HSC Subject Selection Advice
A few things I want students to consider
I’ve already shared this as a document. There’s nothing new here, it’s just the document in a blog post. But if you haven’t seen the document, then it is new!
Here’s the document as an A4 PDF.
And here’s the text.
The HSC - It’s a Lot!
The HSC is a complex system. It’s a two year assessment program consisting of Preliminary and HSC studies in each subject. There are rules to follow, hoops to jump through and big exams at the end. The HSC starts when you choose your subjects. It’s a daunting task. There are over 120 subjects in the HSC that can count to an ATAR, with nearly half of those being languages. There are a lot of other subjects that don’t count to an ATAR as well. There’s a lot to consider.
What Scales Well?
The idea that some subjects scale better than others is mostly just a myth. It’s only ‘mostly’ a myth, because for you some subjects will scale better than others. But those subjects are different from person to person.
Some subjects scale higher or lower than others compared to HSC scores, but there’s too much in that to make simple judgements like good or bad scaling.
If You Know Your ATAR Goal
If you’re really aiming for an ATAR over 95, there are just a few subjects you should think carefully about. If you’re really aiming for an ATAR over 99, there are a few more subjects you need to be careful about. But those lists really are very short. If that’s you, you should talk to your teachers about it.
If you have an ATAR goal and it’s less than 95, or you don’t have an ATAR goal, but you don’t expect to be achieving at 95+ level (95+ is a very high ATAR. It means you’re in the top 5% of the state), then how any subject scales is irrelevant to you. They all scale plenty well enough to get you to the heights you need. There are other, more important, considerations.
Careers Advisers - the people with the most up to date information
Whether you’re interested in university or not, navigating the HSC in a way that best serves your needs is complex. It’s great to talk to others and ask about other people’s experiences, but when it comes to the most up to date information from universities, apprenticeships, vocational training and a ton more, careers advisers are likely the most up to date people you know.
Careers Advisers have so much information about possible pathways and opportunities after school, that they can’t possibly share all of it with everyone. So you need to speak with them yourself. It’s utter foolishness not to try to schedule some time with them.
Are you Interested? Are You Ready?
The HSC is fast paced. Once you get going, there’s a lot to get done, no matter the subjects you choose to study.
When choosing whether you’re going to study a subject, there are two important questions to ask:
Am I interested?
Am I ready?
You probably can’t only study subjects you’re super interested in, but when it comes to choosing one subject from another, knowing which you’re more interested can be important.
Perhaps just as important as interest, is readiness to achieve. The reality is that you’re more likely to be willing to work hard at things you’ve experienced some success in. You can learn to be good at just about anything, but with the fast paced nature of the HSC, it’s worth considering what you’re most ready for now. That should be an important consideration in your subject selections.
So, as with everything else, ask your teachers. Ask what it’s like to study subjects in the senior years. It can be very different from Years 9 and 10. Also, ask your teachers how ready they think you are and, perhaps, what you could do in what’s left of this year to get yourself as ready as possible for your senior years.
English - Advanced vs Standard?
English has to count toward your ATAR. Choosing the right English course for you is important.
There are countless videos on social media about which English course is best. Some say choose Standard for easier marks, others say choose Advanced because the percentiles are in your favour. None of that is wise advice. It just isn’t true.
The most important advice on which English course to choose will come from your English teachers. Ask them which course will best suit you. You also need to consider how what you want to do after school affects your options, so should ask your careers adviser as well. Different courses may suit different future pathways better than others.
As a general rule, if you’re aspiring to a Band 6 in English and working toward that is important to you, then the Advanced course is likely to be the one for you. But, even then, talk to your English teachers.
Neither Standard nor Advanced scale any better than the other. Talk to your English teachers. They know you, they know the courses, they’re the best placed people to give you the best advice.
Mathematics - Advanced vs Standard?
Maths Advanced is a calculus course. It’s a great course, and is a lot of new mathematics. Standard 2 is a jam packed course. The pace is fast and there is a lot to get through. Both courses are challenging. Both courses scale well.
Like with English, there are two people you need to talk to before deciding which Maths course is right for you. They are your Maths teachers and a Careers Adviser. If you’re interested in studying the Advanced course, but aren’t sure whether it’s for you, ask your teacher, “Am I ready for the Maths Advanced course?” It may be a confronting question to ask, but it’s an important one.
Sometimes future study plans will decide your Maths course for you. If it’s the case that you really need to take Advanced, then the question of “Am I ready?” is just as important, especially if it’s followed up with “What can I do over the next few months to make sure I’m as ready as I can be?”
Practical and Project Based Subjects
CAPA subjects, TAS subjects, Society and Culture and some other subjects besides offer great opportunities to participate in courses with diminished reliance on final HSC exams, made up for with projects or performances, which are externally marked.
These subjects, for students who are willing to put in a diligent and sustained effort, are an excellent opportunity to build and demonstrate skills that can’t be assessed in a written exam.
If you’re thinking of completing more than one project or performance based subject, it’s good to talk to the teachers of those subjects first and find out about the timelines of the externally marked components of the course. Then talk at home about whether the burden of this is one you want to take on. There are a lot of students who successfully navigate multiple subjects like this. It’s just good to go in with eyes wide open, having a plan of how you might navigate it.
Extension Subjects
Extension subjects offer an excellent opportunity to do more of a subject you’re good at. Most extension subjects only begin in Year 12, so there’s time to think about those some more. The exceptions to this are Maths Extension 1 and English Extension 1.
Before taking on any extension subject, you must talk to the teachers of that subject. Extension subjects are only worth one unit, whilst most other subjects are worth 2 (Maths can be an exception, talk to your Maths teachers to find out about that). You’ll likely have half the class time to complete the course. But, in general, the work required to succeed in an extension course is more than half of what you need to put into another subject. Extension courses are excellent. They are also a lot of work and require dedication to study.
The Real Secret to Success in the HSC
It’s terribly boring, but the reality is that success in the HSC is the result of hard work.
It’s not just hard work, though. It’s students who make a commitment to the following:
Learning and understanding content. It’s not just completing assessments, although that can be a lot in and of itself. It’s also taking the time to properly learn and understand the content of the course.
Seeking, and putting into practice, feedback from your teachers. There are conditions for improvement to be as fast and effective as it can be. One of those is getting and using feedback. Ask your teachers which one or two things you should focus on next. Ask them often.
Building HSC wisdom. The HSC is a complex beast. You need to know and understand content. You also need to develop skills in writing good HSC responses. In Year 12, especially, commit to practising past HSC questions in your subjects regularly. Get feedback on how you’re going.
Practising learning effectively. Not all study time is effective study time. Find out what works and do it. The most effective study skills can be counterintuitive.
Self care. Successful HSC students know that the HSC is a marathon and whilst they work hard, they do it in such a way they can maintain it over time. Learning to work hard over time without burning out will make you better at just about everything.
Success in the HSC doesn’t come from picking the right subjects to give you some kind of boost. That doesn’t exist. Success in the HSC comes from taking your learning seriously, engaging in effective learning habits and committing the time and effort required to succeed.
Learning is hard work. It’s worth it.
To Sum it Up - Ask Your Teachers
The quality of advice you receive reflects the knowledge, wisdom and experience of whom you ask.
If you ask the internet, you get internet wisdom. If you ask last year’s Year 12, you get the wisdom of someone who’s done something once. If you ask teachers, you get education wisdom.
Almost everyone has good intentions when they give you advice. People aren’t making TikTok videos about the HSC to lead you astray. But the reality is that having completed the HSC does not qualify you to give advice about it.
Your teachers are trained, practised and knowledgeable. Added to that, they know you in the setting that matters the most. It’s not bad to hear other voices. Just know that all advice is not created equal.
Some Questions to Ask
I’m interested in studying _______. Do you think I’m in a good position to take it on?
I want to be a bit better prepared to study _______. What are some things I could do over the next few months to improve?
What are some of the differences between the Advanced and Standard course? Do you think I’m better suited for one or the other?
What does studying this subject look like? What will I learn about and what will I learn to do?