Bankstown College of Tafe

BANKSTOWN COLLEGE OF TAFE HSC Enrolment Information Sheet, 2017

1. The HSC at Bankstown TAFE:

Studying the HSC at TAFE means you must abide by the rules and regulations of both TAFE and the NSW Board of Studies.

There are THREE ways to study the HSC at Bankstown TAFE in 2016:

 FULL-TIME HSC (one year). This is an intensive one year day course equivalent to both Years 11 and 12 at high school. Day HSC requires you to attend 4 hours per week for each subject studied. On average, students attend 20 hours of classes per week.

 PART-TIME HSC. Students can accumulate the HSC over two years, doing two or three subjects in their first year, and the same in their second. However, because of changes in government policy, it is no longer possible for students to complete both years in TAFE. Accumulation is only available to students who have completed their first year outside of TAFE. It is also not possible to change from full-time time study to part-time in the middle of Year 12, as you will have used up all of your government subsidy in your first year, and no extra funds will be made available after that. Finally, it is no longer possible to receive money from Centrelink if you are doing the HSC over two years, as you will not be doing enough hours to be deemed in full-time study. Of course, there is no problem with you doing the HSC over two years if you are not getting money from Centrelink.

 LIMITED ATAR. This option allows students who are already 20 years of age to receive an ATAR by studying either three or four subjects (English plus two or three other subjects). Please note, however, that you will need to study at least four subjects in order to be deemed full-time by Centrelink.

Students whose English is too weak to attempt the HSC may enrol in the Pathways to Further Study (PFS) course – a one semester (18 week) course, to prepare them for Year 12 or for the Tertiary Preparation Certificate (a TAFE-accredited equivalent of the HSC).

2. HSC – Credentials/Accumulation/Repeating subjects:

The Higher School Certificate is awarded by the Board to students who have:  gained the School Certificate or equivalent, and  enrolled in at least 12 units worth of Preliminary subjects and 10 units worth of HSC subjects, and  satisfactorily completed the course, and  sat for and made a serious attempt at each HSC examination.

If you wish to enrol in the Day HSC course and receive a full HSC, you will need to be enrolled in:  English,  4 other HSC subjects and one extra Preliminary subject, or  Five other HSC subjects.

You may accumulate HSC subjects over a maximum period of five years. The five year (rolling) period will commence in the first year that you attempt an HSC examination. You will receive a (cumulative) Record of Achievement (ROA) for each calendar year of study. Accumulating is an increasingly popular method of doing the HSC, and it is highly recommended for students whose time is limited by other commitments. Please note, however, that due to changes in government policy, you cannot study the HSC for more than one year in TAFE.

Version 1 – HSC Information Sheet 30/04/2018 1 of 4 You may repeat one or more HSC subjects within the five-year accumulation period. However, if you do so, the Board of Studies will use your latest attempt for the ATAR, not your best attempt.

3. Matriculation (ATAR):

Matriculation means qualifying for admission to university.

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), formally called the UAI, is usually the basis of admission to tertiary institutions. Your ATAR will be based on the total of scaled marks in 10 units of Board-developed subjects comprising:  the best 2 units of English  the best remaining 8 units of Board-developed Category A subjects.

An ATAR is calculated for all students who attempt 10 or more units which conform to the above requirements. All subjects offered at Bankstown TAFE this year not count towards the ATAR.

Many universities accept a 5 unit Limited ATAR for mature age entry, provided that –  you are at least 20 years of age on 1 March in the year you sit the HSC,  you study between five and nine units, and  you attempt the units at the one sitting (accumulation is not permitted).

The Limited ATAR will be calculated on –  at least one unit of English and  your best 5 units of Category A subjects

If you are applying for a full ATAR and are also eligible for a Limited ATAR (e.g. if you are accumulating your HSC subjects over two years and sit for between 5 and 9 units in the second year, two of which are English), you will be given both. You can use the higher of the two for university entry.

Some universities use the Limited ATAR in conjunction with other criteria for selection purposes. Please check with the University you are hoping to attend for their particular entrance requirements.

4. Other useful information:

The Counselling and Careers Service is available to assist with any issues that you may experience during the year. Counsellors can help you with decisions about courses and subjects at TAFE and university, with study skills, with personal problems and with CentreLink difficulties.

The Counselling and Careers Service is located on the ground floor of J Block, in the Student Contact Centre.

The Bankstown TAFE HSC website can be found at http//:bankstowntafehsc.swsi.wikispaces.net/ (or just type ‘bankstowntafehsc’ into Google). All information relating to the HSC at the college can be accessed on this site. You should consult it regularly.

5. Costs:

There are a number of compulsory costs involved in studying the HSC at Bankstown TAFE:  The initial enrolment fee. This can be paid in one hit or in instalments. The course costs $350 for those receiving money from Centrelink, and $700 for those who are not. If you expect to receive money from Centrelink and as a result of enrolling in the course, you will need to pay the first instalment, then take your enrolment receipt to Centrelink. Once you are enrolled with Centrelink, you need only pay the difference between the first instalment and the $300 enrolment fee.

Version 1 – HSC Information Sheet 30/04/2018 2 of 4  You may be required to buy a textbook for some of your subjects ($50 - $60 approximately). Other reading materials will be available on the college HSC website, and can be accessed cost free.

6. Adult Learning Environment:

Some things about studying the HSC at TAFE are the same as being at school. For example:  You must attend classes regularly. We do regular attendance checks.  You must make a serious attempt at all assessment tasks.  You sit the same HSC exams in October and November, the same as school students do.  There are trial exams in August.

However, there are also differences:  Our classes are between two and four hours long. Teachers will give you a ten minute break every hour, as long as you return to class on time. There is also a 40 minute break for lunch (12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.).  Evening classes are 4 hours long. They begin at 5:30 p.m. and finish at 9:30 p.m. There is normally a 20 minute dinner break at around 7:00 pm.  The HSC is an intensive course, where you need to complete both the Preliminary and the Year 12 requirements before the end of October. Failure to complete either means you will not get your HSC.  To succeed, you need a commitment to punctuality, regular attendance and a study routine.

We also have a number of expectations about you. These include:  treating other students with respect and fairness at all times.  doing nothing that will interfere with the learning of others.  being punctual and coming to class properly prepared for lessons.  catching up on work missed due to an absence.  following the directions and instructions from your teachers.  not attending classes under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in suspension or expulsion from the college.

7. Student Selection:

Priority for enrolment will be given to those applicants who can demonstrate their readiness to undertake their studies in an adult learning environment.

Students who are under 18 years of age must have completed Year 10 before they can do the HSC in TAFE. Students who are 18 and over who have not done Year 10 may enrol if they can demonstrate that they have the ability to successfully complete the course.

8. Subjects:

Please note the following rules with regard to subject choices:  TAFE rules require a minimum number of students to be enrolled in a subject before that class can begin.  There are some subjects that are timetabled at the same time (see next page).

The following subjects are available at Bankstown TAFE in 2017:  Standard English  Advanced English  General Maths  Modern History  Ancient History  Geography

Version 1 – HSC Information Sheet 30/04/2018 3 of 4  Studies of Religion  Legal Studies (Evening only)  Fundamentals of English (Preliminary only)

The timetables of Bankstown, Granville and Liverpool TAFEs have been integrated to allow Bankstown students to undertake the following subjects:  Chemistry (Granville TAFE)  Biology (Granville TAFE)  Business Studies (Granville TAFE) (Evening only)  Information Processes and Technology (IPT) (Granville TAFE)  2 Unit Maths (Liverpool TAFE)

If you have only 10 Preliminary units, then you will have to choose an extra HSC subject (and withdraw once the Preliminary component is complete) or choose Fundamentals of English.

Please note that all your subject choices will be explained to you during the interview process. We will not enrol you in a configuration of subjects that will prevent you from getting the HSC.

If you need further information please contact:

Ken Enderby HSC Co-ordinator Office: J1.05 Phone: 9780 5588 Email: [email protected] HSC website: http//:bankstowntafehsc.swsi.wikispaces.net/

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