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CHOOSING YOUR SCIENCE COURSES
The Science Department is offering six upper school science subjects in Year 11 in 2023. • BIOLOGY ATAR • CHEMISTRY ATAR • HUMAN BIOLOGY ATAR • HUMAN BIOLOGY GENERAL • MARINE AND MARITIME STUDIES ATAR • PHYSICS ATAR Students should consider very carefully the choice of science subjects for Year 11 and Year 12. The discipline and skills involved in scientific investigation, data analysis and manipulation are becoming more and more important in many of the professional careers not directly within the science or engineering fields. Many of the most successful contributors to the advancement of our society in the fields of ethics, business, banking, politics, law and medicine, have physical or biological science background. The study of science typically involves the development of strong analytical and problem-solving skills and the academic rigour involved is excellent preparation for university courses. We encourage all students who have met the requirements for further study in science subjects to maintain some science throughout their education. If a student intends to study tertiary courses that contain Physics or Chemistry, she is advised to take both these subjects. For further information, please see the Head of the Science Department and remember the skills attained in the science disciplines are invaluable in all aspects of your future careers.
Choosing your Courses
y indicates that a student can attempt this subject with a reasonable to good chance of success. n indicates that the student should not attempt this subject because failure would be almost certain.
What are Your Science Grades in Year 10?
SCIENCE SUBJECTS
Physics ATAR
Chemistry ATAR
Marine and Maritime Studies
Biology ATAR
Human Biology ATAR
Human Biology GENERAL
YEAR 10 SUBJECT AND GRADE
Science Course 1 General Science
Grade A B C D E A B C D E
y y n n n n n n n n
y y n n n n n n n n
y y y n n y* n n n n
y y n n n n n n n n
y y n n n n n n n n
y y y y n y y y y n
* After discussion with Head of Science.
Science Course Year 11 Year 12
Physics (ATAR)
Maths Methods, and possibly Maths Specialist Maths Methods, and possibly Maths Specialist
Chemistry (ATAR) Biology, Human Biology and Marine and Maritime Studies (ATAR)
Maths Methods or Maths Applications Maths Methods or Maths Applications
Human Biology (General) Maths General (or higher) Maths General (or higher)
Choosing your Courses in English and Humanities and Social Sciences
The following courses related to English, Economics, Geography, History and Politics and Law are being offered in upper school. Please discuss your future courses with your current teachers. • ENGLISH ATAR • ENGLISH GENERAL • LITERATURE ATAR • ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE ATAR • ECONOMICS ATAR • GEOGRAPHY ATAR • GEOGRAPHY GENERAL • MODERN HISTORY ATAR • POLITICS AND LAW ATAR
What are your Year 10 English, Economics, Geography and/or History grades?
The below table indicates the minimum requirement for upper school courses.
English/Humanities and Social Sciences Courses Year 10 English/Humanities and Social Grade A Sciences GradeB C D E
Literature ATAR English ATAR English General Modern History ATAR Geography ATAR Geography General Economics ATAR Politics and Law ATAR y y n n n y y y n n y y y y y y y ?* n n y y ?* n n y y y y y y y ?* n n y y ?* n n
* Teacher consultation is essential.
English as an Additional Language is only available to students whose first language is not English. Students who enrol in this course must sign a declaration endorsed by the Principal stating that they satisfy a set of specific conditions.
The five Mathematics courses are differentiated, each focusing on a pathway that will meet the learning needs of a particular group of senior secondary students. Here is a quick summary.
Mathematics Methods ATAR
This course focuses on the use of calculus and statistical analysis. The study of calculus provides a basis for understanding rates of change in the physical world, and includes the use of functions, their derivatives and integrals, in modelling physical processes. The study of statistics develops students’ ability to describe and analyse phenomena that involve uncertainty and variation. Mathematics Methods provides a foundation for further studies in disciplines in which mathematics and statistics have important roles. It is also advantageous for further studies in the health and social sciences. In summary, this course is designed for students whose future pathways may involve mathematics and statistics and their applications in a range of disciplines at the tertiary level.
Mathematics Specialist ATAR
This course provides opportunities, beyond those presented in the Mathematics Methods ATAR course, to develop rigorous mathematical arguments and proofs, and to use mathematical models more extensively. Mathematics Specialist contains topics in functions and calculus that build on and deepen the ideas presented in the Mathematics Methods course, as well as demonstrate their application in many areas. The Mathematics Specialist course also extends understanding and knowledge of statistics and introduces the topics of vectors, complex numbers and matrices. Mathematics Specialist is the only ATAR mathematics course that should not be taken as a stand-alone course and it is recommended to be studied in conjunction with the Mathematics Methods ATAR course as preparation for entry to specialised university courses such as engineering, physical sciences and mathematics.
Mathematics Applications ATAR
This course focuses on the use of mathematics to solve problems in contexts that involve financial modelling, geometric and trigonometric analysis, graphical and network analysis, and growth and decay in sequences. It also provides opportunities for students to develop systematic strategies based on the statistical investigation process for answering statistical questions that involve analysing univariate and bivariate data, including time series data. The Mathematics Applications ATAR course is designed for students who want to extend their mathematical skills beyond Year 10 level, but whose future studies or employment pathways do not require knowledge of calculus. The course is designed for students who have a wide range of educational and employment aspirations, including continuing their studies at university or TAFE.
Mathematics Essential General
The Mathematics Essential General course focuses on using mathematics effectively, efficiently and critically to make informed decisions. It provides students with the mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding to solve problems in real contexts for a range of workplace, personal, further learning and community settings. This course provides the opportunity for students to prepare for post-school options of employment and further training.
Mathematics Foundation
The Mathematics Foundation course focuses on building the capacity, confidence and disposition to use mathematics to meet the numeracy standard for the WACE. This course is for students who have not demonstrated the numeracy standard in the OLNA. It provides students with the knowledge, skills and understanding to solve problems across a range of contexts including personal, community and workplace/employment. This course provides the opportunity for students to prepare for post-school options of employment and further training.
