Units & Course Structures

Most subjects are divided into two components - a Preliminary course followed by a HSC course. Students must be familiar with requirements for each course as outlined in this booklet, and choose according to their strengths and interests.

● The Preliminary course occupies the first three school terms of Year 11.

● The HSC course begins in Term 4, Year 11 for all 2 Unit subjects.

Some course changes are possible at the end of the Preliminary course but basically a student must complete both the Preliminary and HSC components in each subject to be eligible for the HSC. It is necessary to satisfactorily complete the Preliminary course before beginning the HSC course.

Requirements for the Award of the HSC

To be awarded the Higher School Certificate students must have:

● achieved a satisfactory attendance pattern

● applied themselves with diligence and consistent effort in each course

● completed all practical, oral and written works plus all other assessment requirements for each course.

● sat for and made a serious attempt at all major examinations.

● satisfactorily completed courses that meet the pattern of study required by NESA. This means a minimum of 12 units in the Preliminary course and a minimum of 10 units in the HSC course. Both the Preliminary course and the HSC course must include the following:

- 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

- at most 6 units of courses in Science can contribute to HSC eligibility.

Note: a comprehensive list of specific rules is included as notes with the course table found at the end of this section.

Do you want an ATAR?

To make the right choice students should:

● read and understand all the information distributed on requirements and options available.

● if unsure, seek advice from the Careers Adviser, Head Teachers, Year Adviser, Parents or the Deputy Principal.

● make sure that you have the ability to study the subjects selected. Some subjects require a certain level of achievement in the junior school eg. Extension Mathematics should only be considered by those students who have done higher level Mathematics.

● if you have selected a career path, find out if there are any subjects that must be studied in Year 11 and Year 12. For example, most engineering courses expect Mathematics and some Sciences. Be aware that some jobs require an ATAR and if you have no idea what you want to do at the end of Year 12, be sure to select subjects that suit as many options as possible.

● choose courses that interest you because success is easier to achieve if you like a subject.

● some courses have fees for materials so check costs to make sure this will not be a problem.

● do not choose a course because of a particular teacher as there is no guarantee that a certain teacher will or will not be teaching that subject next year.

● do not choose a course because your friend is doing it as this will not guarantee your success and besides your friends could change.

● be careful of comments made by students who have already studied a particular course as their views may not be a fair indication of the subject's ease or difficulty.

● seek advice from a teacher who teaches the subject. It is not fair to ask another teacher about the content or difficulty of a subject that he or she does not teach. When deciding whether to seek an ATAR and what subjects to choose, the key things to consider are your vocational requirements and your ability and interests.

School Advisory Services

The following staff members are available to provide the best possible advice to students in relation to subject choices and associated career directions:

1. Careers Adviser (Mr Chamberlain) who has all the relevant information about Universities and TAFE, course entry requirements, access to employment services outside school and the availability of cadetships, apprenticeships and scholarships. Before completing the Subject Selection process feel free to make an appointment and speak to the Careers Adviser.

2. School Counsellors who can assist with more general problems eg. personal, financial etc. which may influence a student’s decision about Year 11.

3. Year 10 Head Teacher (Ms Nicol) and Year Adviser (Ms Cohen) who are familiar with the past performance and personal history of each student.

4. Head Teachers who can advise on subjects and where necessary help establish course levels.

5. Ms McGregor, Deputy Principal, who will oversee NESA requirements.

Please Note: Parents who are seeking advice are asked to pre-book appointment times with staff before coming to the school.

Year 11 Subject Lines: The Next Steps

Woonona High School uses a Subject Selection Program to inform and advise Year 10 students on their options for Year 11. This includes each student having an individual interview to confirm that course selections best suit their future education and possible career path needs. 

While we attempt to meet the needs of all students, some will not get all their selections and the school will then discuss other options with each of these students. 

One of these options is to complete a course through the Finigan, Distance Education Centre. Time, some assistance and supervision is provided at school but the student essentially works independently to complete lessons and assessment components. Positions in distance education are extremely limited due to the entry criteria that have to be met and these courses are only for students who have already shown themselves to be a dedicated, independent learner.

Other Considerations

Possible Subject Combinations:

Every student must do English. Students seeking an ATAR are better to study all ATAR-based courses so they have more options at the end of the Preliminary HSC section. Students choosing mainly Science based subjects eg. Physics, Information Processes and Technology and Engineering Studies are encouraged to choose one humanities subject for balance so they get practice writing extended answers. Students choosing mainly humanities subjects may choose one Science subject.

VET Courses:

Students who are planning to transition to a trade or the work force post-HSC, should seriously consider doing a VET subject so they have some industry accredited training which will also give them TAFE exemptions in the future.

TAFE Courses:

Students choosing a TAFE course must attend outside normal school hours - generally 1.30pm to 5.30pm at least one day per week. Students must find their own way to and from TAFE and there are no supervisory checks to ensure a student is attending and completing all work. TAFE is a major commitment and only those students who are serious about making the required effort should choose the TAFE option.

Changing Subjects:

Students must complete a minimum number of hours per course in both the Preliminary and HSC components. Effectively this means that for most students, it is impossible to make major changes or drop more than one course at the end of the Preliminary section. Students have up to one month at the beginning of Year 11 to apply to swap courses. Extension courses give some increased flexibility but again this is limited and only relates to those subjects where an extension is available.

ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING

HSC reports provide students with detailed descriptions of the knowledge, skills and understanding they have attained in each subject. Information in the syllabuses and assessment information provided by the Board of Studies describe levels of achievement and give students a clear idea of the standards that are expected.

School based assessment tasks will contribute to 50% of the HSC mark. The assessment mark will be based on student performance in assessment tasks undertaken during the course. The other 50% will come from the HSC examination. HSC marks for 2 unit courses will be reported on a scale of up to 100. A mark of 50 will represent the minimum standard expected. If students achieve the minimum standard expected in a course they 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 corresponds to the highest level of achievement.

On satisfactory completion of the HSC students will receive a portfolio containing:

a. HSC Testamur - the official certificate confirming that a student has achieved all the requirements for the award of a HSC. This includes meeting level 3 in all three minimum standards tests (writing, reading, numeracy).  

b. Record of School Achievement (ROSA) - lists the courses studied and reports the marks and bands that a student has achieved.

c. Course Reports - for every HSC Board Developed Course students receive a Course Report showing marks, the performance scale and band descriptions for that course. A graph showing the state-wide distribution of marks in the course is also shown.

Information for students undertaking school delivered VET Courses