This document provides information about subject selection and pathways after Year 10 for students at BCS Vertical Senior Curriculum. It outlines the options available, including completing the HSC and obtaining an ATAR. It describes the vertical curriculum structure where students complete a compressed preliminary course over 1.5 years and sit HSC exams throughout. Key details are provided about subject types, ATAR calculation, minimum requirements, and timelines for subject selection.

1. BCS Vertical Senior Curriculum
Subject Selection for 2021/2022 HSC

2. What options are there after Year 10?
Since 2010, all NSW students must complete Year 10.
After Year 10 and until the age of 17, students must be:
a. in school, or registered for home schooling OR
b. in approved education or training OR
c. in full-time, paid employment (25 hours/week or more) OR
d. in a combination of these
One option is to choose to complete the HSC.

3. To give yourself the best chance of achieving the maximum marks possible in
the HSC, choose subjects on the basis of your
1.Interest 2. Aptitude/Ability 3. Motivation
• If you like a subject you will be more inclined to study for it and do well!
• Choose the right level of subject for your ability – especially in English,
maths and sciences. Talk to your teacher!!
• Consider how hard you are willing to work towards the HSC
• Do NOT choose subjects based on what your friend, sibling, parent etc
wants!! This is YOUR HSC, not theirs!!

4. There is lots of HSC Jargon!
NESA NSW Education Standards Authority NESA is responsible for school curriculum, assessment, and teaching and regulatory standards in NSW
schools.
HSC Higher School Certificate The HSC is the highest education award that can be achieved at secondary level of education in NSW.
Prelim. Preliminary HSC Basically means Year 11, studies in Terms 1, 2 and 3. The HSC year (Year 12) is studied in Terms 4 (of the Year
11 calendar year) and Terms 1,2 and 3 of the following year.
Units 1 unit = 120 hours of study
2 unit = 240 hours of study
A measure of hours of study a course (subject) requires
Board Developed Course Courses (subjects) that are examined by BOSTES and contribute towards the calculation of an ATAR
Board Endorsed Course Courses (subjects) that count towards the HSC, but do NOT have an examination and do NOT contribute to the
calculation of an ATAR.

5. Life Skills Life Skills courses (subjects) are for students with special education needs. Students who meet specific Life
Skills entry requirements can achieve a Life Skills (non-ATAR) HSC.
VET Vocational Education and Training Courses (subjects) that can be studied at school (SVET) or at TAFE or another training provider external to the
school (EVET). VET courses contribute to the HSC and AQF credentials. Some courses have an optional HSC exam
and can contribute to the calculation of an ATAR.
AQF Australian Qualifications Framework Credentials recognised by industry and employers throughout Australia.
SBAT School Based Apprentices and Trainees The combination of a part time apprenticeship or traineeship with HSC study.
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning Where prior learning and/or qualifications can give you credit towards a qualification currently being studied.

6. ATAR Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank The ATAR is the primary criteria for admission to undergraduate courses at universities in Australia. The ATAR
is a RANK, not a mark, and is reported as a number between 0.00 and 99.95. See www.uac.edu.au/atar
Pathways The HSC can be accumulated over a period of up to 5 years, offering a more flexible study option for students with
other commitments
UAC Universities Admission Centre UAC processes applications for most undergraduate courses at participating institutions, mainly located in NSW
and ACT.
Undergraduate A student at university who does not already have a university (Bachelor) level qualification

7. TYPES OF COURSES
• There are different types of courses that students can select in Years
11 and 12.
Board Developed Courses
• These courses are developed by NESA. They are examined externally
at the end of the HSC course and can count towards the calculation of
the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).
• Board Developed Courses are categorised Cat. A or Cat. B
• VET courses, English Studies and Maths Standard 1 are Cat. B and
have an OPTIONAL HSC exam. Only ONE of this category of course can
be counted towards the calculation of the ATAR.

8. Board/Content Endorsed Courses
Content Endorsed Courses (CECs) - have syllabuses endorsed by NESA
to cater for areas of special interest not covered in the Board
Developed Courses.
( At BCS these are: Exploring Early Childhood, Furniture Making Pathways, Photography, SLR, Work Studies
and some courses offered by TAFE and other external providers)
• These count towards the HSC and appear on your Record of
Achievement.
These courses do not count towards the calculation of the ATAR.

9. Vocational Education and Training (VET)
• Courses are Board Developed or Board Endorsed
• (VET) courses are designed by industry and taught to industry standards.
They allow students to gain both HSC qualifications, and accreditation with
industry as part of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
• The national framework is recognised across Australia.
• These courses each have a specific workplace component and a minimum
number of hours students must spend in the workplace. Some of these
courses will be delivered by schools, while others will be delivered by TAFE
or other providers.
• VET Courses count towards the HSC and appear on your Record of
Achievement.
• Only one VET Course can count in the calculation of the ATAR.
• Some VET courses do not count toward the ATAR.

10. eVET – externally delivered VET courses
(usually TAFE)
If you wish to apply to complete a TAFE course as part of your HSC, you will need to note the following:
• To apply, you will need to have a meeting with the Careers Adviser and complete a separate application / expression of interest form and
hand into Linda Drenkhahn (closing date to be advised).
• On your behalf, the school will APPLY for you to do this course.
• TAFE will make decisions based on numbers and funding and MAY make you an OFFER. There is NO GUARANTEE your application will be
successful.
• Offers from TAFE should not be expected until very late in 2020 or even early in 2021.
• If you change your mind, you can decline your offer, but if you accept, you will be expected to complete the course.
• If you choose an eVET course, it will be IN ADDITION to your subjects at school.
• Students can only apply to do ONE eVET/TAFE course and MUST be able to get there –
Newcastle, Maitland, Glendale, Taree, Great Lakes. Course information is available in a separate TAFE publication.
• When completing the application form, students MUST provide a USI – Unique Student Identifier. See https://www.usi.gov.au/ to generate
your USI. This is a lifelong number, so you should keep a record of it somewhere secure.

11. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE HSC
To be awarded the HSC, a student 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 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 7 units of courses in Science can contribute to HSC eligibility.
• complete the practical, oral or project works required for specific courses and the assessment requirements for each course
• have sat for and made a serious attempt at the required HSC examinations
• have met the HSC Minimum Standards in Literacy and Numeracy (see handbook for further information).

12. ATAR
The ATAR is a rank, not a mark.
• The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a number between
0.00 and 99.95 that indicates a student’s position relative to all the
students who started high school with them in Year 7.
• Universities use the ATAR to help them select students for their
courses and admission to most tertiary courses is based on your
selection rank (your ATAR + any applicable adjustments).
• Most universities also use other criteria when selecting students (eg
a personal statement, a questionnaire, a portfolio of work, an
audition, an interview or a test).

13. Who gets an ATAR?
To be eligible for an ATAR in NSW, you must satisfactorily complete at least
10 units of ATAR courses. These ATAR courses must include at least:
• 8 units from Category A courses
• Any 2 units of English
• three Board Developed courses of 2 units or greater
• four subjects
• No more than 2 Cat. B units of study
• note – if you do English Studies, this is the ONLY Category B subject you can
include in the ATAR calculation
Not everyone needs OR wants an ATAR

14. FACTS ABOUT THE ATAR
• The ATAR is only a RANK used for university entry – it has NO OTHER PURPOSE
• You can get a good ATAR with any combination of courses you take.
• You have to do really well in a course to get any benefit from scaling.
• You must get marks on or above the average to get an average ATAR or above.
• Average marks for the majority of courses are above 75.
• Courses don’t scale you up or down. Your achievement in the course scales you up or down.
• Scaling is placing you in order in all courses based on your academic ability/performance.
• The ATAR is a rank that shows your overall academic ability/performance amongst all other
students in the state (about 75,000 of them!!)
To do well in the HSC and ATAR, you should expect to put in a MINIMUM of 2 hours
work each evening at home, including weekends. This includes exam prep, reading,
research, prep for assessment tasks etc.

15. Why is my ATAR low compared with my HSC marks?
Your HSC marks (your performance) and ATAR (your position) are different
measures of achievement and therefore should not be compared.
However, if you are in the middle group of students in all your courses (with
marks typically in the mid-70s), you may receive an ATAR of around 70.00.
Sometimes marks in the 70s can mean a much lower ATAR depending on
your courses and your position in those courses.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy7N400Lv_-
xlgiuSjgujdpIgSERN6s4r

16. MEET FRED & LAURA
Fred Laura
Course HSC mark HSC mark
Biology 70 80
Business Studies 70 80
English Advanced 70 80
Mathematics 70 80
Modern History 70 80
Visual Arts 70 80
ATAR 56.05 76.50

18. BCS Vertical Senior Curriculum
In order to be able to offer as many subjects as possible with small
cohorts, BCS has a Vertical Senior Curriculum structure for the HSC.

19. For 2021:
Current Year 10 students going into Year 11 will complete :
*Preliminary English (Line 1 A)
*1 other Prelimiary subject (Line 1 B)
*2 x SVC (compressed) subjects (Lines 2 and 3)
* Up to 2 x HSC examinations, depending on the 2 SVC subjects chosen
In 2022, to achieve the HSC, these students will complete
• HSC English (Line 1A)
• 1 other HSC subject (Line 1 B)
• 2 new SVC (compressed) subjects (Lines 2 and 3)
• Up to 4 x HSC examinations, depending on the 2 SVC subjects chosen
• Have met the HSC Minimum Standards in Literacy and Numeracy
Depending on subjects chosen, some students may not have to complete any external HSC examinations.

20. Year 11 2021
Term 4 2020
Week 6
*Start 2 x SVC subjects (Lines 2 & 3 - Preliminary Course)
* Complete AMOW, Life Ready, Minimum Standards, Study Skills etc
Term 1 2021 Term 2 2021 Term 3 2021 Term 4 2021
* Continue with 2 x SVC
subjects (Lines 2 & 3 -
Preliminary Course)
* Start 2 x Preliminary courses
(Lines 1 A & 1B)
* Continue with 2 x
Preliminary subjects
* Start HSC Course in 2 x SCV
subjects
* Complete Preliminary HSC in
2 subjects
* Complete HSC Course in 2 x
SVC subjects
Weeks 1-5
*Complete HSC external
examinations in up to 2 SVC
subjects
* Start 2 x HSC courses (Line 1
A and 1 B)
Week 6 – start 2 x new SVC
subjects (Preliminary course)

21. Year 12 2022
Term 1 2022 Term 2 2022 Term 3 2022 Term 4 2022
* Complete 2 x SVC
Preliminary course
* Continue with 2 x HSC
Courses
* Continue with 2 x HSC
courses
* Start HSC course in 2 x SVC
subjects
* Complete HSC course in 4
subjects
Complete up to 4 external
HSC examinations (plus
examination for any
extension or TAFE subjects)

22. Year 12 2021
Students currently in Year 11, going into Year 12 in 2021 will continue
with SVC pattern of delivery and will need to:
* choose 2 x SVC subjects.
• These subjects will start in Week 6 Term 4, 2020
• HSC examinations for these subjects (if applicable) will be sat in
October 2021

23. Subject Selection Timeline
• Term 3 Week 3 – Student choices will be made in consultation with
parent/carer, and an interview with CA/DP/P
• Term 3 Week 5 – Executive staff will determine which courses can run
and the line / timetable structure
• Term 3 Week 6-7 – some students may need to reselect a subject and
final choices will be sent home in a letter of confirmation
• Term 3 Week 8-10 – timetable is created for Term 4 Week 6 roll over!

24. REMEMBER THIS:
The HSC and ATAR is important BUT:
Do NOT let it make you sick!!!
• The ATAR pattern of study is not relevant for everyone!
• There are multiple alternative pathways to get into almost any course at
university that you may want to get into. See me for more information.
• We are here to help – if you have ANY questions along the way, please make sure
you ask!!