1. HSC and ATAR Requirements
Singleton High School

2. Requirements for the HSC
Preliminary Course: Year 11
Minimum of 12 units.
Students must satisfactorily complete the preliminary course before commencing the HSC course.
HSC Course: Year 12
Minimum of 10 units.

3. Requirements for the HSC
Both 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.

4. The New HSC Stronger HSC Standards Reforms:
Minimum literacy and numeracy standard from 2020.
Regular review cycle of syllabuses provided online.
New courses, starting with Science Extension for Year 12, 2019.
Guidelines for effective school-based assessment:
3 tasks in Year 11 – only 1 formal exam
4 tasks in Year 12 – only 1 formal exam
Redesigned HSC exam questions to assess depth and application.
Research and expand use of computer-based assessments.
New syllabus: English, Science, Mathematics and History courses.
English Studies is now a Board Developed course. Optional HSC exam.
Common scale for Mathematics courses. Maths Standard 1 - Optional HSC exam.
New Mathematics courses have been postponed.

5. HSC: All My Own Work
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 before they can be entered.

6. Assessment Policy
Assessment policy handbook for Preliminary and HSC students.
Lateness of Tasks:
Illness/misadventure form (example next page).

8. Credentials ROSA – Record of School Achievement.
HSC – Higher School Certificate.
ATAR – Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank.

9. RoSA Record of School Achievement
A cumulative credential replacing the School Certificate awarded to students who leave school after completing Stage 5 (Years 9-10) but before completing the HSC.
Shows a students achievements up until they leave school.
Based on moderation, school-based assessments.
Offers voluntary literacy and numeracy tests for students leaving school.
Offers optional reporting of extra-curricular achievements.

10. Satisfactory Completion of a Course
Students must:
Follow the course developed or endorsed by NESA.
Apply themselves with diligence and sustained effort.
Achieved some or all of the course outcomes.
Complete work placement for 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.

11. How is the HSC Mark Determined?
School based assessment: 50%
External HSC exam: %
HSC mark: %

12. School-Based Assessment
Why is it important?
Contributes 50% of the HSC mark (and ATAR if student is eligible).
Is used to calculate a HSC mark in the case of a successful illness/misadventure appeal.
NESA puts the marks through a process of moderation to allow a fair comparison of marks in each course across different schools.

13. HSC Examinations Contribute to 50%of HSC mark. VET exams are optional.
Some courses have practical examinations and/or submitted work or projects in addition to the written HSC examination.
Written examinations are held in October and November each year.

14. HSC Mark
The HSC mark is a 50:50 combination of a student’s examination mark and school-based assessment mark for each course.
The HSC mark determines the performance band that a student.

15. Moderation: The assessment marks for each school/course group are moderated according to the same groups exam performance. This process maintains both the rank order of students within the school group and relative gaps between them.

16. The HSC: In Summary Is for all students.
Reports student achievement in terms of a standard achieved in individual courses.
Presents a profile of student achievement across abroad range of subjects.

17. The 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.
A students overall academic performance was good enough to place them in the top 15% of their age group. ATAR = 85.00
The ATAR is a number between 0.00 and 99.95
ATARs above 30 are reported in increments of 0.05

18. Who is Eligible for an ATAR
To be eligible for an ATAR you must satisfactorily complete at least 10 units of ATAR courses (Board Developed courses) including at least:
Eight units of Category A courses which includes Two units of English.
Three courses of two units or greater.
Four subjects.

19. Calculating the ATAR
Once marks are scaled, an aggregate mark is calculated using the best two units of English and the best eight remaining units.
Aggregate marks lie between 0 and 500.
A students position is then determined and the ATAR is calculated.

20. Myth or Fact?
I can study certain subjects to maximise my ATAR. MYTH
The only way you can maximise your ATAR is by achieving the highest possible assessment ranks and exam marks in all the courses you study.
You can achieve high HSC marks and a high ATAR regardless of the courses you study or the school you attend. Ensuring you apply consistent effort and application
FACT

21. Myth or Fact?
MYTH
If I am studying 11 units, the single-unit course won’t be counted in my ATAR calculation.
All your courses are converted to single units, and the best 8 units (after your best 2 units of English) are used to calculate your ATAR.
FACT

22. Myth or Fact?
MYTH
I can work out my ATAR from my trial or HSC marks.
The ATAR is about position, and even high HSC marks don’t necessarily mean a high position and therefore a high ATAR.
Fred and Laura’s results show the large difference in ATARs arising from much smaller differences in HSC marks.
FACT

23. Fred and Laura
Fred
Laura

24. In Summary…. How do I get a good ATAR?
Choose courses that you are interested in.
Choose courses that you are good at.
Courses relevant to what you want to do.
Consistent effort and application at school and home.
Complete and submit all work on time.
Have a school and personal wellbeing balance.

25. Homework Hints Develop a study timetable and use it .
Balance the subjects studied/revised .
Use a planner/diary. Set up a monthly calendar.
After the homework block, write a summary of what you covered for each subject during that time.

26. http://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au (NESA website)
Resources
(NESA website)
How your HSC works
HSC syllabuses
All about your ATAR (video)
Applying to uni: its really easy if you know what to do (PowerPoint presentation)

27. Support Ms Phillips – HT VET /Careers Advisor
Head Teachers of Subjects
Mrs Holloway – Deputy Principal (Year 10)
Mrs Koletsis -Tatt– Year Advisor
Ms Trimble –Year Advisor