How to Strengthen CAFS Responses for Band 5 and 6 Success

How to Strengthen CAFS Responses for Band 5 and 6 Success

Are your CAFS students stuck in Band 3 or 4? You are not alone. This episode unpacks what separates strong Band 5 and 6 responses and how to teach those skills with confidence, drawing on 16 years of HSC marking and mentoring across PDHPE, Health and Movement Science and Community and Family Studies.

Why students are stuck at a Band 4 in CAFS

Most Community and Family Studies students know content, but lose crucial marks. They miss the Glossary of Key Word, rely on generic examples, write without clear structure and forget to link to wellbeing in the Option Part C. These gaps push otherwise capable students back into the middle.

What Band 5 & 6 CAFS students do differently

High achieving Community and Family Studies students show thorough knowledge and understanding of the CAFS content. They apply the Glossary of Key Words accurately, plan before they write, use a clear paragraph structure such as PEEL, embed SUAVE examples that stand out and link all Option Part C paragraphs to aspects of wellbeing. The change is not about working harder. It is about writing with intent.

How to teach the shift

Start by teaching the Glossary of Key Words like real skills. Demonstrate what assess, analyse and evaluate look like on the page using sentence starters and scaffolds. Choose one common structure across your faculty so students hear the same language and receive consistent feedback. Use SUAVE examples that are specific, unique, applied, varied and explicit. In Option Part C, add a final sentence in each paragraph that ties the idea to physical, social, emotional, economic, cultural or spiritual wellbeing where appropriate.

Things to try this week

Begin lessons with a two minute check for understanding. Convert one typical Band 4 paragraph by adding the verb, one SUAVE example and explicit knowledge of CAFS. Break down each question using RUN FAR so students get ideas out of their heads and onto the page with focus.

If you would like to watch the full live webinar recording that this episode is based on, you can view it here: www.thelearnnet.com/successcafs

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Listen to the full podcast episode here:
www.thelearnnet.com/156