SMITH’S HILL HIGH SCHOOL The HSC Year

Keep your eyes on the prize

Links to most things you need Knowledge is power www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au http://studentsonline.bos.nsw.edu.au/ www.uac.edu.au/atar/ www.hsc.csu.edu.au (HSC Online) Links to most things you need

Board of Studies Everything you need to know about the HSC can be accessed via these links on the BOS Home Page How your HSC works HSC Exam Papers HSC Assessment HSC Syllabuses

What will you get ?? HSC HSC Record of Achievement Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) ROSA School Reference School Reports

maximise your opportunities The HSC is all about OPTIONS & OPPORTUNITIES Keep your options open to maximise your opportunities

12 months to go 190 school days 10000 (ish) days in a working life HSC Year = approx. 2% of a working life

72,000

72,000

different patterns of study Smith’s Hill 72,000 27,000 different patterns of study 20,000 are unique

It takes a village to raise a child It’s a team effort Success in the HSC is a team effort. Students are encouraged to both use, and contribute to, the "team" in order to maximise personal and team performance. The team is made up of .......  students (peers)  parents & family  teachers  “significant others” It takes a village to raise a child

To qualify for the award of the HSC ….. You must satisfactorily complete: 12 units in the Preliminary Course at least 10 units in the HSC Course ….. and meet the Board of Studies requirements for the award of an HSC in each course. Thinking of “dropping a subject”?? Make an informed choice It’s not about “free” periods!

Picking up or Dropping courses Evaluate your performance honestly Discuss with your teacher(s) and parents Make an informed decision … for the right reasons Senior Course Change Request Form Parent signature Teacher and Head Teacher signatures Take the form to a DP If approved – new timetable - BOS enrolment altered

Caveat Students seeking to pick up extension courses: ~ must discuss this with the HT prior to presenting a subject change form ~ if only studying 10 units must seek the specific approval of the principal

BOS RULES follow the course developed by the Board of Studies work with diligence and sustained effort on the set tasks and experiences provided by the school achieve some or all of the outcomes

but, if that’s all you do …… it may be difficult to achieve results that maximise your opportunities

The HSC Mark 50% Moderated School Assessment plus 50% HSC Exam Mark

School Assessment Students will receive  School Assessment Policy Assessment Task Schedule Summary Booklet Assessment Task Schedule in each HSC Course. All of these documents will be made available on Sentral this week. Students must comply with the rules for assessment outlined in the Assessment Policy. Students must complete at least 50% (by value) of the tasks for satisfactory completion of each course. The school is only permitted to notify you of your rank at the end of the HSC course.

There are 4 Assessment Weeks: 1. Week 8 Term 4 2. Weeks 8&9 Term 1 Half-yearly Exam 3. Week 8 Term 2 4. Weeks 4 & 5 Term 3 Trial HSC

Assessment Rules A deadline is a deadline 8.25 am on the date due for take home tasks

Consequences Failure to: meet a deadline (submit a task by the due date) attempt an exam (without an accepted reason) will result in …. ~ a mark of zero ~ the requirement to complete the task ~ an N Determination Warning Includes non-serious attempts

N Determination Warnings If a student is not meeting the requirements for the satisfactory completion of an HSC course an official warning letter is sent to parents so that they can work with the school to assist the student to remedy the problem. The warning letter will specify what the student is required to do to complete the task or to be deemed as working with “diligence and sustained effort”.

An N Determination If an N Determination is made for a course, that course will not appear on the student’s Record of Achievement. This may mean the student is ineligible for the award of the HSC or the calculation of the ATAR.

Illness or Misadventure If illness or other serious, unforeseen circumstances mean a student is unable to complete a task by the due date (and is seeking an extension) or attend an assessment task or exam or adequately prepare for an assessment task or exam they must complete an Illness/ Misadventure Appeal Form and submit it to: the relevant Head Teacher (non-exam tasks) or the Deputy Principal (in the case of exams)

If in doubt, ring the Principal or DP to discuss the situation. BOS Rules Apply It is essential that you read the Illness/Misadventure policy and procedures carefully and ensure you comply with them if making an Illness/Misadventure Appeal. This particularly applies to medical and independent evidence. The school needs to ensure that both the well-being of the individual and the integrity of the assessment process are considered when assessing an Illness/Misadventure Appeal. A seven day limit applies If in doubt, ring the Principal or DP to discuss the situation.

Misadventure: the outcome If the Illness/Misadventure Appeal is upheld, the student and the Head Teacher or DP will negotiate an appropriate time for the task to be submitted or completed denied, the student will receive zero for the task if it is not completed by or on the required date. The task must still be completed. Students can appeal the decision to the Principal. nb. The 50% limit.

HSC Major Works NO EXTENSIONS There are provided by the BOS for HSC Major Works

Recording & Calculating the School Assessment Each assessment task carries “weighting” – the greater the weight, the greater the impact on a students overall result. A final mark is calculated by combining all assessment tasks according to their weight. This is done by calculating the Z – Score of each assessment.

To maximise performance in assessment and exams

BE PREPARED Know….. the Syllabus ……… the dot points the Key Words …. the directive terms what to expect ….. the structure of the exam the standards and expectations …… marking guidelines / sample answers

HSC Workbooks now available for purchase www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au The Syllabus Glossary of Key Words HSC Exams ….. past papers Notes from the Marking Centre HSC Standards Packages HSC Workbooks now available for purchase (from $15.85)

STUDY Prepare study notes And don’t forget: for tips, guidance and support go to the website www.studyskillshandbook.com.au Username: forsmithshillhsonly password: 46results Prepare study notes

PRACTICE short responses extended responses multiple choice You have to be able to convert what you know and understand to responses that maximise your marks

Use time effectively …. ensure the time you spend on study / homework delivers the intended outcome …. You need to be able to focus

Issues ? Stress Procrastination Time management Gaming Social Media Perfectionism

Google: The Science of Procrastination …. And How to Manage It

Need information about mental health well-being?

Check Out: The Smiling Mind website Mindfulness Check Out: The Smiling Mind website It’s worth a try Live in the moment

Special needs or Issues? If you have any sort of issue or problem let us know asap. Don’t be an ostrich!! Small issues become big issues if they are not dealt with. We can give advice and support if we know you need it. Disability Provisions (previously called Special Provisions) Illness / Misadventure

Tell someone Ask for help Let someone know if you are worried about a friend Parents: Contact us if you are concerned about your son/daughter

Be Pro-active & Organised Term 3 It’s BUSY! The Trial HSC Major Works HSC Performances Language Speaking Exams Final school assessment tasks Scholarship & Early Entry Applications Course work continues Be Pro-active & Organised

10% On Top Attend regularly after the Trial HSC …. It’s a time that, research indicates, makes a significant difference to student performance in the HSC Exam. A mentor also helps. Ask your Year Advisor to organise it for you.

Don’t Panic

Moderated Assessment Mark Plus HSC Exam Mark The HSC Mark Moderated Assessment Mark Plus HSC Exam Mark

Does this subject get scaled up? Yes and No Subjects don’t get scaled, groups of students’ marks get scaled.

University Entry Mr Watchirs is the man. Early Entry Scholarships Educational Access Scheme Tertiary Awareness Evening Contacts / Open Days Advice (eg. the ATAR is only an indicator …. See the Sub Dean)

It’s a long, tough race

The sun will come up the day after the HSC in 2017 There are many paths to any destination

Keep pedalling

Desiderata Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.