DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY THE TQA TO YEAR 11 & 12 LEARNERS

INTRODUCTION The Tasmanian Qualifications Authority issues various documents to senior secondary learners at the end of each year. Which documents they receive will depend on issues such as: o their year level o the kinds of courses they study o the results they achieve.

YEAR 12 LEARNERS All year 12 learners who gain one or more post- year 10 qualifications will automatically receive a Qualifications Certificate at the end of the year…

QUALIFICATIONS CERTIFICATE Page 1 lists the major qualifications gained (eg the TCE)

QUALIFICATIONS CERTIFICATE Following pages list qualifications by type, size and TQA level of complexity…

QUALIFICATIONS CERTIFICATE Examples: TQA accredited courses VET qualifications TQA recognised qualifications

QUESTIONS: I am in year 11 and I am not doing year 12 – can I get a Qualifications Certificate? Yes, but you must apply to the TQA to be issued with a Qualifications Certificate. I am in year 12 but I plan to do year 13 – what happens? The TQA will issue you with a Qualifications Certificate at the end of year 12. If you study another year you will be issued with another Qualifications Certificate at the end of year 13 showing any new qualifications you gained in that year.

QUESTIONS: What happens if I get new qualifications after year 12/13? The Qualifications Certificate is designed to be a formal record of your post-compulsory qualifications. If you gain new qualifications (such as a university degree or a VET qualification) you can ask the TQA to issue you with an updated Qualifications Certificate. You may need to provide proof of having gained the qualification/s and there may be a small fee.

TASMANIAN CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (TCE) The TCE is a qualification awarded when a learner meets minimum standards. It is not a ‘leavers certificate’ or a ‘completed year 12’ certificate issued automatically at the end of the year. It is only awarded if a learner achieves the TCE’s five standards.

THE TCE The TCE’s five standards…

MEETING THE STANDARDS: A learner will usually demonstrate that they have met the literacy standard by gaining a ‘pass’ award in a course identified as having the appropriate content and standards (eg an ‘SA’ in Foundation English). Alternatively they may have to sit and pass a ‘safety-net’ test.

MEETING THE STANDARDS: A learner will usually demonstrate that they have met the numeracy standard by gaining a ‘pass’ award in a course identified as having the appropriate content and standards (eg an ‘SA’ in Workplace Maths). Alternatively they may have to sit and pass a ‘safety-net’ test.

MEETING THE STANDARDS: A learner will usually demonstrate that they have met the ICT standard by gaining a ‘pass’ award in a course identified as having the appropriate content and standards (eg a ‘Pass’ in Computing). Alternatively they may have to sit and pass a ‘safety-net’ test.

MEETING THE STANDARDS: The participation and achievement standard is measured in credit points. A learner has to gain at least 120 credit points (with at least 80 of these at TQA level 2 or higher).

QUESTIONS: What are credit points? How do you get them? The TQA allocates a size value to courses and qualifications. The size value measures ‘how big/how long’ a course is. In classroom-based courses a size value of 1 equates to about 10 hours of study. On successful completion of a course, credit points towards the participation and achievement standard of the TCE are gained. For example, Everyday English TQA 1 has a size value of 10 (about 100 hours of study). Gaining a ‘PA’ award or better in the course will generate 10 credit points at TQA level 1.

MEETING THE STANDARDS: A learner has to complete a pathway plan and lodge it with the TQA at the end of year 10. During years 11/12 the learner must review their plan. Course providers notify the TQA of this being done.

QUESTIONS: Where can I get more information about the TCE’s standards? Visit the TQA website page: Talk with a pathway planner/course counsellor Read the TQA brochure ‘Information for Students’. A pdf is available at the TQA website page:

QUESTIONS: How can I get a progress report on meeting the TCE’s standards? All year 11 learners are issued with a Statement of Results at the end of the year. It contains a progress report. You can use the TCE Planner Tool but remember that its calculations are made on the assumption that you successfully complete a course. The tool is available at the TQA website page:

QUESTIONS: I am finishing year 11 – can I get a TCE? Yes, IF you have met all the standards and notify the TQA that you want the TCE to be issued. However, it is unlikely that you will have met the participation and achievement standard by the end of year 11. Do I get a TCE at the end of year 12? Yes, IF you have met all the standards the TQA will post you one at the end of the year.

QUESTION: What happens if I don’t get a TCE at the end of year 12? You can be awarded a TCE when you meet all its standards. There are no time limits on meeting the TCE’s standards. The credit points you gain towards meeting the participation and achievement standard do not expire, and you do not have to ‘repeat’ any of the everyday adult skill sets. Example: A learner did not gain the TCE at the end of year 12 because they did not meet the participation and achievement standard. After completing some university study or a VET qualification they then reached the standard. The learner can then ask the TQA to issue them with a TCE.

THE TASMANIAN CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT (TCEA)

THE TCEA Some learners have personal circumstances that significantly affect on their learning. For example, long periods of illness, learning disabilities or critical family issues to deal with. A result like ‘PA’ might not really be a fair indication of what the student achieved. The TCEA is a TQA-issued, quality assured, descriptive account of such a student’s learning. It describes learning and educational achievement in words rather than results codes like ‘Pass’.

EXAMPLE TCEA

THE TCEA The TCEA is only issued to learners who apply for it and who meet eligibility criteria. See the TQA website page: Learners, their education providers and the TQA work together to produce the TCEA.

OTHER DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY THE TQA In December an Australian Tertiary Admission Statement is issued to year 12/13 learners who have gained an ‘SA’ or better in four or more TQA level 3 courses. It indicates a learner’s ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) and shows how it was calculated. The ATAR is used solely to determine entrance into university faculties.

QUESTION: Why didn’t I get an ATAR statement? To be eligible for an ATAR a learner must gain an ‘SA’ (or better) in four or five TQA level 3 courses in any two years of study post-grade 10, with three courses having been undertaken in either grade 12 or 13 (eg grade 11 & 12, 12 & 13 or 11 & 13).

QUESTION: What do I do with my ATAR statement? Your ATAR is automatically sent from the TQA to UTAS if you have asked us to do this on your enrolment form. UTAS will forward details to mainland tertiary admission agencies. If you are not interested in going to university you can disregard the statement or file it in case you change your mind.

OTHER DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY THE TQA Learners who completed TQA level 3 courses (and some level 2 courses) will receive a Criterion Profile Statement. It shows the final internal rating they received on each criterion and the ratings for externally assessed criteria (for level 3 courses).

A Criterion Profile Statement shows learners the individual ratings (such as ‘C’ or ‘B’) that collectively produce an award (such as ‘High Achievement’). Major discrepancies between internal and external ratings (eg ‘As’ internally and ‘Cs’ externally on the same criteria) may be a factor in a learner requesting to view an examination script. For more on the viewing of exam scripts see the TQA website page:

SUMMARY Year 12/13 students receive: a Qualifications Certificate - if they have gained one or more qualifications a Tasmanian Certificate of Education - if they have met all five standards a Tasmanian Certificate of Educational Achievement - if they are eligible an ATAR Statement - if they are eligible a Criterion Profile Statement - if they have completed TQA level 3 (and some level 2) courses.

SUMMARY Year 11 students receive: a Statement of Results - if they have gained one or more qualifications. The statement includes a summary of their progress towards meeting the requirements of the Tasmanian Certificate of Education a Criterion Profile Statement - if they have completed TQA level 3 (and some level 2) courses.

REMEMBER… the Qualifications Certificate can be updated at any time when you gain any new qualifications there are no time limits on gaining a Tasmanian Certificate of Education. As soon as you achieve the five standards you can ask the TQA to issue you with this qualification.

END