The subject choice for the HSC is an extremely important one and students will often be presented with extensive options for achieving their final goal. Students who maximise their opportunities by gaining success usually do so by adhering to the following strategies:

• Gather as much information as possible from as wide a variety of sources as possible.

• Always double check information that appears odd or conflicts with information from another source.

• Be honest with yourself in terms of both your ability to understand a particular subject and your ability to apply yourself to a subject.

• Consider advice carefully. Especially take into account the experiences and knowledge of the person giving the advice. Be wary of people commenting outside their field of expertise.

• Know the future direction you would like to head in, even if you don’t know the job you would like to go into or the university or TAFE course you would like to study. Try to determine the areas you would like to work in.

WHAT SUBJECT DO YOU CHOOSE?

One in which:

• You believe you will enjoy

• You believe that you can do well in

• Your vocational needs

General Information

This is your introduction to the HSC and the many options now available. More information is contained on the NESA website:

Advice for students choosing HSC courses. http://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/subject-selection

Selection of Courses

All students must study 12 units in Year 11. The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) requirement in Year 12 is 10 units, although many students study more units in Year 12 as a safety net.

Students may be permitted to change their subject selections if there are unusual circumstances and if there are vacancies. This may occur up to mid-February in Year 11 by applying to the Deputy Principal.

WHAT TYPES OF COURSES CAN I SELECT?

There are different types of courses that you can select in Years 11 and 12.

Board Developed Courses

These courses are developed by NESA. There is a syllabus for each course which contains:

• The Course Objectives, Structure, Content and Outcomes

• Specific Course Requirements

• Assessment Requirements

• Sample Examination Papers and Marking Guidelines

• The Performance Scale (Except For Vocational Education and Training Courses)

All students entered for the HSC who are studying these courses follow these syllabuses for two years. These courses are examined externally at the end of the HSC course and can count towards the calculation of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

Board Endorsed Courses

Board Endorsed courses have syllabuses endorsed by NESA. Some TAFE courses are Board Endorsed Courses.

There is no external examination for Board Endorsed Courses. Assessment is school based or TAFE Based.

All Board Endorsed Courses count towards the Higher School Certificate and appear on the student’s Record of School Achievement. However, Board Endorsed Courses do not count in the calculation of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

Vocational Education and Training Courses

Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses are offered as part of the Higher School Certificate (HSC). VET courses are designed to deliver workplace-specific skills and knowledge and cover a wide range of careers and industries. VET courses for secondary students are developed by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and are based on national training packages.

VET courses allow students to gain both HSC or RoSA qualifications, or a Statement of Attainment recognised throughout Australia as part of the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF). These qualifications are widely recognised by industry, employers and tertiary training providers and universities and will assist students to progress to various education and training sectors and employment.

Public Schools NSW, Ultimo is accredited as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to deliver and assess VET qualifications to secondary students.

It is mandatory for all students studying a VET course to create a Unique Student Identifier (USI). Students will require a form of identification for the creation of a USI. Examples include a Medicare Card, Australian Birth Certificate, Driver’s License or a valid Passport.

Board Developed VET courses are classified as Category B subjects and ONLY ONE may contribute to the calculation of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). These courses have an optional HSC examination. Students wishing to include a VET course in the ATAR calculation must sit the HSC examination, and study the VET course in both Year 11 and Year 12.

Board Developed VET courses have specified workplace requirements. This includes 70 hours of industry specific mandatory work placement or simulated workplace hours as determined by NESA.

Board Endorsed VET Courses count towards the HSC or RoSA but do not have HSC examinations; therefore cannot count in the calculation of the ATAR. Board Endorsed VET Courses have mandatory or recommended industry specific work placement.

Assessment in all VET courses is competency based. The student is assessed on what they can do (the skills) and what they know (the knowledge) that will equip them in the workplace. Students who have successfully achieved competency will have the skills and knowledge they need to complete workplace activities, in a range of different situations and environments, to an industry standard of performance expected in the workplace.

Competency-based assessment materials are designed to ensure that each learner has achieved all the outcomes (skills and knowledge). Competency-based training is based on performance standards that have been set by industry.

Students will receive documentation showing the competencies achieved for the VET course undertaken.

Due to the specific requirements of a VET course, it is recommended students speak to the VET Coordinator or Careers Adviser before choosing the course to ensure they are fully aware of the requirements and the course is suitable for their individual needs, knowledge and skills.

Board Content Endorsed Courses

The following courses do not count towards University entry:

Construction and Landscaping 2 Unit

Sports Lifestyle and Recreation 2 Unit

What are units?

All courses offered for the Higher School Certificate have a unit value. Subjects may have a value of 1 unit or 2 units. Most courses are 2 units. Each unit involves class time of approximately 2 hours per week (60 hours per year). In the HSC each unit has a value of 50 marks. A 2 unit course has a value of 100 marks.

2 Units = 4 hours/week

(120 hours per year)

The following is a guideline to help you understand the pattern of courses.

2 Unit Course

Units are the basic structure for all courses. A 2 unit course has a value of 100 marks. Most courses are 2 unit, two year courses.

Extension Courses

Extension study is available in a number of subjects. Extension courses build on the content of the 2-unit course and carry an additional value of 1-2 unit(s). They require students to work beyond the standard of the 2 unit course. Extension courses are available in Year 11 in English and Mathematics.

English and Mathematics Extension Courses are available at Year 11 and HSC levels. Students must study the Year Extension course in these subjects before proceeding to the two HSC extension courses (Extension 1 and Extension 2).

Extension courses are available in Year 12 in History and Science.

1 Unit Course

1 unit equals approximately 2 hours of class time each week or 60 hours per year. 1 unit courses have a value of 50 marks. 1 unit courses can count towards the ATAR.

If you wish to be awarded the HSC:

1. You must have satisfactorily completed courses that meet the pattern of study required by NESA for the award of the Higher School Certificate. This includes the completion of the practical, oral or project works required for specific courses and the assessment requirements for each course.

2. You must have sat for and made a serious attempt at the Higher School Certificate examinations.

3. You must study a minimum of 12 units in the Year 11 course and a minimum of 10 units in the HSC course. Both courses must include:

• at least 6 units from Board Developed Courses including at least:

  • 2 units of a Board Developed Course in English

• at least three courses of 2 units value or greater

• at least four subjects

4. Must have met the HSC Minimum Standard in literacy and numeracy.

There are some stipulations in the area of Science. At most, 7 units of courses in Science can contribute to eligibility for the Higher School Certificate.

• The publication, Studying for the New South Wales Higher School Certificate – An Information Booklet for Year 10 Students, contains all the HSC rules and requirements you will need to know.

• If you wish to receive the Australian ATAR you must study a minimum of 10 Board Developed units in the HSC Course. Details of ATAR requirements can be found on www.uac.edu.au.

• If you do not wish to receive a ATAR, the rest of your courses may be made up from Board Endorsed Courses once you have studied six units from Board Developed Courses.

What happens if I don't complete the requirements for the HSC

Students will receive a Record of School Achievement (RoSA) as a credential.

The RoSA will:

• Be a record of the full range of student achievements up to the day they leave school.

• Provide an electronic record of achievements that students can use at any time.

• Use assessment by teachers in schools, moderated by NESA to ensure reliability and fairness of grades.

• Offer on-line literacy and numeracy tests, with particular emphasis on work readiness, that students will be able to undertake twice a year.

• The HSC reports will provide detailed descriptions of the knowledge, skills and understanding you have attained in each subject.

• The syllabuses, along with assessment and examination information and a performance scale that will be used to describe your level of achievement, give a clear idea of the standards that are expected.

• The HSC reports will provide a description of your achievements based on performance bands across the state.

• School-based assessment tasks will contribute to 50% of your HSC mark. Your school assessment mark will be based on your performance in assessment tasks you have undertaken during the course.

• The other 50% will come from the HSC examination.

• Your HSC mark for 2 unit courses will be reported on a scale of 0 to 100. A mark of 50 will represent the minimum standard expected. If you achieve the minimum standard expected in a course you will receive a mark of 50. There will be five performance bands above 50 that correspond to different levels of achievement in knowledge, skills and understanding. The band from 90 – 100 will correspond to the highest level of achievement.

• In Year 11 and Year 12 you will receive a Half Yearly and Yearly/Trial HSC report which will describe your performance in each subject studied at school.

• VET courses are competency based. No marks contribute to the achievement of the qualification being undertaken. Students will not be awarded marks for assessments undertaken throughout the course other than the Half Yearly and Yearly examinations.

• VET students may choose to undertake an optional HSC examination, but must sit for the Year 11 Half Yearly and Yearly examinations and the HSC Half Yearly and Trial HSC examinations.

• VET students must complete a School Work Placement: this involves a 70 hours work placement-35 Hours in Year 11, 35 hours in Year 12.

• A number of subjects include a requirement for the development of project work for either internal or external assessment. These subjects include Visual Arts, Drama, Design and Technology, Community & Family Studies, Software Design and Development, Society and Culture and English Extension 2. Projects developed for assessment in one subject are not to be used either in full or in part for an assessment in any other subject.

• Only 2 units of Category B courses can be counted towards your ATAR.

• There is only one History Extension Course. It can be studied with either the Ancient History Course or the Modern History Course.

• There is only one Science Extension Course. It can be studied with any of the stage 6 Science subjects. A high level of achievement is required to do this subject.

• You may not include any more than 6 units in the Year 11 course and 7 units in the HSC course of the following Science courses: Science Extension (HSC only), Biology, Chemistry, Investigating Science and Physics in meeting the 12 Preliminary or 10 HSC units.

• The Extension Mathematics courses can only be studied with Mathematics Advanced and not with Mathematics Standard.

• The Extension English courses can only be studied with the Advanced English course.

• Additional information about courses is available on the NESA Website: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/home

The payment of subject costs for some courses is required for subject electives with a large practical component in which consumable materials are required for students to "learn by doing". Parents with financial difficulties are, of course, encouraged to request support from the school, rather than discouraging a student with ability and interest from choosing an elective that requires a subject cost. An estimated guide to these costs is below.

Food Technology

• Year 11 - $70.00

• Year 12 - $40.00

Design and Technology - $50.00

VET Hospitality – Kitchen Operations

• Course Consumable Fee $140.00

• Industry standard chef’s uniform Approx. $80.00

Visual Arts $50.00