Useful Information for Employers
The Higher School Certificate (HSC)
- What courses do students study for their HSC?
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There are two main types of courses - Board Developed and Board Endorsed.
Board Developed Courses
These are the large number of courses that are set and externally examined by the Board of Studies including courses in the areas of English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Creative Arts, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Human Society and its Environment, Languages and Vocational Education and Training (VET) Curriculum Frameworks. These courses may contribute to the calculation of a Universities Admission Index (UAI).
On the Board website there is a list of the subjects available and a description of each course.
Board Endorsed Courses
These include courses that may be developed by schools, TAFE or universities. They contribute to the HSC but do not contribute to the calculation of the UAI.
- What are the different English and Mathematics courses?
- English
The two main courses are English Advanced and English Standard.
English Advanced involves the study of English at a higher level. It includes the study of Shakespeare and other literary texts and is undertaken by students who may wish to study English at university. There are additional English Extension courses which can only be studied in conjunction with English Advanced. English Extension 1 gives students the opportunity to study in-depth options and English Extension 2 provides students with the challenge of creating a Major Work which is assessed by examiners.
English Standard caters for a wide range of students. It is designed to develop and refine students' reading, writing, listening and speaking skills and to enhance their personal, social and vocational opportunities.
Both English Advanced and English Standard are reported on a common scale. This means that results in these courses can be compared with each other.
English as a Second Language (ESL) has been developed for students who have been educated overseas (or in Australia for less than five years) where English has not been the language of instruction. Strict rules apply to the eligibility of students entering ESL. See the ACE manual, section 8.2.2
- Mathematics
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The two main courses are Mathematics and General Mathematics.
Mathematics is a 2 unit course which involves the study of some calculus. It is a prerequisite for the higher level course Mathematics Extension 1. The highest level course is Mathematics Extension 2 which is designed for gifted students. Mathematics Extension 2 must be undertaken concurrently with Mathematics Extension 1.
General Mathematics is also a 2 unit Board Developed Course in Mathematics. It does not involve the study of calculus. It is designed for students who wish to enter occupations which require the use of standard mathematical and statistical techniques.