Often, by selecting the VCE subjects that you find most interesting and engaging, you are indirectly selecting the easiest VCE subjects for you. By finding enjoyment in the content you’re learning, you are more likely to feel motivated to study and overall understand the content you’re learning to a higher degree, making the process of graduating VCE easier.  

What Are the Easiest VCE Subjects?

The degree to which you find a subject easy is quite subjective. Factors such as previous knowledge, enjoyment, and motivation all play a part in determining which subjects are best suited to you. 

Math Methods 

Math Methods is believed to be the middle ground of VCE Mathematics, it is easier than Specialist but harder than Further Mathematics. The content taught in methods includes learning to manipulate complicated algebraic expressions, understand principles of statistics, and use mathematics to solve real-life problems (1). The content is quite simple, with Unit 3 and 4 being a repeat of Units 1 and 2. It is therefore easier to get good at maths methods due to studying similar concepts over two years.

English 

Mainstream English is thought to be the easiest English option provided by VCAA. With students learning how to dissect texts for themes from quite early on in their schooling journey, most consider it quite easy to get an A in English. English helps to develop your ability to create and analyse texts, moving from interpretation to reflection and critical analysis (2). The assessment tasks include comparative essays, article analysis, creative writing, persuasive text, and an oral presentation (2). 

Health and Human Development 

Health is considered an easier VCE subject due to the content taught. The study design outlines concepts such as dimensions of health, Australian Healthcare Systems, Government health incentives (3), and any other health related concepts that you come across in your daily life. The subject is easier than most as it is often covers knowledge that you would already have a foundation understanding of. The content is relevant and useful in understanding how Australian and global health systems function (3). 

What Are the Hardest VCE Subjects?

The following subjects may be instinctively hard for some students but quite enjoyable for others. Again, if you find these VCE subjects interesting engaging, and suited to your strengths, they may be the easiest VCE subjects for you.

Legal Studies 

It is considered harder to excel in legal studies due to the abundant amount of weekly reading, writing, and intense memorisation of concepts (4). Unit 1/2 is the first exposure most students get to legal studies with the Victorian curriculum not particularly offering much prior learning of the subject from year 7 to 10. Lots of the concepts are therefore new and required to be learnt at a faster pace than most other VCE subjects.  

Physics 

Getting an A in physics is deemed quite difficult due to the multiple formulas and calculations involved in the subject. Physics is a combination of science and mathematics with a large syllabus containing laws, hand rules, vector quantities, and scalar quantities (5). Remembering and applying these equations to exam questions can be quite overwhelming without dedicated focus and study time. 

Literature 

Literature requires students to look beyond the words of the text and further explore the meaning behind the text (6). The texts looked at in literature are often less modernised and more complex than mainstream English. The focus of literature essays is to explore why the author is writing the way they are and message they are trying to convey about their time (6). Students who are unable to think laterally may find it complicated to grasp an in depth meaning of the texts explored in literature.  

How many VCE Subjects Can You Do?

To meet VCE requirements, you must complete a minimum of 16 units of VCE content. This equivalates to 4 subjects from Units 1-4 with at least 1 being English (7). 

Upon completing 4 primary VCE subjects, students (with school permission and guidance) can select to complete up to 2 additional incremental subjects. Completing these extra 2 subjects can put you at an advantage of achieving a higher ATAR, with 10% of the score from the incremental subject attributing towards your final ATAR (7). 

Tips for Choosing the Best VCE Subjects For You

Before making your final decision, it is recommended that you read through the study designs of each subject to grasp a better understanding of the content and assessment expectations. 

It is also useful to ask advice from a guidance counsellor, teacher, or parent. Remember to keep in mind the course that you desire to study after graduating as subjects may act as pre-requisites for course entry.

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) recognise that some content taught in subjects may be easier to understand compared to others. VCAA therefore uses a scaling system to rank and average out scores received in all subjects from most to least competitive. This ensures that despite what subject’s students chose to study, all results are appropriately distributed. 

It is therefore not always necessarily smarter to choose the “easier” subjects based on the principle of having a decreased workload. Ensure that you are choosing subjects that you enjoy and find stimulating! 

Want to Excel in All Your VCE Subjects?

Using external resources such as teachers, additional textbooks, study groups, and private tutoring sessions are most beneficial in helping excel your VCE subjects.

Need a helping hand with your VCE subjects? A Team Tuition is here to help. With our tried and true tutoring methods, we can help you master all your VCE subjects with our at-home and online tutoring. Find a tutor near you today!   

References 

1. VCAA Mathematics Curriculum

2. VCAA English Curriculum

3. VCAA Health and Human Development Curriculum 

4. VCAA Legal Studies Curriculum 

5. VCAA Phsyics Curriculum 

6. VCAA

7. https://artofsmart.com.au/study/vce-subjects/

The post What Are the Hardest and Easiest VCE Subjects? appeared first on A Team Tuition.

VCE Biology Study Design is Changing From 2022

VCE Biology is adapting, and the study design is changing for students new to the courses from 2022 onwards. This subject is always scaled and it’s important for your child to understand what lies ahead of them. These changes also herald the need for focused tuition with a concentration upon skill building and resilience.  

What is changing in VCE Biology study design?

VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) have been making moves towards a new VCE Biology study design for a while. This is to better prepare students for what’s to come in terms of tertiary study. It’s also to improve study skills, better understand the natural world, develop creative and critical thinking, and enhance analytical skills.  

How will the new study design work?

The new study design will create a more cohesive course of study with a focus on not only academic rigour but a concentration on a skill set that students across the spectrum will be able to tap into more easily. 

Unit 1 (Year 11 semester one) will concentrate on the regulation capacity of organisms. Unit 2 (Year 11 semester two) will look at the idea of inheritance and its impact on diversity. Please note that if your child is doing an accelerated Unit 1 study, they will undertake this work during Year 10. 

Units 3 and 4 (Year 12) will look at how cells maintain life and then how life changes and responds to challenges. 

What were they studying before?

Units 1 and 2 looked at how organisms stay alive and how continuity of life is maintained. Units 3 and 4 continued this work with cell maintenance and the idea of how life changes based on different introduced elements.  

Some aspects of the old study design will remain the same as dictated by VCAA. 

How can tuition help?

Studying biology is a rigorous discipline. It asks a lot of students, with learners required to maintain resilience and an academic mindset throughout the course of study. 

Specialised tuition is the key to success. A Team Tuition’s tutors can fully grasp all aspects of the new curriculum and tailor delivery in a way that will speak to learners in a language that they can understand. Working on key study skills, mapping ways into the curriculum to make it more accessible and building on feedback from your student’s teacher will underpin the tuition methodology with a focus on success.  

The post VCE Biology Study Design: What Changed in 2022 & How It Works appeared first on A Team Tuition.

Considering IB Tutoring? Adelaide Students Can Reap The Benefits!

Never has the concept behind the International Baccalaureate program been so integral. To create a generation that can move beyond cultural awareness and essentially engage in action to excel. COVID-19 has seen a global shift, as countries have been and will diplomatically continue to work together. This creates some fantastic opportunities for students in the IB Program.  

Graduating with success from any of the four IB programs will lead to an internationally responsible, multilinguistic and socially conscious adult. The future will require and actively seek out multilinguistic speakers and communicators with the program’s cultural understanding and respect. The IB program is encouraged and supported by the South Australian Government, further supporting the theory that involvement will enhance your child’s future.  

Multilinguistic speakers in Europe now outnumber monolingual speakers

The prevalence of multilingual speakers is certainly impressive, but it’s important to note that only half of this number can read and write in a second language. The ability to read and write in more than your mother language is an advantage that can open up innumerable opportunities for international study, career advancement and develop confident and creative adults to foster international mindfulness and collective responsiveness. The desirability and benefits of the IB program are well established. 

A tutor is vital for you and your child’s health

In South Australia, we were relatively lucky with lockdowns compared to other states. However, we were all uncertain and full of anxiety; nervous parents were conscious that their child needed more support to navigate learning the standard curriculum, let alone the international education and rigorous assessment of the IB program. An experienced IB tutor is a confident and calming lifeline that can increase the wellbeing of the whole family in the following ways: 

• Mentally – challenging the student in a comfortable and risk-free environment, giving them self-esteem and creative confidence in their study.  
• Emotionally – feeling confident in their ability to perform under pressure in a safe environment, increasing test results and lifting anxiety from their shoulders. 
• Physically – knowing when they will get assistance and guidance, blocking out time for study and tutoring with a professional will ease excessive anxiety and leads to better sleep, rest, and quantifiable downtime, improving general health for both parents and the student.  

Raising a curious, cross-cultural and linguistic child can be stressful and challenging. It is vital, just like the IB program, to have a village of diversity to bring out the best in your child. Tutors enrich and calm a student’s experience.  

Help your child excel with a dedicated IB Tutor. Adelaide families apply here.

Schools in Adelaide that offer the IB Program

PYP – Primary Years Program 

MYP – Middle Years Program 

DP – Diploma Program 

Aberfoyle Park High School  DP 

Annesley Junior School  PYP  

Blackwood High School  MYP 

Concordia College  PYP, MYP, DP 

Concordia College – St Johns Campus  PYP 

Coromandel Valley Primary School PYP, MYP 

Glenunga International High School DP 

Golden Grove Lutheran Primary School PYP 

Immanuel College MYP 

Le Fevre High School MYP 

Linden Park Primary School PYP 

Mercedes College PYP, MYP, DP 

Norwood Morialta High School MYP, DP 

Pedare Christian College PYP, MYP 

Pembroke School  PYP, DP 

Prince Alfred College PYP, DP 

Roma Mitchell Secondary College MYP DP 

Seymour College PYP, DP 

St Peters College  DP 

St Peters Girl School PYP, DP 

Stradbroke School PYP, MYP 

Unley High School DP 

Walford Anglican School for Girls PYP, MYP, DP 

Woodcroft College PYP, DP  

 For more information on the International Baccalaureate Program in Australia, visit the IB Schools Australasia website. 

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Inspiring a love of STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in girls is all about mindset. The disparity between the numbers of men and women who study STEM subjects and who have STEM careers is known as the STEM gap, and it’s a persistent problem that needs addressing. When given the chance, girls actually perform just as well if not better than their male classmates in mathematics and science subjects at an early age, so it’s not a problem of ability – it’s a cultural problem, and it can be addressed through the attitudes of adults who interact with children, including their tutors.  

A Brief History

The history of schools supporting boys over girls at STEM is long, and the stereotypes that still exist about who makes better mathematicians, scientists, and engineers aren’t going away any time soon. Even as recently as the 1980s, girls have been encouraged to think less about STEM subjects and more about homemaking. Subjects like Aesthetics and Design focused on decorating your home, making costumes, pricing furniture, and learning how to choose the best credit card for your household. These subjects were mandatory for girls, and took up valuable time that could have been devoted to STEM subjects. In a recent study, young children were interviewed about who they saw as the standard mathematician or scientist, and asked to draw them. These children, whether male or female, almost always drew men. These persistent, subconscious stereotypes that exist can be quite harmful to girls, who display statistically less confidence in raising their hands in male-dominated classrooms. We as a society have come a long way when it comes to equality in the classroom and in the workplace, but there is still a long way to go.  

Show me the numbers

If we look at the statistics, female students are less interested and confident than their male counterparts. Just 61% of girls show interest in science, compared to 68% of boys. Only 56% of girls are confident in getting good results in their technology courses, while 73% of boys show confidence. Researchers have dubbed it the ‘stereotype threat’, which is the perception that one group or gender is not as good as another at a task. When girls are aware through cultural messaging about the supposed superiority of boys in maths and science, each encounter with these subjects causes anxiety, and girls lose confidence. It has a proven link to lower academic performance, and is just one of the reasons why there are still huge gaps in the numbers of females who enter STEM professions versus the number of males. The fact is that less than one in five employees in the tech industry are women.

What other issues act as a barrier to girls in STEM subjects? How do we address them?

Another issue can be that STEM subjects, often taught by male teachers, focus on just one style of learning that doesn’t translate well to other learners, no matter their gender. If these teachers were provided with more relatable or engaging methods to teach their students, such as hands-on assignments, 3D modelling, or different ways of relating to the material such as providing real-world applications for it, then more students would retain their interest in STEM subjects in the long run. 

Schools can also help to encourage female students by increasing the number of STEM mentors and role models that girls have access to. Even hiring more female teachers can help build girls confidence that they too can succeed in STEM. Girls who are encouraged by their parents are also twice as likely to keep studying STEM subjects. By increasing the number of role models and female teachers and tutors, schools can create more inclusive classrooms that value female opinions. Getting students of any gender to celebrate women in stem careers right now, and the remarkable things they are achieving, can help to bridge this STEM gap.  

How can A Team Tuition help?

At A Team Tuition, our sessions are designed based on the individual. We take into account what learning and educational styles will work best for your child, and we consider their strengths and weaknesses. We find the right tutor for your daughter, someone who will encourage her to succeed wherever her interests lie. If your daughter shows a desire to one day work in a STEM field but may not have the confidence, we can help her regain it. Through the use of our specialised tutoring program, we help empower your daughter to change the way she thinks about and approaches STEM subjects, and to regain her interest and love for them.  

To help encourage your daughter to pursue STEM subjects and maybe even a STEM career, book a tutoring session with A Team Tuition today!

The post Girls in STEM – Inspiring a Love of STEM Subjects appeared first on A Team Tuition.

While it may appear quite daunting, the benefits of the IB program truly outweigh the drawbacks. Let’s not forget that your child was accepted in the first place – after such a grueling selection process, your child has proven that they are a dedicated high performer who can handle everything that is thrown at them. And with the help of a dedicated IB tutor, Australian and International students can move past the overwhelm and live up to their academic potential! That’s where A Team Tuition comes in! 

What makes the IB program so grueling?

As you know, the IB program is an intense course of study completed over the last two years of high school. It involves 6 classes on top of a range of extracurricular activities, a 4000-word essay, and the Creativity, activity, and service (CAS) course. Internal assessments count for about 20% of their overall grade, while final exams count for 80% of their grade, and so the pressure is huge. You’re looking at hours upon hours of extra study on top of what your child would have ordinarily done in their final years at high school, all so that they can more easily apply for the university course of their dreams. Your child may be irritable and overwhelmed as a result. It’s not an easy program to volunteer for. 

You can however remind them that they underwent all of that scrutiny when they applied – the testing, the interviews, and everything that went with it – and they were deemed worthy of being entered into the program. Around 70% of applicants don’t make it. Acceptance is an achievement in of itself. You can remind them that the program means that they’ll have a leg up on their classmates when it comes to university and that all their hard work will pay off in the end. The next thing you can do is look into dedicated IB tutors. There is no shame in admitting you need help, and with a tutor, your child will exit the IB program with a much better result.  

Why does my child need an IB tutor? How does it benefit them? 

There are three main benefits to engaging a specialist IB tutor for your child. These are: 

1. Peace of mind 

An IB tutor will explain all the concepts easily and in an understandable manner. They’ll answer any and all questions your child may have about the program. This will ease their level of stress, and make your child feel less alone. 

2. More free time
   An IB tutor should speed up the learning process for your child. If, for example, they usually take around 10 hours of studying to understand a concept, a tutor can help them get this study time down to 2 hours. The IB program has them completing 6 subjects at the same time, which is an astronomical amount of study for anyone. With a tutor, your child might just have a little bit of free time to relax or just be a teenager.

3. Better results

Your child has undertaken this program to help them achieve better results – we do not want them to be overwhelmed and risk everything they’ve worked for. An IB tutor has the knowledge to guide them through their assessments. They’ll be able to offer guidance on the types of questions that may come up for maths and science subjects, and will be able to help with the structure of essays for the humanities subjects.  

At A Team Tuition, we offer a team of knowledgeable, dedicated IB tutors Australian students can rely on. Our tutors can meet with your child one-on-one in the comfort of your home, or online, depending on the needs, and location of your child. Through dedicated tutoring, your child will find the IB program less stressful, and their results will make all the hard work worth it.  

For more information about the IB program and the types of tuition on offer at A Team Tuition, contact us today on 02 0963 9544

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Learn more about our approach to IB DP Tutoring

IB DP Options in Sydney

We offer IB DP tutoring across Australia.  Find an IB DP tutor near your child now.

IB DP Tutoring Brisbane |  IB DP Tutoring Melbourne | IB DP Tutoring Adelaide |  IB DP Tutoring Canberra | IB DP Tutoring Perth | IB DP Tutoring Gold Coast | See All Locations

The International Baccalaureate Diploma is currently offered at these Sydney and New South Wales schools:

• Al Zahra College
• Australian International Academy
• Elonera Montessori High School
• German International School Sydney
• Kambala
• Lycee Condorcet:  International French School of Sydney
• MLC School
• Monte Sant Angelo Mercy College
• Newington College
• Penrith Anglican College
• Queenwood
• Ravenswood School for Girls
• Redlands (SCEGGS)
• Santa Sabina College
• St Andrew’s Cathedral School
• St Paul’s Grammar School
• The Illawarra Grammar School
• Trinity Grammar School Sydney

Additional schools offer the PYP and MYP programmes.

International Baccalaureate PYP, MYP and DP Tutoring Services

In addition to the IB DP, A Team Tuition offers online and in person tutoring for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students of all ages.  During these foundation years, we work with students to develop the study skills needed to achieve the very best outcome at a diploma level.  We encourage parents considering the IB DP to engage their child in smarter study skills early as the diploma level is challenging for even the brightest and most dedicated student.  PYP, MYP and DP tutoring for Sydney students can be delivered at your home, at your boarding school or online.

 Our Sydney International Baccalaureate Diploma Program

Whether your child is an Australian citizen aiming for an international university placement, an Australian resident intending to return home after completing high school or a boarder at an Australian school, far from home, our tutoring team understands the extra pressures they’re facing.  Our approach removes barriers to optimal learning.  We work with partner schools and direct with families to make tutoring sessions “fit” to your child’s hectic schedule.

Our team of Sydney based tutors achieve remarkable results by helping children to “work smarter”.  Each tutoring session addresses barriers to achievement including issues with focus, time management and attitude.  Our IB tutoring team understand that our students are under a lot of pressure.  We help them to manage that pressure in smarter ways so that they can achieve more without feeling overwhelmed.

Official Partner to the Australian Boarding Schools Association

As the official tutoring partner to the Australian Boarding Schools Association, we’ve worked with hundreds of students managing additional challenges around distance from family.  If your child is studying in Sydney or at a boarding school anywhere in Australia, our team can work with your child during their daily Boarder Prep period.  We help your child get maximum value from Boarder Prep time, empowering them to get more work done, faster and in a supportive environment. Our approach to tutoring means building a support network for your child within the boarding school, while keeping you fully connected to their weekly progress.  Our IB tutors will act as liaisons between teachers, the Head of Boarding, and parents to ensure your child is getting the right feedback and correct advice for achieving maximum results.  We also encourage peer-based study support as well as lifestyle choices conducive to learning. This approach works.  By assisting students to plan their study better, ask the right questions and focus their study efforts, we’ve seen 87% of our students grow from “average students” to high achieving students.

Your child’s study strategy is all about their strengths, and weaknesses

Talk to A Team Tuition about how we develop a bespoke study plan for your child, built specifically for your child’s learning talents, and to help them overcome their barriers to achievement, your child’s IB DP tutor will craft a study strategy that works uniquely for them.

Ask Us How We’ll Help Your Child Achieve More and Thrive Under Pressure

Speak to a Specialist Now

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These terms and more will define the next two years of you and your child’s life… but don’t waste your time trying to understand every nook and cranny of the system. Seminars, although informative, focus on the maths behind how ATARs are calculated, not what is in store for your child during their last years in high school.

By answering the most frequently asked questions, I will introduce the all-consuming world of life for a Year 11 or 12 student in NSW; plain and simple.

Year 11

How are the senior years connected?

Year 11 is called the Preliminary Course. It is during this year that your child will be introduced to content not assessable in Year 12 but emulating the structure of study that will be undertaken during the HSC Course. The purpose of the Preliminary Course is to allow the students to get acquainted with new assessment formats, test strategies, and academic expectations. A perk of the senior years is that the teacher for each subject follows your child through Year 11 to Year 12.

Is Year 11 important for my child’s ATAR?

Not exactly. Although Year 11 results do not inform any part of your child’s ATAR, these results are becoming increasingly more important to form conditional offers or early entry offers at some universities.

On a different note, Year 11 will be the chance for your child to try new and adventurous approaches to their studies.

How many units is easiest to balance?

Units are the means of calculating a student’s pattern of study for the HSC exams. Each subject has a unit value where most subjects are 2 Units with extension courses being an additional 1 Unit. Your child must complete a minimum of 10 Units whereby 2 Units must be an English course.

In terms of how many is too many, it depends on your child whether they want to extend themselves or use Year 11 to try a lot of subjects. No matter what approach is taken, subjects can be swapped or discontinued up until the beginning of Year 12.

Why is Year 11 only 3 Terms?

Some schools approach Year 11 differently, but the wide-spread approach is that Year 11 is 3 terms to allow more time to cover Year 12 content. As the HSC exams take place in what would be Term 4 of Year 12, schools condense the Preliminary Course into three terms with the Preliminary Yearly exams conducted in Term 3. As a result, Term 4 of Year 11 becomes Term 1 of Year 12.

Year 11 isn’t too late…

Get high-school tutoring now!

Year 12

What is the difference between HSC and ATAR?

The HSC, or Higher School Certificate, is obtained after your child completes their Year 12 studies. By completing the HSC, your child is eligible to receive an ATAR, or Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank, which is a translation of their HSC results into a percentile number to compare their marks with everyone else in the state (e.g. an ATAR of 98 is in the top 2% of the state). UAC, or University Admissions Centre, uses the ATAR to connect your child to courses on offer at UAC supported universities.

How is the ATAR calculated?

To not bore you with numbers and statistics, HSC marks are calculated by finding the average between your child’s internal (within school) assessment marks and external (HSC exams in October) exam marks. HSC marks are then assigned a performance band from

Band 1 to Band 6 for that course (eg. Band 6 = mark of 90-100, Band 5 = mark of 80-89, etc.). Bands have no impact on the ATAR, but are rather a guideline of your child’s results.

Your child’s HSC marks for each subject are put into a percentile ranking of all the students who completed that course. Using some complex mathematics, each course’s percentile is compiled into one, being your child’s ATAR.

Learn more about our specialist ATAR Intensive Tutoring Programs

What does Year 12 look like?

Year 12 commences in Term 4 of Year 11 and is conducted over the next 4 terms. In each term, each subject will have an assessment to make up the internal assessment mark. Trial exams are in the fourth term of Year 12 (Trials are the closest replication of the HSC exam period), and the HSC exams take place at the end of October to early November.

What can I do for my child?

This question is infrequently asked but the most important. The biggest thing you can do is just ask them how you can help. Every child is different.

Depending on how your child operates, being involved and taking an interest in their work and their schedule can make all the difference. Acknowledging that this time in their life is busy and important is the ultimate supportive foundation that any student needs.

Additionally, be proud no matter their results or your expectations. Just know they worked their hardest, and achieved their best; which might be enough to achieve their desired ATAR.

Lastly, be conscious of the pressure Year 12 can exert. Every day your child is surrounded by its gravity, and it can be rather consuming for some. Constant reminders from teachers coupled with the seemingly endless countdown to the tests is stressful. Maintain an open dialogue with your child about their wellbeing and be the escape from their studies.

Understanding the most important years of your child’s schooling is the best thing you can do to help them through it. Year 11 and 12 has changed. The HSC is different and requires a new level of effort and commitment that is all-consuming. With the evolving times, there will undoubtedly be even more changes in the future.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, but the rest is up to you and your child to find out along the way.

The post The HSC and the ATAR in NSW – What You Need to Know appeared first on A Team Tuition.

When I was in school, I ended up choosing English, Maths B (now called Maths Methods), Biology, Chemistry, Economics and Music which gives me a diverse understanding of the different elective areas and I used thinking steps to help me choose these subjects. I hope the advice that I used can be useful to you in picking the subjects that will give you the most success and fun in your last 2 years of schooling!

Why Are Electives Important In High School

Regardless of what career pathways you’re interested in, it’s important to choose elective subjects that relate to what you’re considering. Even if they aren’t prerequisites for the degree you’re interested in, exploring those subjects further can help you gain a better understanding of whether you’re genuinely interested in going forward with it as a career and can give you an extra “edge” if you eventually study it in university.

Also, you should always check what elective requirements you need for certain degrees. You can find this information by going to university websites and travelling to the degrees you’re interested in. All universities are slightly different with their requirements but this is a general guide of suggestions and common requirements you often need.

Electives For STEM pathways

For STEM related degrees, many universities require you to do Math Methods as a requirement as well as General English so those are essential. Without these subjects, most universities won’t accept you. In terms of recommended subjects for science, I’d recommend one or even two science electives based on what sciences you’re interested in as some universities such as UQ require one science not including Psychology.

With technology fields, ICT or Technology electives aren’t prerequisites but definitely recommended to choose anyways and with Engineering and Maths, some universities require you to do Specialist Maths as well as Methods so choosing it as one of your 4 free elective spots (with English and Methods taking one spot each) would be useful in the long-run.

Electives For Humanities pathways

Depending on whether you’re looking at creative arts or more theoretical arts such as history, it’s important to cater to what you’re interested in. Luckily, the only elective requirement you need is any ATAR English subject whether that be General English, Literature, English Extension or EAL. For creative arts like drama, music and art, you’re required to go through an audition process or submit a portfolio of your work, so choosing those subjects in high school can help you improve your skills and even become a part of your portfolio or acting resumé after school.

Electives for Pathways in Classical Arts

Classical arts, such as history and languages do not have any special perquisites but doing Modern history, Ancient history or even both  in school can help you to develop essential research and analytical skills and starting to learn the language before university can be a big help and expand your horizons.

Electives for Business or Law

Business and Law are both interesting to talk about in terms of elective subjects as usually subjects such as Legal Studies, Economics and Accounting are only available in Year 11 and 12. This means you may have never done anything like this before, and it can be hard to know what to expect.

If you’re looking towards business or law as a career, it’s important to choose these electives if they are offered at your school. They will expose you to the field  and help you confirm whether it’s what you really want to do.

In terms of prerequisites for university, English is still a must for both law and business. However, depending on where you wish to study,  some universities require Maths Methods specifically or just any one ATAR maths subject so in order to keep your university options open, it would be useful to choose Math Methods.

Electives for Education

Although there is no specific education elective in school, future teachers need a few subjects up their belt. For people looking towards being a primary teacher, you’re required to pick one ATAR English subject, one ATAR Maths subject and one ATAR science subject. For secondary education teachers, some universities offer secondary education as a single degree or as a dual degree with the teaching area you wish to teach whether its science, arts or something else. Regardless of how you wish to take your degree, all secondary teachers are expected to have one ATAR English subject, one ATAR Math subject and 2 subjects to teach. These 2 teaching subjects can include English and or Maths but its important to start thinking about know what subjects you would want to teach as a secondary teacher and select them as part of your subject selection

Electives for Medicine

For many universities, the Doctor of Medicine (also known as “Med school”) is only available as a postgraduate degree meaning you’re first required to undertake an undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree that is usually related to medicine such as Bio-medical Science. Undertaking the UCAT test in Year 12 and getting a great result as well as an ATAR 95 in most cases can grant you what is called “provisional entry” which is automatic acceptance after completion of the Bachelor’s degree.

Before that however, it’s important to choose Maths Methods and Biology as many of the Bachelor degree options Medicine allows are science degrees which require Methods and one science with Biology being the main aspect of medicine and related studies.  As a second elective you could also choose Chemistry as Biochemistry and Pharmacology are also important aspects of medicine but are not compulsory.

What if I don’t know what I want to do as a career or I change my mind?

If you’re unsure as to what you want to do for a career, there is no pressure to know for certain right now. Even people who seem to be sure as to what they want to do in Year 10, may change their mind between now and graduation, and  may even change their mind during their university degree. This is all completely normal. Whether you’re unsure as to what you want to do or you’re worried you might change your mind it’s important to choose a diverse range of subjects and choose subjects that you’ve enjoyed so far and that you’ve excelled in.

Choosing Based on Your Strengths

Not all of your electives will relate towards your career and if you don’t know what you’re planning to do outside of school, thinking about your current strengths and weaknesses is important, especially when ATAR is based on how well you do in the subjects you choose.A first step to figure out what subjects you’re good at is looking at your past subject marks and results. If music or art were your best subjects then it’s probably good to stick with them in Year 11 or 12 even if you’re not interested in pursuing those arts after school. If science was one of your best subjects, it would be a good idea to choose one or even two sciences as part of your electives.  Other than grades, think about the types of assessment you preferred or were good at. Do you like assignments more than exams? Or maybe exams over assignments? If you hate doing assignments for example, then it’s probably not a good idea to choose subjects with a lot of assignments such as History. Since assignments and exams are what you’re marked on, thinking about what type of assessments you’re good at or enjoy is a crucial step to choosing your subjects.

What do you enjoy?

Subjects that you enjoy may not be your best subject but they’re important as doing subjects you enjoy will in turn, make the work in that subject feel more bearable and easier as a result. These subjects can be the subjects you work on while you need a break from your more mentally challenging subjects

“I have one more elective I need to pick but nothing else seems good/interesting”

If this is you, then it can seem difficult to decide what else you want to do. You’ve picked all the subjects you want but it’s still not enough subjects.

In that case, I first recommend having a look at all the new elective options that weren’t available until now. If you enjoy humanities, looking at Legal Studies or Psychology if you’re interested in science. Don’t dismiss them too early as they could be hidden gems that you would have had no idea you enjoy and could be good at and so have a closer look into the subject outline as to what you would be learning or ask a teacher about it.

You could also consider extension subjects in areas that you are interested in such as English Extension or Music extension which count as an additional elective when you also pick standard English or Music.

Hopefully this guide was useful to you in picking your Year 11 and 12 subjects and made this seemingly daunting task a little bit easier. If you’re still unsure as to what to do, you can discuss it with your parents and teachers, and work through your options with your academic personal trainer in order to make the best decisions for you and have the most success possible in your final years at school.

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