way communication with transactional feedback; Tuckman norming; compromise and competition compared
• Exam 4 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Cycling the Blue Derby trails: a mechanical failure and a participant injury late in the day; compare transactional and transformational leadership.; Section B (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 3): leader attributes for at-risk young people; group goals and the leader's review of goals; the rational decision-making model; AAAS and supervision ratios; reflection through dyads; Section C (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 5): needs of a group versus needs of the task; conflict over pace on a ride; external noise on a windy trailhead; Tuckman performing; overload in a bike-maintenance briefing
• Exam 5 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): A winter snow trip on the Ben Lomond plateau: whiteout approaching and disagreement about returning; apply COLT and the leadership continuum.; Section B (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 3): hard and soft skills defined and contrasted; equity issues for a participant with a disability; creative decision making; the purpose of risk analysis and management plans; Section C (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/12/8 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow's physiological and safety needs in snow; Tuckman storming to norming; collaboration as a conflict technique; visual and tactile communication in wind
• Exam 6 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Sea kayaking the Freycinet coast: a sudden north-westerly and a participant who will not paddle on; compare two theories from a supplied list.; Section B (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 3): attributes and their importance (four attributes); experience-based judgement; individual equity and access to leadership roles; reflection through photographs and drawings; risk management briefing; Section C (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow and belonging on a multiday paddle; semantic noise with technical paddling terms; two conflict techniques with benefits and disadvantages; Tuckman techniques for two stages
• Exam 7 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Caving at Mole Creek: a torch fails and a claustrophobic participant panics; apply servant leadership and situational leadership.; Section B (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 3): hard, soft and metaskills in a cave rescue; decision making versus problem solving; SMART group goal; emergency evacuation planning; isolation/solo reflection; Section C (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 5): needs and safety in confined spaces; tactile communication; Tuckman forming; accommodation versus competition; facilitation skills in a debrief
• Exam 8 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Candidate's own scenario: describe strengths and weaknesses of two contrasting theories and the consequences of each.; Section B (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 3): sources of power on an outdoor trip; equity and gender in leadership roles; the DECIDE model; AAAS and DECYP off-campus planning; Section C (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/12/8 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow with two contrasting participants; communication barriers at sending and receiving ends; conflict over continuing to the planned campsite; Tuckman stages and goals
• Exam 9 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): A three-day Overland Track section: a participant's blistered feet and a group divided over a side trip up Cradle Mountain; compare COLT and transformational leadership.; Section B (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 3): attributes for managing a reluctant participant; goal setting importance; reflection techniques and why they matter; risk management and group safety; experience-based judgement; Section C (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow at the start of a multiday walk; two-way communication; less appropriate conflict techniques; semantic noise; Tuckman transforming
• Exam 10 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Rock climbing at the Organ Pipes: a dropped belay device and a nervous participant at height; apply the leadership continuum and contingency leadership.; Section B (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 3): hard, soft, meta skills; naturalistic and rational decision making compared; equity and age; preventing emergencies through planning; Section C (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow and esteem; Tuckman storming on a climbing day; collaboration and avoidance; barriers to communication at a crag
• Exam 11 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Surfing at Clifton Beach: rising swell, a rip, and two over-confident participants; compare situational and transactional leadership.; Section B (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 3): leader attributes for a large group; SMART goals in a beginner surf lesson; creative decision making; risk rating; reflection via group discussion; Section C (6 compulsory questions, 6/6/6/6/8/8 marks, Criterion 5): individual and group needs at the beach; auditory and visual signals in surf; Tuckman forming; compromise over who surfs first; overload in safety instructions; active listening when a participant is anxious
• Exam 12 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): A Walls of Jerusalem walk in mid-March: late afternoon, a tired group wants to stop early against the plan; apply two theories of your choice.; Section B (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 3): core competencies; equity in leadership; experience-based judgement; reflection through logs; risk minimisation; Section C (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow and fatigue; conflict at the campsite; communication channels; Tuckman techniques
• Exam 13 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Flat-water canoeing on the Huon River with a school group: an unexpected squall and an inexperienced co-leader; compare COLT and servant leadership.; Section B (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 3): the role of a leader (five functions); SMART group goals; DECIDE model; AAAS for paddling; Section C (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow at lunch; Tuckman norming; conflict over canoe partners; one-way communication in an emergency
• Exam 14 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Candidate's own scenario, which may be the IOLP: describe and evaluate two recognised theories and their strengths and limitations.; Section B (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 3): attributes for therapeutic goals with young people; two decision-making models; equity and disadvantage; risk management strategy; reflection through activity sheets; Section C (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 5): individual, group and task needs; Tuckman stages and leadership style; conflict positives and negatives; barriers to communication; listening skills
• Exam 15 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Abseiling at a quarry: a participant refuses at the edge and the group grows impatient; apply transformational and situational leadership.; Section B (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 3): attributes to manage a refusal; hard and soft skills; experience-based judgement; AAAS and operating procedures; Section C (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow and safety needs at height; conflict between participants; semantic noise in rope terminology; Tuckman forming to storming; facilitation skills when the group is impatient
• Exam 16 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): A Maria Island cycle-and-walk: an injured participant and a ferry deadline; compare COLT and the leadership continuum.; Section B (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 3): equity and inclusive practice; goal setting for individuals; reflection by dyads; risk analysis; rational decision making; Section C (6 compulsory questions, 6/6/6/6/8/8 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow and belonging; Tuckman performing; collaboration; barriers to communication on a windy island; two-way feedback; task needs versus group needs under a deadline
• Exam 17 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Sailing a dinghy fleet on the Tamar estuary: a capsize and a rising wind; apply transactional and feminist leadership.; Section B (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 3): metaskills defined; decision making under pressure; goal setting; emergency procedures; Section C (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow and the cold; communication on water; conflict over crew roles; Tuckman storming
• Exam 18 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Multi-day packrafting in the south-west: low cloud, a navigation error and a group losing trust; apply two contrasting theories.; Section B (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 3): attributes and trust; experience-based judgement; equity in leadership roles; risk management; reflection; Section C (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/12/8 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow and safety; Tuckman storming; conflict techniques compared; external and internal noise
• Exam 19 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): A day walk on kunanyi / Mount Wellington with a mixed-age community group: a sudden temperature drop and a slow walker; compare situational and servant leadership.; Section B (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 3): equity and age; attributes; SMART goals; DECIDE model; reflection; Section C (5 compulsory questions, 8/8/8/8/8 marks, Criterion 5): individual and group needs; Tuckman forming; conflict over pace; communication channels; overload
• Exam 20 — Section A (Criteria 2 and 8): Candidate's own scenario: apply two leadership theories, compare similarities and differences, and evaluate outcomes.; Section B (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 3): sources of power; core competencies; decision making and problem solving; AAAS; Section C (4 compulsory questions, 10/10/10/10 marks, Criterion 5): Maslow; Tuckman; conflict; communication barriers