Critical and Creative Thinking Report Comments, Years 9-10 (Australia)
Critical and Creative Thinking, a general capability in the Australian Curriculum v9, covers asking probing questions, generating and developing ideas and solutions, analysing information, evaluating evidence, and explaining and reflecting on reasoning.
Below are 13 sample sentences for Years 9-10: two strengths and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Consistently / Usually / Sometimes / Rarely), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 173 critical and creative thinking sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.
Jump to: Consistently · Usually · Sometimes · Rarely · Writing tips
Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Consistently C
Strengths
- As a peer support leader, [Name] models clear reasoning and encourages younger students to explain how they reached their answers.
- [Name] evaluates evidence independently and recognises when a claim needs more support before it can be accepted.
Next step
- A useful extension for [Name] would be an independent investigation in an elective, planned, tested and evaluated with minimal guidance.
Usually U
Strengths
- In extended responses and exam answers, [Name] mostly builds a logical argument and explains how each piece of evidence supports [his/her/their] point.
- [Name] generally compares different points of view fairly before forming an opinion of [his/her/their] own.
Next step
- Before exams, [he/she/they] could practise explaining tricky concepts aloud, which would sharpen [his/her/their] reasoning under pressure.
Sometimes S
Strengths
- In longer elective projects, [Name] sometimes settles on a solution quickly and is learning to test and refine ideas before finishing.
- At times, [Name] draws sensible conclusions from information, though [he/she/they] could look more closely at all the evidence first.
Next step
- In [his/her/their] electives, [he/she/they] could try a bolder or more original approach to projects and reflect on how it turned out.
Rarely R
Strengths
- Paragraph planning sheets are supporting [Name] to build a short, logical argument in extended responses and exam answers.
- When given a sentence starter, [Name] can link a piece of evidence to an idea and explain the connection briefly.
Next step
- For larger assessment tasks, [Name] could meet with the teacher at set points to check that evidence supports each main point.
Support at home
- You could talk with your child about a claim seen online and look together at how to tell whether it is trustworthy.
How to write critical and creative thinking comments for Years 9-10
- In Years 9 and 10, focus on evaluating evidence: checking the reliability of a source, weighing two viewpoints, or noticing when data does not support a claim. Name the habit rather than the subject content.
- Credit independent investigation, like following up a question beyond the task or testing more than one solution. For students at the top of the scale, an extension such as a research project or competition is a natural next step.
- Reflection matters more as tasks grow. Note whether the student can explain what they would do differently on the next task, and suggest a short written reflection after each major assessment task.
Watch out: Avoid mistaking correct answers for strong thinking. A student can recall content accurately without analysing it, and another can reason well despite errors, so describe the questioning and reasoning, not the result.
Let frequency words carry the rating. Consistently suits reliably, independently or without being asked; Usually suits generally or with few reminders; Sometimes suits at times or when prompted. For Rarely, describe what is emerging and the support that helps, such as weekly check-ins with the year adviser. Show the behaviour you saw rather than restating the rating.
What Critical and Creative Thinking covers
In these comments, critical and creative thinking covers these behaviours:
- asks probing questions and investigates ideas
- generates and develops creative ideas and solutions
- analyses information and evaluates evidence
- reflects on thinking and explains reasoning
More Australian secondary comments
- Effort and Engagement, Years 9-10
- Organisation and Work Completion, Years 9-10
- Independent Learning, Years 9-10
- Critical and Creative Thinking, Years 7-8
- Collaboration and Communication, Years 9-10
- Respect and Responsibility, Years 9-10
- Self-Management and Resilience, Years 9-10
- Opening and closing sentences
- All Australian secondary skills and grade bands
- Build a comment with the comment picker
How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.