Understanding the HSC. What is it all about?
What is the HSC? Get a comprehensive overview of the Higher School Certificate, including its structure and importance. Perfect for students preparing for their Year 12 exams.
TRANSCRIPT
The HSC: What is it all about?
Hello, this is Jason Ursino from Learning Space, and I’m currently driving to school. Today, let’s talk about the HSC, or Higher School Certificate.
First off, it’s called the Higher School Certificate because, many years ago, there used to be what was known as the School Certificate in Year 10. Later, they introduced the Higher School Certificate for Year 12, and the School Certificate was abolished. Now, the only certificate is the HSC.
The HSC is a significant document, highly regarded and well-known. There are international schools around the world that follow the New South Wales syllabus and issue the HSC to their students, making it a qualification that carries weight globally.
There are specific criteria for earning the HSC. For example, students complete 12 units in Year 11 and then 10 units in Year 12. Year 11 is referred to as the Preliminary Course, which runs for three terms, while Year 12 is called the HSC Course and spans four terms. At the end of Year 12, students sit the HSC exams, which are standardised tests for each subject across the state and other schools offering the HSC.
The HSC is based on standards, rather than being strictly mark-based. You’ve probably heard of Band 6 or Band 5 – these are the standards students need to achieve. So, it’s all about reaching a certain standard in each subject. The marks you often hear about, however, relate to the ATAR.
The ATAR, or Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank, is a bit different. Over the years, it’s had various names, including the UAI and the TER. The ATAR isn’t a mark but a ranking. It’s a number between 0.00 and 99.95, which shows where you stand in relation to other students in the state. For example, an ATAR of 80 means you are in the top 20%. This ranking is used by universities to select the best candidates for their courses.
It’s important to note that the HSC and ATAR are not the same thing. You can complete the HSC without receiving an ATAR, following a non-ATAR pathway. Some subjects in these pathways don’t require an HSC exam. You only need an ATAR if you plan to apply to university. The ATAR could change its name again in the future, as it has done multiple times in the past.
I hope this clears up the differences between the HSC and the ATAR. If you’re interested in more of my videos, visit learningspace.net.au/drivingtoschool. Have a great day!
