Higher School Certificate
What Makes Up The Higher School Certificate Curriculum?
What are the Key Learning Areas ?
Subjects are now arranged into nine Key Learning Areas (KLA). These Key Learning Areas are Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE), Technology & Applied Studies (TAS), Creative Arts, Languages and Personal Development, Health & Physical Education (PDHPE).
How is a subject different from a course ?
There is a wide variety of subjects to choose from in the Higher School Certificate studies. A subject, eg English, is the general name given to an area of study which may have different courses. A course is a program of study within a subject area. For example, within the subject of English, there are different courses, which can be studied for the Higher School Certificate: 2 unit English standard; 2 unit English advanced.
How is the Preliminary Higher School Certificate Course different from the Higher School Certificate Course ?
Under the new structure, the Year 11 component of 2 unit courses is studied for 120 hours (indicative time) and is called the Preliminary Course. The Preliminary Course involves assessment work but these assessments do not count toward the final Higher School Certificate mark.
The Higher School Certificate course is the Year 12 component of a two-year course and is the examinable section for the Higher School Certificate. Students cannot complete the Higher School Certificate course without first satisfying the requirements of the Preliminary Course.
The assessment component of the Higher School Certificate course counts towards the final mark. The Higher School Certificate component for a two-unit course requires 120 hours (indicative time).
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for the Higher School Certificate ?
English is the only compulsory Higher School Certificate Subject.
At St Paul's, Religious Education is also a compulsory subject for years 11 and 12. However, St Paul’s does offer three ways to study Religious Education. Students can select to study either 2 unit Studies of Religion, 1 unit Studies of Religion or 1 unit Catholic Studies. Both the Studies of Religion courses are Board developed courses and so count towards both the HSC and ATAR.
If you wish to be awarded the HSC from St Paul’s Catholic College 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:
- study at least 6 units from Board Developed Courses including at least 2 units of a Board Developed Course in English and a minimum of 1 unit of Religious Education courses.
- study at least three courses of 2 units value or greater.
- study at least four subjects.
- study no more than 6 units of courses in Science.
- complete the practical, oral or project works required for specific courses and the assessment requirements for each course.
- complete tasks required for the assessment program in each course; and
- have sat for and made a serious attempt at the required Higher School Certificate examinations.
TAFE courses maybe selected as an add on or in addition to your full complement of 12 units (which means that you will not have study periods in lieu of the TAFE courses).
If you do not follow the necessary pattern of study, you will not receive a Higher School Certificate. Each course must be satisfactorily completed to count towards the Higher School Certificate and students need to apply themselves to study in all subjects for both the Preliminary and Higher School Certificate courses.
· On satisfactory completion of your HSC you will receive a portfolio containing:
· The HSC Testamur (The official certificate confirming your achievement of all requirements for the award.)
· The Record of Achievement (This document lists the courses you have studied and reports the marks and bands you have achieved.)
· Course Reports
For every HSC Board Developed Course (except VET courses) you will receive a Course Report showing your marks, the Performance Scale and the band descriptions for that course. A graph showing the statewide distribution of marks in the course is also shown.)
Additional information about courses and the new HSC is available on the Board of Studies Website: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au
What Is The Australian Territory Admissions Rank (ATAR) ?
The ATAR is a number between 0.00 and 95.50 (with increments of 0.05). It provides a measure of overall academic achievement in the HSC, which assists universities in ranking applications for university selection.
Admission to most university courses is based on the performance in the HSC with applicants ranked on the basis of their ATAR.
Other criteria such as portfolio, interview, audition or questionnaire may also be taken into account for certain courses in conjunction with the ATAR.
HSC students who indicate on their HSC Entry Form that they wish to be notified of their ATAR will receive their ATAR about the same time they receive their HSC results.
To be eligible for an ATAR a student must meet the following rules:
· Rule 1 – a student must satisfactory complete at least 10 units of Board Developed courses, including at least 2 units of English.
· Rule 2 – the ATAR will be based on the aggregate of scaled marks in the 10 units comprising:
· The best 2 units of English
· The best 8 units from the remaining units.
No more than 1 category B subject is included (The VET courses and Industrial Technology are category B)
