LEVEL 3 SUBJECTS

YEAR 13

ENTRY TO ALL COURSES IS BY APPLICATION

The following factors will be taken into account when applications are processed:

• Course prerequisites.

• Applicant’s academic record.

• Class capacity.

• Applicant’s work and study, and self-management record.

CLASS CAPACITY

Where there are more applications for places in a class than there are places available, students will receive preference who meet the course prerequisites, have a strong achievement record in the subject, have a sound work and study record, and have a sound self-management record.

APPLICANT'S WORK, STUDY AND SELF-MANAGEMENT RECORD

If an applicant’s record of achievement, application, and attitude in a subject in the past has been poor, and if that applicant’s being permitted entry to a limited entry course were to mean the exclusion of a student with a more positive record, then the applicant with the poorer record is unlikely to gain entry to the subject. Entry to all courses is confirmed at the beginning of the next school year.

At Darfield High School, there is a general rule that students whose NCEA Level 2 grades in a subject are Achieved or better will normally do a full Year 13 course.

Students who do not meet this standard will need to discuss their options with their Dean. The possible results will be:

• a full Year 13 course, or

• a full Year 12 course, or

• a multilevel course

DISCRETIONARY ENTRY

Applications are considered by the Curriculum Manager, the Dean of Year Level, and either the Head of Department or the Teacher with Responsibility for the Subject. Entry to all courses is confirmed at the beginning of the next school year.

SELECTING YOUR COURSE

The range of subjects from which Year 13 students can choose is wide. All courses are approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and give students the opportunity to continue to study subjects that interest them, and to continue receiving a well-balanced education.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following qualifications are available:

NCEA LEVEL 3

A student must achieve EIGHTY (80) credits made up of SIXTY (60) credits at Level 3 or higher, and TWENTY (20) credits at Level 2 or higher, to be awarded NCEA Level 3. Students must also have met the literacy and numeracy requirements from Level 1.

However, any student intending to enter University will need to familiarise themselves with University Entrance (UE) requirements.

UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE (UE)

You qualify for entrance to a university in New Zealand if you have obtained:

• NCEA Level 3.

• FOURTEEN (14) credits at Level 3 or higher in each of THREE (3) approved UE subjects.

• TEN (10) credits in Literacy at Level 2 or higher in approved Achievement Standards, where FIVE (5) credits will be from Reading and FIVE (5) credits will be from Writing.

• TEN (10) credits in Numeracy at Level 1 or higher.

NEW ZEALAND SCHOLARSHIP

• Students in a secondary school have the opportunity to win a New Zealand Scholarship.

• Scholarship is a monetary award to recognise top students. It neither attracts credits nor contributes towards a qualification, but the fact that a student has gained a Scholarship will appear on their Record of Learning.

• The content assessed for Scholarship will be the same as that covered for Level 3 Achievement Standards.

• Scholarship will enable students to be assessed against challenging standards and will be demanding for the most able students in each subject. Scholarship students will again be expected to demonstrate high-level critical thinking, abstraction and generalisation, and to integrate, synthesise and apply knowledge, skills, understanding and ideas to complex situations.

SCHOLARSHIP SUBJECTS

Accounting | Classical Studies | Drama | Economics | English | French | Chinese | Japanese | Te Reo Maori | Spanish | Geography | German | Design and Visual Communication | History | Media Studies | Music Studies | Physical Education | Mathematics with Calculus | Statistics and Modelling | Science | Biology | Chemistry | Physics | Art History | Visual Arts

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Scholarship Awards recognise excellence for secondary school students.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS:

Single Subject Awards

ONE (1) or TWO (2) Scholarships: a one-off award of $500 per subject.

Top Subject Scholar Award

For candidates who are top in ONE (1) of the 25 Scholarship subjects: $2,000 each year for THREE (3) years, as long as candidates maintain a 'B' grade average in tertiary study.

Scholarship Award

For candidates who gain THREE (3) or more Scholarships subjects: $2,000 each year for THREE (3) years, as long as candidates maintain a 'B' grade average in tertiary study.

Outstanding Scholar Award

For the top 40–60 candidates who gain a minimum of THREE (3) Scholarships with at least TWO (2) at Outstanding level, or more than THREE (3) Scholarships with at least (ONE) at Outstanding level: $5,000 each year for three years, as long as candidates maintain a 'B' grade average in tertiary studies.

Premier Award

For the very top FIVE (5) to 10 candidates who gain at least THREE (3) Scholarships at Outstanding level: $10,000 each year for three years, as long as candidates maintain at least a 'B' grade average in tertiary studies.

See Mr Maude, for further information about New Zealand Scholarship and its Award system.