About

How it works

There are no fancy tricks other than a little HTML, CSS and Javascript. Tara Iti creates exam questions for AS91164: Structure, Bonding and Energy Changes for Level 2 Chemistry. The layouts and pool of possible molecules are inspired from about 15 years of external assessment. The end result is at least one billion possible permutations for each archetype of exam question - each output has a different layout or a slight variation. Tara Iti also calculates a suggested answer and presents it as something which resembles an assessment schedule.

The intention of this resource is to:

• Provide a sandbox environment to empower students to overcome any anxieties and uncertainties they may hold around this particular exam,
• Demonstrate that while an exam question may vary in appearance, its suggested responses do not change that much,
• Empower teachers to create and modify their own assessments,
• Encourage kaiako to reflect on how NCEA’s narrower assessment focus compares with the broader, lifeworthy purpose of science education — particularly in light of growing Anthropocene-era priorities — and to support positive changes to the science education system in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Encourage other teachers to join Empower KEA to create and share resources as a means of addressing the inequities in education,
• Draw attention to the conservation status of this bird (see below).

Tara Iti - The Fairy Tern

Tara Iti is the rarest bird in Aotearoa. It is extremely vulnerable to predation by introduced pest species and the threat of severe weather events. As it nests in coastal areas its population has also suffered from habitat loss due to human activities. Its conservation status is "Nationally Critical", and there are only about 40 of these birds left.

I have chosen to name this resource after the bird "Tara Iti" to draw attention to its nationally critical status; you have billions of practice questions at your fingertips while this bird has less than a dozen breeding pairs remaining. This resource has also been published to encourage you to vote in the annual NZ Bird of the Year Competition.

Students and kaiako might also be interested in Tauhou.

Lian Soh

At the time of writing, Lian Soh is in his 9th year of science and chemistry teaching and 14th year working in science education. He has a background in chemistry, computer science and all the technical and creative aspects of instructional design - especially content creation. Lian is also a regional representative for the New Zealand Association of Science Educators, Secondary Chemistry Educators NZ in the Bay of Plenty and Community Support for Empower KEA. Lian has also established Bay Science, an independent teachers association for science educators in the Bay of Plenty.

In 2023, Lian was also nominated and named a Kudos Finalist in the Science Educator and University of Waikato Vision Mātauranga award categories. In 2025 he co-presented a knowledge-systems webinar with Rosemary Hipkins and Pauline Waiti hosted by the Science Learning Hub.

Licensing

Tara Iti © 2025 by Lian Soh - Pāpāmoa College Science Learning Area (a Ministry of Education New Zealand school) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

The background image of a Tara Iti has been licensed via Adobe Stock and must not be reused or modified.