1. SMITH’S HILL HIGH SCHOOL
The HSC Year

2. Keep your eyes on the prize

3. Links to most things you need
Knowledge is power
(HSC Online)
Links to most things you need

4. 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

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

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

7. 12 months to go 190 school days 10000 (ish) days in a working life
HSC Year = approx. 2% of a working
life

8. 72,000

9. 72,000

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

11. 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

13. 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!

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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

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

19. 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.

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

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

22. 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

23. 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”.

24. 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.

25. 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)

26. 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.

27. 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.

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

29. 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.

30. To maximise performance in assessment and exams

31. 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

32. HSC Workbooks now available for purchase
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)

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

34. 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

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

36. Issues ? Stress Procrastination Time management Gaming Social Media
Perfectionism

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

40. Need information about mental health well-being?

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

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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.

46. Don’t Panic

47. Moderated Assessment Mark Plus HSC Exam Mark
The HSC Mark
Moderated Assessment Mark Plus HSC Exam Mark

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

49. 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)

50. It’s a long, tough race

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

52. Keep pedalling

53. 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.