Explanation of Terms

Courses in the Senior School are described quite differently to those in the Junior School. A whole new set of terms is used and students need to understand them so that they can make a wise choice.

Advanced Standing

Means that students completing some HSC courses at a satisfactory level may count these towards a TAFE award. They will then not have to study certain subjects or modules in the TAFE course.

ATAR

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a rank from 0.00 to 99.95. It provides a measure of overall academic achievement in the HSC that assists universities throughout Australia in ranking applicants for university selection.

Board Developed Courses

A subject whose syllabus has been provided by NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). These subjects are eligible for inclusion in the calculation of an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

Board Endorsed Courses (BEC)

Board Endorsed Courses are developed by schools or universities rather than NESA. These subjects are NOT eligible for inclusion in the calculation of the ATAR and are not examined at the HSC. Results are based entirely on school assessment.

Course

A course is a branch of study within a subject; there can be more than one level of study within a course.

Course Report

A course report is a report of individual student achievement in a particular course. It will consist of:

• The name of the course

• The performance scale including the band descriptions

• The internal assessment mark

• The external assessment mark

• The HSC mark located on a performance scale

• A histogram which shows the statewide distribution of HSC marks

Cut-Off Mark

The lowest mark which is accepted for entry into a particular course (based on ATAR).

Exclusions

In general students may not study two courses in the one subject area

Extension Course

An extension course builds on the content of the 2 Unit course and requires students to work beyond the standard of the 2-unit course. Where there is a second HSC extension course, the extension 2 course requires students to work beyond the standard of the extension 1 course.

External Assessment

External assessment refers to the externally set and marked HSC examination including written papers, submitted projects and products, performances and practical demonstrations.

HSC Course

A course which is the second component of a two-year program, commenced after a student has satisfactorily completed the Preliminary course.

Industry Based Learning (IBL)

Industry Based Learning can be used by students to count towards units for the HSC when combined with a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship.

Industry Curriculum Framework

An industry curriculum framework describes the range and groups of units of competency that have been endorsed by NESA for inclusion in the Higher School Certificate as specific VET subjects and/or courses.

Internal Assessment

Internal assessment refers to the school-based assessment tasks that are developed, administered and marked by teachers and which comply with NESA’s mandatory assessment requirements.

Key Learning Areas

All learning in schools has been divided up into Key Learning Areas, and students will experience learning in all of these areas during their school life. For the Senior School, subjects are divided among the Key Learning Areas. KLAs are: English, Mathematics, Science, Technology and Applied Studies (TAS), Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE), Languages Other Than English (LOTE), Creative Arts, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) and Vocational Education and Training (VET). 

Language for Beginners

It is a language course offered for students who have not studied the language in Year 10.

Moderation

Moderation involves statistical procedures of aligning internal assessment marks so that students' results across the state can be compared accurately and fairly. 

Pattern of Study

Pattern of Study refers to the arrangement of courses and their unit value, which must be completed for the award of the Higher School Certificate. 

Performance Bands

Performance Bands are levels of achievement in a course. Each band has a statement that describes observable and measurable features of students' knowledge, skills and understanding in a course. These statements are arranged hierarchically to describe the different levels of achievement typically demonstrated by students in each of the bands. 

Performance Scale

A Performance Scale is a scale of marks between 0-100 or 0-50 with performance bands. On a scale of 0-100 there are six performance bands aligned to the scale of marks. On a scale of 0-50 there are four performance bands aligned to the scale of marks. Where the scale is 0-100 a mark less than 50 (Band 1) indicates that a student’s performance has not reached the minimum standard expected for the course. Where the scale is 0-50 a mark less than 25 (Band 1) indicates that the student’s performance has not reached the minimum standard expected for the course. 

Preliminary Course

It is the first component of senior study in a course. It must be satisfactorily completed before the HSC component commences. 

Quota

The number of students that will be accepted into a university course. 

School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SBATs)

A School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship can form part of the HSC pattern of study. Students complete a VET course at school or TAFE, as well as paid work.

Standards

Standards are the knowledge, skills and understanding expected to be learned by students as a result of studying a course, together with the levels of achievement of the knowledge, skills and understanding.

Standards - Referenced Assessment

Standards - Referenced Assessment is the assessment of students' achievement against specified standards of performance that are established for each course.

Student Achievement

Student achievement refers to what students know, understand and can do in relation to the outcomes of a course.

Student Performance

Student performance refers to what students demonstrate in order for their achievements in a course to be assessed.

Subject

A subject is the general name given to an area of study that may have several different courses (e.g. within the subject English, the courses will include English Standard, English Advanced, English Life Skills, etc.)

TAFE Delivered Vocational Education (TVET)

Subjects in this program involve studying at Gosford, Wyong or Ourimbah TAFE colleges, on a Tuesday afternoon and in a few cases a Thursday afternoon from 2pm-6pm and 1 full day in the case of Certificate III courses. 

Tertiary Institutions

Include Universities, TAFE, Colleges and Private Education Providers.

Units of Study

Refers to the indicative time in each of the Preliminary and/or HSC courses. The school translates this into: 2 Unit = 4 hours per week. 

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Courses that are concerned with gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to competently perform a specific job, which can then lead to gaining credit towards TAFE and other courses nationally. They count towards the HSC and ATAR (2 units). Qualifications are nationally recognised.