1. VTAC webinar – Choosing VCE studies Wednesday 21 May 2014 – 4.30pm – 5.30pm

2.  Key messages for Year 10 students ◦ Why start now ◦ Typical questions ◦ The facts about subject choices ◦ Getting a grip on scaling ◦ Keeping the message simple ◦ Pathways and options  VTAC resources available to Year 10 students and practitioners.

3.  Careers practitioners were asked about the most important messages for Year 10 students about to choose their VCE studies.  The most important things that Year 10 students should consider - ◦ What subjects do they think they will like? ◦ What subjects do they think they will be good at? ◦ What subjects do you need to get into the course you’re interested in? ◦ Choosing studies now can help with their pathway.

4.  A good ATAR is a subjective outcome  To some a good ATAR is 99.95, to others it’s anything over 50.  Students should consider what ATAR they need to ◦ Pursue their career dreams ◦ Keep their options open for courses, they may change their mind

5.  Think about the studies they would like to do and would be good at.  Think about what they are aiming for and what they define as a ‘good’ ATAR  Start learning that there are no tricks – to get a ‘good’ ATAR students need to do well across all studies.  Start thinking about tertiary courses they would like to do and understand the pathways available.  The decision they make is not binding for life.

6.  How do I know what I will want to do in two years? Study? Work? Travel?  What if I change my mind?  How do I know which studies are going to suit my interests?  How do I know which studies are best for me?  What if I don't get the ATAR I need?

7.  Scaling is not predetermined - individuals change but patterns don’t usually change.  Doing a language won’t add 5 points to your ATAR.  Doing a mathematics won’t automatically guarantee a higher ATAR.  Doing studies based on scaling patterns won’t guarantee a ‘good’ ATAR unless you are good across all of your studies.  A humanities based curriculum does not guarantee a low ATAR.  All studies are treated equally, which enables students to choose the studies they enjoy and are good at.

8.  If a student chooses studies they enjoy and are good at, their ATAR will look after itself. The following is an example of a student who chose a humanities based program in 2013. YearStudyStudy Score VTAC scaled study score 2013 Aggregate Contribution 2013English Language3840.52 2013Philosophy3636.86 2013History: Revolutions3636.23 2013Sociology3834.44 2012Psychology3330.963.09 2013Literature2929.902.99 Aggregate154.1 2013 ATAR87.40

9.  Choosing a study they are not very good at simply because it will be scaled up, may result in a lower VCAA Study Score. In this example four of the six studies were scaled up. YearStudyStudy Score VTAC Scaled Study Score 2013 Aggregate Contribution 2013English (EAL)2623.65 2013Physics1919.50 2013Maths: Specialist Mathematics 1519.27 2013Maths: Mathematical Methods (CAS) 1818.95 2013Chemistry1617.641.76 2012Environmental Science1915.891.58 Aggregate84.7 2013 ATAR33.65

10.  There are some great examples in the Choice booklet, a publication specifically targeted to assist Year 10 students when choosing their VCE studies. http://www.vtac.edu.au/pdf/publications/choice.pdf http://www.vtac.edu.au/pdf/publications/choice.pdf

11.  A VCE Study score is an indication of a student’s ‘relative’ performance in a particular study. A 25 in one study is not the same as a 25 in another study because the relative performance is based on the performance of individuals within that single study.  Scaling adjusts for differences in the ability of students across all of their studies. This ensures scaled scores are comparable across different studies i.e. a 25 in one study is equal to a 25 in another.

12.  Studies are scaled in the year in which they are taken i.e. a study done in Year 11, will be scaled in that year.  There are no pre-determined outcomes, adjustments are based on the performance of students each year.  The process is stable, so patterns tend to remain constant and there is very little difference from year to year.

13.  Scaling is a fair way of ranking students even though they have taken different combinations of studies.  Your message to year 10 students: Choose the study combination you want to do and are good at. Choose the studies you like and interest you. Understand that the broader the program, the more options available. Choose the study combination you want to do and are good at. Choose the studies you like and interest you. Understand that the broader the program, the more options available.

14.  Students should think smart and consider all their options: ◦ Check out courses not individual institutions ◦ Use online search engines to explore the different types of courses ◦ Talk to people in their dream jobs to see what they did to get where they are ◦ Explore different paths to achieve objectives:  VET programs at TAFEs and other Colleges  Pathway programs between Certificate/Diploma courses and university degrees  What other ideas do you have to add to this list?

15.  Choice  Explains the common terms students will need to familiarise themselves with and covers the options available for VCE and beyond.  One copy per student sent to schools  Includes sample case studies of real student programs so they can understand the principles behind the ATAR calculation.  VICTER ◦ available 22 July in metro newspapers ◦ lists VCE study requirements for courses commencing in 2017. http://www.vtac.edu.au/publications/

16.  Electronic versions of Choice and VICTER ◦ www.vtac.edu.au/publications www.vtac.edu.au/publications ◦ All VTAC publications are available for download onto a device as an Ebook or PDF  CourseSearch available from www.vtac.edu.auwww.vtac.edu.au  CourseLink – Student Access  CourseLink – Careers Prac Access

17.  http://delta.vtac.edu.au/CourseSearch/searchguide.htm http://delta.vtac.edu.au/CourseSearch/searchguide.htm  CourseSearch 2015 available late July.  CourseSearch 2014 archived from April – late July*.  CourseSearch functions: ◦ Simple search ◦ Advanced search by institution, key word, major, field of study ◦ By using the shortlist function Year 10 students can create and send a list to themselves, careers practitioners and parents a list of current courses. *Note, archived data is only current for that year.

18.  Student data including ◦ Prerequisite course search  Prerequisite course search  Student data ◦ Preferences, payments ◦ Offers, enrolments  School data includes ◦ Key dates ◦ Account management ◦ Archived data ◦ Publications ◦ Briefings  For years 11 and 12 students  For years 9 -12 ◦ 9 and 10, use email to create an account ◦ Year 11 and 12 can use VCAA student number  The program: ◦ Checks prerequisites ◦ Checks the impact of study choices ◦ CourseSearch and preference practice Careers Practitioner AccessStudent Access

19. 1. Set up your own account 2. Get your students to set up their own account/s

20.  Register with CourseLink using your Name, Email and Date of birth

21.  Use CourseSearch/Preference Practice to explore courses based on proposed or existing prerequisites.

23. Choose the VICTER year

25.  Year 10 presentation for careers practitioners, students and parents – Early July.  PDF/Ebook of Choice and VICTER – mid July  PDF/Ebook of VTAC Guide, available late July  CourseLink – Careers Practitioner Access

26.  Keep the message simple – it is about making a start.  Reinforce the facts  Focus on – ◦ Studies students would like to do. ◦ Studies they think they would be good at. ◦ Breadth to keep options open  Utilise all resources ◦ CourseLink, CourseSearch ◦ Publications: VICTER, Choice, ABC of Scaling