Archived material
Some aspects of the documents in this section no longer apply, however they have been archived for reference.
Newsletter No. 2 – 30 October 1997
The New South Wales Government Reforms for the School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate
This is the second newsletter on the implementation of reforms to the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate. It concentrates on the School Certificate generally, but particularly on testing of Australian History, Australian Geography and Civics.
I would appreciate it if principals could ensure the newsletter is circulated to all staff members. It will also be on the Internet website at http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au
Consultations with principals, teachers and others associated with the implementation of Securing Their Future are proving constructive and will continue as part of the work of the Board of Studies.
Australian History, Australian Geography and Civics
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Students now in Year 6 will be the first group required to undertake the School Certificate test on elements of Australian History, Australian Geography and Civics. They will do the test in 2001 and their results will be reported as part of their School Certificate in that year. The decision arises from further consultation involving issues such as syllabus integrity, fairness and continuity.
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Schools will have the option of presenting students now in Year 7 (Year 10 in 2000) for the test in Australian History, Australian Geography and Civics. The Board expects schools to participate unless the students have not followed an appropriate pattern of study in Years 7 to 10.
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Students now in Years 8 and 9 (Year 10 in 1998 and 1999), will be able to participate in trial testing in elements of Australian History, Australian Geography and Civics. Schools will be able to decide whether their students will participate and those schools wishing to participate will be accommodated. Details will be sent to schools early in 1998.
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Schools will be able to draw from the new syllabuses in Geography and History when preparing courses for Years 9 and 10 in 1999 and 2000. New syllabuses are to be completed by Term 4, 1998.
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A separate Civics course will not be written. Civics content will be included in the new History and Geography syllabuses.
School Certificate testing summary
| PRESENT | SCHOOL CERTIFICATE TESTING |
| Year 9 1998: | tests in English literacy and Mathematics. Trial tests in Science and elements of Australian History, Australian Geography and Civics. |
| Year 8 1999: | tests in English literacy, Mathematics and Science. Trial test in elements of Australian History, Australian Geography and Civics. |
| Year 7 2000: | tests in English literacy, Mathematics and Science. Optional test in elements of Australian History, Australian Geography and Civics. |
| Year 6 2001: | tests for all students in English literacy, Mathematics, Science and elements of Australian History, Australian Geography and Civics. |
Test Advice
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Each test will be based on Board of Studies syllabuses and reported against standards achieved by students. Advice about each test is being prepared and will be made available as soon as possible. The test specifications and sample questions will be available in Term 1 of 1998.
Reporting of School Certificate results
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From 1998, the School Certificate Record of Achievement will comprise two parts: (1) the school-based assessment of each student's achievements in each subject studied for the School Certificate; (2) the student's results in the external tests.
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In the external tests (English literacy and Mathematics in 1998), students will receive a mark indicating their own achievement in each test, together with their placement in a band of achievement.
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Science will be trialled in 1998. Students involved in the trial will receive a record of their mark separate from their School Certificate Record of Achievement.
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Those who do the test on elements of Australian History, Australian Geography and Civics in 1998, 1999 or 2000 will also receive a report separate from their School Certificate Record of Achievement. It will include information about their pattern of study in Geography and History from Years 7 to 10.
Course Performance Descriptors
Course Performance Descriptors for English, Mathematics and Science are being developed in consultation with teachers. The descriptors - similar to those in other subjects - will be given to schools in Term 4 of 1997. These will be accompanied by specific advice on their use.
Work is progressing on enhancing the School Certificate Record of Achievement by including the descriptors appropriate to the grade awarded for each subject.
If you have any enquiries, please contact the HSC Coordination Taskforce Secretariat on telephone (02) 9367 8141, or free call 1800 620 161. Alternatively, you can e-mail the Taskforce Executive Officer, Mr Chris Ryan, at ryanc@boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au or fax (02) 9367 8376.
Copies of this newsletter are being mailed to all NSW secondary schools.
Warren A Grimshaw
President
Board of Studies NSW
30/10/1997