Test scope statements and test specifications
The current School Certificate tests have been introduced progressively since 1998, consistent with the White Paper Securing Their Future, which detailed changes to the Higher School Certificate and School Certificate. The purpose of the tests, as outlined in the White Paper, is to strengthen the credential, and ensure that students have strong foundations in their education.
Relationship between the testing of foundation skills and the related syllabuses
The school-based assessment programs for Stage 5 courses allow students’ achievement in relation to all the course outcomes to be reported. The School Certificate tests assess students’ achievement of foundation skills within the context of the Board’s syllabuses. With the exception of the Computing Skills test, each test samples outcomes and content from the related syllabus. It should be emphasised that the tests do not cover all areas of the related syllabuses.
The foundation skills identified in the White Paper that students need for further study or the workplace are addressed by tests as shown in the table below:
| Foundation skill: | English-literacy | Mathematics | Science | Australian History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship | Computing Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analysing and evaluating information | • | • | • | • | • |
| Making appropriate use of technology | • | • | • | ||
| Evaluating arguments | • | • | • | • | |
| Critically assessing the ideas and opinions of others | • | • | • | ||
| Expression of students’ own ideas and arguments | • | • | • | • | |
| Problem solving | • | • |
The scope of the School Certificate tests
It has not been considered necessary to significantly revise the scope of the School Certificate tests for 2006 and beyond, except to indicate specific content and skills from particular syllabuses that will be the context for test questions. This is the case for Australian History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship test and for the Science test.
The foundational nature of the tests and the links with the curriculum are emphasised in the revised scope statements.
Click on the following links for information about each School Certificate test:
- English-Literacy
- Mathematics
- Science
- Australian History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship
- Computing Skills