HSC Extension Subjects

If you wish to be awarded the HSC:

• you must have satisfactorily completed courses that meet the pattern of study required by the NSW Education Standards Authority  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.

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

• you must study 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 NESA Developed Courses including at least 2 units of a NESA Developed Course in English;

• at least three (3) courses of 2 units value or greater (either NESA Developed or NESA Endorsed Courses);

• at least four (4) subjects;

• at most seven (7) units of courses in Science can contribute to Higher School Certificate eligibility.

English Extension 2

Course No:

15170 Year 12 English Extension 2.

1 unit for Year 11 (Preliminary) and Year 12 (HSC).

Board Developed Course.

Prerequisites:

(a) English Advanced

(b) English Extension in Year 11 is a prerequisite for English Extension 1 in Year 12

(c) English Extension 1 in Year 12 is a prerequisite for English Extension 2

Exclusions: English Standard; English Studies; English EAL/D.

Course Description

The English Extension course provides students who undertake Advanced English and are accomplished in their use of English with the opportunity to extend their use of language and self-expression in creative and critical ways. The course is designed for students with an interest in literature and a desire to pursue specialised study of English.

Through engaging with increasingly complex concepts through a broad range of literature, from a range of contexts, students refine their understanding and appreciation of the cultural roles and the significance of texts and about the way that literature shapes and reflects the global world.

The English Extension 2 course enables students who are accomplished in their use of English with the opportunity to craft language and refine their personal voice in critical and creative ways. They can master skills in the composition process to create a substantial and original Major Work that extends the knowledge, understanding and skills developed throughout Stage 6 English courses. Through the creative process they pursue areas of interest independently, develop deep knowledge and manipulate language in their own extended compositions. The course develops independent and collaborative learning skills and higher-order critical thinking that are essential at tertiary levels of study and in the workplace.

HSC Course

English Extension 2

In the English Extension 2 Year 12 course, students develop a sustained composition, and document their reflection on this process.

The course requires students to undertake a composition process in order to complete a Major Work and Reflection Statement.

Course requirements

Across Stage 6 the selection of texts should give students experience of the following as appropriate:

• texts which are widely regarded as quality literature, including a range of literary texts written about intercultural experiences and the peoples and cultures of Asia

• a range of Australian texts, including texts by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander authors and those that give insights into diverse experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples

• a range of types of texts drawn from prose fiction, drama, poetry, nonfiction, film, media, multimedia and digital texts.

HSC Course

English Extension 2

Students are required to:

• complete a Major Work which involves students undertaking extensive independent investigation involving a range of complex texts during the composition process and document this in their Major Work Journal and Reflection Statement.

Students can choose to compose in ONE of the following forms:

• short fiction

• creative nonfiction

• poetry

• critical response

• script (short film, television, drama)

• podcasts (drama, storytelling, speeches, performance poetry)

History Extension

Board Developed Course

Course number(s):

• 15280 History Extension (1 unit – Year 12)

Prerequisites:

Either of the following is a prerequisite for entry into Year 12 History Extension:

• 11020 Ancient History (2 units – Year 11)

• 11270 Modern History (2 units – Year 11)

Corequisites:

Either of the following is a co-requisite for Year 12 History Extension:

• 15020 Ancient History (2 units – Year 12)

• 15270 Modern History (2 units – Year 12)

Eligibility: Nil

Exclusions:

• 16672 Ancient History Life Skills (2 units – Year 11)

• 16672 Ancient History Life Skills (2 units – Year 12)

• 16673 Modern History Life Skills (2 units – Year 11)

• 16673 Modern History Life Skills (2 units – Year 12)

• 16699 Human Society and its Environment Life Skills (2 units – Year 11) (where Ancient or Modern History is undertaken within the course)

• 16699 Human Society and its Environment Life Skills (2 units – Year 12) (where Ancient or Modern History is undertaken within the course)

Course description

History Extension provides students with opportunities to examine the way history is constructed and the role of historians. Students investigate the nature of history and changing approaches to its construction through sampling the works of various writers, historians and others involved in the practice of history. Students apply their understanding to undertake an individual investigative project, focusing on an area of changing historical interpretation.

What students learn

Year 12 course

The course comprises two sections.

Constructing History

• Key questions

  • Who are historians?

  • What are the purposes of history?

  • How has history been constructed, recorded and presented over time?

  • Why have approaches to history changed over time?

• Case studies

• Students develop their understanding of significant historiographical ideas and methodologies by exploring one case study, with reference to three identified areas of debate and the key questions.

History Project

• Students will undertake an individual investigative project, focusing on an area of changing historical interpretation.

Course requirements

The course requires students to undertake:

• one case study

• the development of one History Project.

Italian Extension

Prerequisites: French/Italian Continuers Preliminary course

Corequisites: French/Italian Continuers HSC course

Eligibility: Eligibility rules apply to the study of Extension courses where co-requisite Continuers courses have a French/Italian in Context and/orFrench/Italian and  Literature course. Refer to Languages courses eligibility criteria.

Course description

Modern Languages

The Extension course has a prescribed theme and related issues as its organisational focus.

Students’ knowledge and understanding of the language and culture will be enhanced through accessing a variety of texts, some of which are prescribed, related to the theme and issues. There are course prescriptions for Extension language subjects.

Italian Extension Course Prescriptions

Mathematics Extension 2

Board Developed Course

Course number(s):

• 15260 Mathematics Extension 2 (1 unit – Year 12)

Prerequisites: The Mathematics Extension 2 Year 12 course has been developed on the assumption that students have studied the content and achieved the outcomes of the Mathematics Advanced Year 11 course and the Mathematics Extension 1 Year 11 course. The Mathematics Extension 2 Year 12 course has also been constructed on the assumption that students are concurrently studying the Mathematics Advanced Year 12 course and the Mathematics Extension 1 Year 12 course.

Corequisites:

• 11255 Mathematics Advanced (2 units – Year 11)

• 15255 Mathematics Advanced (2 units – Year 12)

• 11250 Mathematics Extension (1 unit – Year 11)

• 15250 Mathematics Extension 1 (1 unit – Year 12)

Eligibility: Nil

Exclusions:

• 11236 Mathematics Standard (2 units – Year 11)

• 15231 Mathematics Standard 1 (2 units – Year 12)

• 15232 Mathematics Standard 1 (Exam) (2 units – Year 12)

• 15236 Mathematics Standard 2 (2 units – Year 12)

• 16611 Mathematics Life Skills (2 units – Year 11)

• 16611 Mathematics Life Skills (2 units – Year 12)

Course description

Mathematics Extension 2 provides students with the opportunity to develop strong mathematical manipulative skills and a deep understanding of the fundamental ideas of algebra and calculus, as well as an appreciation of mathematics as an activity with its own intrinsic value, involving invention, intuition and exploration. Mathematics Extension 2 extends students’ conceptual knowledge and understanding through exploration of new areas of mathematics not previously seen.

The Mathematics Extension 2 Year 12 course includes the Mathematics Extension 1 Year 12 course and the Mathematics Advanced Year 12 course.

The Mathematics Advanced, Mathematics Extension 1 and Mathematics Extension 2 Stage 6 courses form a continuum.

All students studying the Mathematics Extension 2 course will sit for an HSC examination.

What students learn

The study of Mathematics Extension 2 in Stage 6:

• enables students to develop strong knowledge, understanding and skills in working mathematically and in communicating concisely and precisely

• provides opportunities to develop strong mathematical manipulative skills and a deep understanding of the fundamental ideas of algebra and calculus, as well as an awareness of mathematics as an activity with its own intrinsic value, involving invention, intuition and exploration

• provides opportunities at progressively higher levels for students to acquire knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to concepts within areas of mathematics that have applications in an increasing number of contexts

• provides a basis for progression to further study in mathematics or related disciplines and in which mathematics has a vital role at tertiary level

• provides an appropriate mathematical background for students whose future pathways will be founded in mathematics and its applications in such areas as science, engineering, finance and economics.

Year 12 course

The Mathematics Extension 2 course comprises five Topics, with the Topics divided into Subtopics.

Topic: Proof

• The Nature of Proof

• Further Proof by Mathematical Induction

Topic: Vectors

• Further Work with Vectors

Topic: Complex Numbers

• Introduction to Complex Numbers

• Using Complex Numbers

Topic: Calculus

• Further Integration

Topic: Mechanics

• Applications of Calculus to Mechanics

Course requirements

Nil

Science Extension

Board Developed Course

Course number(s):

• 15345 Science Extension (1 unit – Year 12)

Prerequisites: Study of at least one of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Investigating Science or Physics in Year 11 and continue the study of at least one of these science courses throughout Year 12.

Corequisites: One of, or a combination (up to 7 units of study) of, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Investigating Science or Physics in Year 12.

Eligibility: Nil

Exclusions:

• 16648 Chemical World Science Life Skills (2 units – Year 11)

• 16648 Chemical World Science Life Skills (2 units – Year 12)

• 16649 Earth and Space Science Life Skills (2 units – Year 11)

• 16649 Earth and Space Science Life Skills (2 units – Year 12)

• 16642 Investigating Science Life Skills (2 units – Year 11)

• 16642 Investigating Science Life Skills (2 units – Year 12)

• 16644 Living World Science Life Skills (2 units – Year 11)

• 16644 Living World Science Life Skills (2 units – Year 12)

• 16646 Physical World Science Life Skills (2 units – Year 11)

• 16646 Physical World Science Life Skills (2 units – Year 12)

Course description

Science Extension is a course with a focus on the authentic application of scientific research skills to produce a Scientific Research Report generally acceptable for publication.

Students who have shown an achievement in, and/or aptitude for, any of the Stage 6 Science courses: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Investigating Science or Physics, in Year 11 may choose to study Science Extension in Year 12.

Students propose and develop a research question, formulate a hypothesis and develop evidence-based responses to create a Scientific Research Report, which is supported and evidenced by a Scientific Research Portfolio. The four modules integrate the skills of Working Scientifically within the course content to form the framework for the Scientific Research Project.

What students learn

Year 12 course

The Year 12 course consists of four modules:

• Module 1 The Foundations of Scientific Thinking

• Module 2 The Scientific Research Proposal

• Module 3 The Data, Evidence and Decisions

• Module 4 The Scientific Research Report

Course requirements

Prerequisite courses for Science Extension Year 12 are one of, or a combination (up to 6 units of study) of, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Investigating Science or Physics in Year 11.

Co-requisite courses for Science Extension Year 12 are one of, or a combination (up to 7 units of study) of, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Investigating Science or Physics in Year 12.

Students must propose and develop a research question, formulate a hypothesis and develop evidence-based responses in the form of a Scientific Research Report, which is supported by a Scientific Research Portfolio.

The Scientific Research Report is a result of the student’s own work and must adhere to the principles and practices of good scholarship, as identified in the HSC: All My Own Work course. While students may collaborate with and draw upon the expertise, knowledge and data held by others in developing their Scientific Research Report and Portfolio, this assistance must be referenced using accepted protocols.

All scientific research must be sensitive to community expectations and individual school requirements in relation to the question being interrogated. Students must adhere to ethical practices in the collection and analysis of data and the communication of results.

Before considering making an application to study a HSC Extension Course, please consider your pattern of study, your particular strengths in the prerequisite Preliminary subject and the amount of time you have to devote to the study of an extension course.

The College also takes into account your Preliminary report, especially considering your work ethic and the likely success of your extension studies. 

All Extension courses are taught before or after-school, and attendance is mandatory. If you cannot attend these classes please re-consider making an application. N Awards apply to attendance and a minimum of two (2) N Warning Letters will make you ineligible to continue with your studies. 

Successful applicants will:

• complete the prerequisite preliminary course to an excellent standard

• demonstrate independent learning skills

• demonstrate well developed written and oral skills

• demonstrate the skills of critical thinking and analysis

• submit a paper that demonstrates your suitability for study, such as:

  • A proposal for study (Extension English) and/or

  • A paper addressing the key question “What is History” and an outline of your proposed area of research for the History Project (Extension History) and/or

  • A proposal relevant to the study of Extension Science, including evidence of academic research (3 papers) and a feasibility study of the research proposal, hypothesis and expected outcomes (Extension Science) and/or

  • A response in Italian demonstrating your capacity for the written language (Extension Italian)

  • Preliminary course results (Extension 1 Mathematics) and teacher recommendation: write a letter outlining why you would be considered a successful applicant for Mathematics Extension 2 

Each application will be assessed on its merits, along with the written proposal, your Preliminary report and the recommendation of your Preliminary course teacher. 

Final approval for each application rests with Ms Browning. 

All Expressions of Interest must be received before Friday 12 September. No late submissions will be accepted.

Successful students will be notified by Friday 26 September. 

Please submit the cover sheet to the appropriate Studies Coordinator with your submission.