Parent Information

for VCE and VCAL 2012

Possible Pathways

Year 10 VCE Year 10 VCAL Year 10 TAFE, Apprenticeship or Employment

Possible Pathways

Year 11 VCE Year 12 VCE Year 11 VCE Year 12 VCAL Year 11 VCAL Year 12 VCAL Year 11 VCE or VCAL TAFE, Apprenticeship

or Employment

Possible Pathways

Year 12 VCE University, TAFE, Apprenticeship or

Employment

Year 12 VCAL TAFE, Apprenticeship or Employment

VCE VCE is a 2 year course Most students study Unit 1 & 2 subjects in Year

11 and Unit 3 & 4 subjects in Year 12 Capable Year 10 students may enrol in some

Unit 1 & 2 subjects Capable Year 11 students and may enrol in

some Unit 3 & 4 subjects

Year 11 VCE Students enroll in twelve Units in Year 11

(6 subjects, language outside school is an extra subject)

For Units 1 & 2 in all subjects assessment is school based

Students receive grades for each assessment task

Overall S (Satisfactory) or N (Not satisfactory) for the unit.

Year 11 VCE cont

It is possible for a student to change a Unit 1 / 2 subject midyear

Year 12 VCE Students enrol in 10 Units of 3 /4 subjects Unit 3 & 4 subjects are taken as a sequence A student cannot change a 3 /4 subject

midyear Assessment is both school based and external School assessed course (SACs) School assessed tasks (SATs) External exams, set by VCAA

Year 12 VCE cont

Year 12 marks (no more school grades) are processed into study scores by VCAA. These marks will change due to moderation.

All grades from VCAA, these result from SACs, SATs and external exams

Overall S (Satisfactory) or N (Not satisfactory) for the unit.

VCE Certificate

16 Units minimum Students must satisfactorily complete-

– three units of English/Literature/ESL– three 3/4 unit sequences other than English

over years 11 and 12 Students must satisfactorily complete

English or English Literature Units 3/4 if they are to get an ATAR score.

What to expect from Year 10 Year 11 90% attendance compulsory INCREASED WORKLOAD : Class work &

Homework School Assessed Coursework (SACs) (SATs)

assessed A+ to UG (Ungraded)

Authentication Unit Result Satisfactory (S)/Not Satisfactory (N) Exams

What Year 10 students should do Read the VCE/VCAL Handbook Speak to the Career Coordinators Think about their possible future career Choose subjects they enjoy and are good at Ensure the subject choices allow them to enter the higher

education courses or careers that they wish to follow Check the VICTER 2014 for VCE Prerequisite subjects

Consider your academic ability

Be realistic

What Not To Do

Students should not choose subjects based on:

- What their friends are choosing

- Who the teacher might be

- Easy subjects (there are no “easy” VCE subjects)

Year 11 VCE Selection timeline

Students choose their subjects for both Year 11 and 12 to meet VCE requirements

Year 11 Subject selection forms due 19th August

Year 11 Subject confirmation12th December Year 11 Orientation Day is 14th December

Year 11 Subject selection form

Year 12 Subject Selection Most students have selected most of their

subjects, based on their Year 11 course In order to continue with a subject in Year 12 it

is expected a student will have achieved a C average or better in the subject during Year 11

Students who have not achieved this on their midyear report– will need to work very hard this semester to improve

their grades– may need to reconsider if VCE the best option for them

How Many Year 12 Subjects

Students must enrol in five 3/4 Units at school.

If students choose to do a language outside of school they must still enrol in at least five 3/4 Units at school.

A sixth 3/4 Unit adds 10% to an ATAR score however a seventh does not count.

Will I get all subjects I choose?Some students will not get all of their first preferences

because:– Timetable clashes with other subjects– Some subjects may not run/restrictions– Staffing- there may only be enough qualified staff

Students should choose second preferences carefully

Students get most of their preferences most of the time

Year 12 VCE Selection timeline

Students choose their subjects for Year 12 Year 12 Subject selection forms due 19th

August Year 12 Subject confirmation 2nd December Year 12 Orientation Week is 5th -9th December

Year 12 Subject selection form

Year 12 Orientation Week Provides a week long head start for students in

Year 12 Compulsory for all Year 12 students Year 11 students doing a Year 12 subject must

also attend

ATAR Score – University Entrance Raw ‘study scores’ for each subject are

adjusted by VTAC according to their ‘degree of difficulty’

Scaled scores are added together according to the following formula:ENGLISH (either) + 3 NEXT BEST SCORABLE SUBJECTS

+ 10% of 5th SUBJECT + 10% of 6th SUBJECT (if relevant)

This total is known as ‘the aggregate’ The ranking of this aggregate = the ATAR

ScalingWhat is scaling?• VTAC increases or decreases Yr 12 study

scores according to their “difficulty” when creating the ENTER for Tertiary entrance

Should it to affect my VCE subject choices?• Case Study:

o Maths Methods 29 + 5 = 34o Further Maths 37 - 2 = 35

• In other words… NO

What we will do

Offer a 2 Year program in Study skills Identify and encourage high achievers Offer after school, lunchtime and holiday

classes Offer general and subject specific exam skills

training and formal trial exam week in October  Prepare students for the GAT

Student Commitment

There needs to be a balance between sport, work and school

As students have returned to school there is an assumption that the VCE is their priority.

The GPSC 90% attendance policy is enforced in Year 12 and Year 11

No overseas holidays will be approved in Year 11 or Year 12

If you wish to apply to VCAA for special examination arrangements on the basis of a long term condition, you must begin the application process in 2011.

Applications to VCAA are finalised in February of your Year 12 year, so you should speak to us now!

Special Provision- Year 12

Maths Pathways

Mainstream pathways

OR

Year 10 Year 10 MethodsMethods

FoundationFoundation

MathsMaths

General General Maths FMaths F FurtherFurther

MathsMaths

General Maths MGeneral Maths M

&&

Math MethodsMath Methods

Math Math MethodsMethods

Math MethodsMath Methods

&&

SpecialistSpecialist

MathsMaths

Year 10Year 10 Year 12Year 12Year 11Year 11Foundation maths Foundation maths

does NOT lead does NOT lead into Year 12 into Year 12 MathsMaths

EnrichmentEnrichment

Maths Maths (Year (Year

10 elective10 elective))

FoundationFoundation

Maths(VCE)Maths(VCE)

Year 10 Year 10 FurtherFurther

General Maths M and Maths Methods

Generally taken as a package Leads to all year 12 Maths pathways Algebra is a big part of these subjects Focus is to prepare students to successfully

study Math Methods or Maths Methods & Specialist Maths in Year 12

Appropriate for any university course requiring maths – (Some courses require Specialist Maths)

VCAL

Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning

VCAL is about hands-on learning Purpose of VCAL is to provide students with

what they need to gain employment in their chosen field.

VCAL Certificates FOUNDATION INTERMEDIATE SENIOR Each certificate increases in difficulty in the required skills

and tasks to be completed. To gain a certificate successfully, you need to have completed the required VET and Work Placement hours as well as projects and also the prerequisite subjects to attain each VCAL certificate

VCAL Requirements Literacy- English Numeracy- Mathematics Work Related Skills- is designed to teach you about the

work force, how to gain employment, workplace rights and unions and many more.

Personal Development Skills- is designed to teach you about improvement in people skills, personal skills, knowledge of health and also project work.

VET- there are various VET subjects you can do at school, TAFE and School Based Apprenticeship

VET Subjects provide students with nationally recognised

qualification that will assist them with gaining employment

At school– VET Business Administration, Creative Industries &

Sport and Recreation

At TAFE– Wide variety of choice eg. Electrotechnology,

hairdressing. One day per week at TAFE. Cost

Work Placement – part of WRS

1 day per week in a relevant industry Students must find their own work placement Must do 100 hours of work placement in a year If you do not spend enough time at work

placement, you will be unable to achieve any VCAL certificate, regardless of what class work has been completed

School based Apprenticeship

is where you study at school and TAFE and do one day of work placement.

It is an apprenticeship while at school.

The VCAL typical week

1 day work placement I day TAFE, if doing VET at TAFE Rest of the time in timetabled classes at school Monday and Friday all VCAL students must be

in class TAFE and work placement can only occur on

Tues, Wed or Thurs

The VCAL Student must

Be trustworthy Be prepared to work hard

VCAL Students do not get an ATAR score at the end of year 12

Applying for VCAL

Attend an Assembly on Monday 15th August Submit your application by Monday 22nd August Attend a VCAL interview

During the interview work ethic, behaviour, attendance, future employment goals and determination are taken into account.

Changing from VCE to VCAL?

Applications due in Thursday 12th August Interview process will start the following week

Questions?

Year 12 Careers

Careers Centre

Subject selection

VTAC, ATAR and Scaling

Year 12 timeline

GPSC Careers Centre Open before and after school, recess and lunch time

Information on Open Days, apprenticeships and traineeships

University and Tafe handbooks

Job Guides, Career Events, VTAC Guides, scholarships, Special Entry Programs,

Careers column in School Newsletter

Tertiary Information Session (TIS) excursion

Career counselling and pathway planning

Year 12 timeline Term 1 Finalise Career direction

March/April VCE and Careers Expo

TIS at LaTrobe University

June/July Register and sit UMAT

July VTAC process begins

Year 12 timeline - continued

August Tafe and University Open Days

Direct applications submitted

September VTAC applications close

December VCE Results, ATAR

January University and Tafe offers

GPSC Career Centre University and TAFE Handbooks Information on Open Days, courses, ATAR, VTAC

Guides, Job Guides, University scholarships, Special Entry Programs, Career Information Events, apprenticeships and traineeships

Careers column in School Newsletter VTAC support for students Tertiary Information Session (TIS) excursion Individual counselling Assistance with pathways plans

Contact details

Jocelyn Kurrle George Georgostathis

Phone: 9933 0500