The NSW

Higher School Certificate

Information for

Year 10

Students and Parents

2021

Acknowledgement of Country

Welcome

2020 Information Session

Stage 6 – Senior School

Year 11 – 2022 (3 Terms)

Higher School Certificate – 2023 (4 Terms)

Randwick Boys’ High School

The Higher School Certificate (HSC) is the highest

educational award you can gain in New South Wales

schools.

The HSC:

• is an internationally recognised credential

• provides a strong foundation for the future

• is standards-based. Students receive HSC marks that

indicate the standard they have achieved.

The NSW HSC

Courses – BDC and BEC

Board Endorsed Course

BEC

• no HSC exam –

school-based assessment used

• counts towards HSC

• cannot contribute to the ATAR

• includes some VET courses

Board Developed Course

BDC

• HSC exam

• counts towards HSC

• may count towards the ATAR*

• includes some E-VET** courses

• includes Life Skills courses

* Australian Tertiary Admission Rank

** E-Vocational Education and Training

All courses in the HSC have a unit value

Most courses are 2 units

2 units = 4 hours of instruction per week

120 hours per year

= 100 marks

1 unit = 60 hours per year

= 50 marks

All 2-unit HSC courses have equal status

HSC Course Structure

Courses

MOST COURSES ARE 2 UNITS

Advanced English, Physics, Economics, Visual Arts, Drama,

Music, General Mathematics, Ancient History, Biology,

Hospitality, PD/H/PE, Music, French, Geography, Physics,

Textiles & Design ETC

SOME COURSES ARE ONLY 1 UNIT

Year 11 Extension Courses (English, Mathematics,

History) ETC

Preliminary Course (English is compulsory)

• minimum of 12 units

• students must satisfactorily complete the Preliminary

course before commencing the corresponding HSC

course

HSC Course (English is compulsory)

• minimum of 10 units

• Maximum??

Requirements for the HSC

Both the Preliminary and HSC Courses must include:

At least 6 units of Board Developed Courses, including at least 2 units of English

At least 3 courses of 2 units value or greater

At least 4 subjects (including English)

At most, 6 units of courses in Science can count towards HSC eligibility

Requirements for the HSC

English Advanced

• Preliminary Extension English

• HSC Extension 1

• HSC Extension 2 (HSC only)

English Standard

English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EAL/D)

English Studies ATAR, NON-ATAR

English Choices

Mathematics

• Mathematics Standard 1

• Mathematics Standard 2

• Mathematics Advanced

• Mathematics Extension 1 (Year 11 and 12)

• HSC Mathematics Extension 2 (HSC only)

Mathematics Choices

• Mathematics is not compulsory for the HSC.

• If you are not a strong Mathematician, taking Maths could reduce your ATAR.

• A weak Maths student taking high level Maths will not be “scaled up”!

• Seek advice from the Mathematics Faculty before committing to a level of Mathematics and consult the Mathematics information guide (handout)

Should everyone study Mathematics?

Different courses:

• Beginners

• Continuers

• Heritage

• Background Speakers

Eligibility criteria apply to all Beginners courses, all Heritage courses and Continuers courses in Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese and Korean.

The NSW School of Languages (Open High School) offers a range of language courses

Saturday School of Community Languages

Languages

HSC Extension Courses:

• English 1 and 2

• Mathematics 1 and 2

• History

• Music

• Some Languages

• Some Vocational Education &

Training (VET) courses

Extension Courses

Preliminary Extension Courses:

• English

• Mathematics

Oral Examinations (Languages)

Practical Performances (Music, Dance, Drama)

Major Works (Textiles and Design, Design and

Technology, Visual Arts, English Extension 2,

Industrial Technology – Timber/wood) ETC

Independent Research Project (Community and

Family Studies)

HSC requirements for SOME courses

Fees for SOME subjects

Some subjects attract a fee to cover expenses involved in delivering the

course

ALL FEES FOR ELECTIVE SUBJECTS ARE COMPULSORY

THEY MUST BE PAID AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH YEAR

Eg Technics - Wood

Hospitality

Visual Arts

Randwick Boys’ subsidises these fees. Families are asked to pay a potion

of what is required.

• Human Services

• InformationTechnology

• Metal and Engineering

• Primary Industries

• Retail Services

• Tourism and Events

E-VET Industry Curriculum Frameworks

Board Developed Courses include SOME of the

following:

• Automotive

• Business Services

• Construction

• Electro-technology

• Entertainment Industry

• Financial Services (draft)

• Hospitality

• is a program designed to help HSC students follow the principles and practices of good scholarship

• includes understanding and valuing of ethical practices when locating and using information as part of HSC studies

• Students must complete HSC: All My Own Work or its equivalent before they can be entered for any Preliminary or HSC course.

• AFTER Work experience (generally week 7 & 8 Term 4), students MUST complete ‘All my own work’

HSC: All My Own Work

SPORT

Swimming Carnival

Athletics Carnival

Wednesday afternoon GRADE sport

Optional (but highly recommended)

Combined High School (CHS) Knockouts

Cross Country

Student Responsibilities

ATTEND EVERY LESSON

ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE

WORK WITH DILIGENCE AND SUSTAINED EFFORT

COMPLETE ALL ASSESSMENT TASKS ON TIME

‘N’ AWARDS WILL BE ISSUED TO STUDENTS WHO FAIL TO

MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS IN THE SENIOR SCHOOL

School Responsibilities

TEACH THE COURSE OUTCOMES

SET APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT TASKS AND

TESTS

KEEP RECORDS OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE

(OR LACK OF PERFORMANCE)

PROVIDE INFORMATION ON PROGRESS

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE

DO…….. MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS

CHOOSE SUBJECTS YOU ENJOY

CHOOSE SUBJECTS YOU ARE GOOD AT

CONSIDER YOUR CAREER OPTIONS

FOCUS ON STRENGTHS (avoid weaknesses)

BE GUIDED BY TEACHERS, CAREERS ADVISER, PARENTS (not friends or students from years above)

Access NESA – NSW Education Standards Authority Website

Past HSC papers

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE

DON’T…. CHOOSE ON THE BASIS OF FRIENDSHIP

CHOOSE ON THE BASIS OF SCALING MYTHS AND

LEGENDS

CHOOSE ON THE BASIS OF A PARTICULAR TEACHER

Students must:

• follow the course developed or endorsed by the Board

• apply themselves with diligence and sustained effort

• achieve some or all of the course outcomes

• complete work placement for E-VET Board Developed Courses

• make a genuine attempt at assessment tasks that total more

than 50% of the available school assessment marks for HSC

courses only.

Satisfactory Completion of a Course

Reporting – HSC

HSC

Internal assessment 50%

External HSC exam 50%

HSC mark 100%

How is the HSC Mark Determined?

Why is it important?

• Contributes 50% of HSC mark (and ATAR if student is eligible)

• Is a course completion requirement

• Is used to calculate a HSC mark in the case of a successful Illness/Misadventure appeal

School-Based Assessment

Contribute 50% of HSC mark

VET exams are optional

Some courses have practical examinations and/or

submitted works or projects in addition to the written HSC

examination

Written examinations are held in October and November

each year

HSC Examinations

HSC

• is for all students

• reports student achievement in terms of a standard achieved in individual courses

• presents a profile of student achievement across a broad range of subjects

ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission

Rank)

• is for students wishing to gain a place at a university

• is a rank NOT a mark

• provides information about how students perform overall in relation to other students

• provides the discrimination required by universities for the selection process

The HSC and the ATAR

Satisfactory completion of:

• at least 10 units of Board Developed Courses including 2 units of English

• at least 4 Board Developed Courses

• at least 8 units of Category A courses

• no more than 2 units of Category B courses

ATAR Eligibility Requirements

Consider……

Syllabus requirements

Practical/Major work components

Subject combinations

• What do I want for my future?

• What ‘pathway’ best suits me?

• Ask for advice from:

• teachers• parents• year adviser• careers adviser• students in Years 11 and 12 (possibly)• publications + website• University – ‘assumed knowledge’ requirements

Consider….

WHAT NOW?

READ SUBJECT SELECTION BOOK

SEEK ADVICE FROM STAFF (Today, tomorrow etc)

DISCUSS OPTIONS WITH FAMILY

COMPLETE Web choices form, from 1pm today until 1pm Friday 20th August

MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS – NESA, Past HSC Papers

Visit Kiosks tonight

2022 and 2023

Senior School = Senior Requirements and Responsibilities

Read, research, Pre-requisites (assumed Knowledge),

Careers Adviser- Mr Dimopoulos, parents, BOS, Past HSC

Papers

Visit kiosks - tomorrow

Ask questions

Make INFORMED decisions

Enjoy your session and thank you for attending