Supporting Student Pathways and QCE

An ATAR is the only way that senior students get to University

• True

• False

• What is an ATAR?

Answer explanation

False! There are other options to go to University, including Certificate III, Certificate IV and Diploma students in school and TAFE/further training after Year 12.

QCE points for General subjects are worth more than Applied subjects

• True

• False

• I am not sure what the difference is between General and Applied subjects

Answer explanation

False! Regardless of how 'hard' the subject is, each subject offers the potential of 4 QCE points for every student enrolled in the subject!

An ATAR (university pathway) student cannot do a traineeship at Southport State High

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True! Realistically, a student who is completing 5 General subjects cannot be expected to keep up with all of their work, especially as they miss one day a week to complete their traineeship.

Senior students are encouraged to change subjects in which they are not achieving success

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False!! Subject changes are not ideal in Year 11 and 12. Students can only really change at every unit and for 2022 Year 11, students can only change a maximum of 2 subjects (unless required as part if a pathway change).

General English, a general Maths and at least one Science are pre-requisites for the majority of University courses.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False! A general English subject is the only prerequisite for the majority of university courses.

Every ATAR student should choose subjects that scale well in order to get a better ATAR

• True

• False

• What is scaling?

Answer explanation

False! Students should not use scaling as the key factor when selecting subjects.

Instead, they should choose subjects that they are good at, they are passionate about, that cognitively stretch them and subjects that they may need as prerequisites for university.

Certificate Courses are designed for students who have failed subjects in Year 11 or 12

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False! Every student on a General Pathway is encouraged to complete a Cert II (usially in Sampling and Measuring) to act as a QCE backup and potentially allow a subject change in Unit 1 or 2, if necessary.

Students can pass Unit 3, fail Unit 4 and still get a QCE point

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False! In every subject, Unit 3 and 4 are paired together - it is the mark out of 100 (General) or final grade (Applied) that indicates whether the student achieves two points for the subject or not.