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AQF specification for the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education
The purpose of the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education qualification type is to qualify individuals with knowledge, skills and values for diverse pathways to further learning, work and effective participation in civic life.
Senior Secondary Certificate of Education qualifications are not located at a particular level in the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Senior Secondary Certificate of Education qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable graduates to demonstrate the learning outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education descriptor.
The Higher School Certificate (HSC) is the highest educational award in New South Wales schools. It is awarded to students who successfully complete Years 11 and 12 in New South Wales. The HSC is an internationally recognised credential that provides a foundation for students entering tertiary study, vocational training or employment.
To get your Higher School Certificate (HSC), you must complete at least 12 units of Preliminary courses and 10 units of HSC courses, including English. Most HSC courses are worth 2 units.
You need to satisfactorily complete the Preliminary course (usually in Year 11) before you can start the corresponding HSC course (usually in Year 12).
There are two main types of HSC courses: Board Developed Courses and Board Endorsed Courses.
NESA develops Board Developed Courses. Your achievement in these can count towards your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).
Board Endorsed Courses are ones that schools, TAFEs or universities generally develop. They contribute to the HSC, but don’t count towards your ATAR.
HSC Higher School Certificate
NAPLAN tests skills in literacy and numeracy that are developed over time through the school curriculum.
NAPLAN tests identify whether all students have the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for their learning, and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community. Students are assessed using common national tests in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
NAPLAN tests broadly reflect important aspects of literacy and numeracy in the Australian Curriculum adopted by each state or territory.
Types of questions
Tests are administered to students in Years 3, 5, 7 & 9.
The types of test formats and questions are generally familiar to teachers and students across Australia. From 2017, the NAPLAN paper tests will include some new types of questions, such as questions with multiple choices. Students may also be asked to answer questions that require them to look at two reading texts on the same topic.
