VCE at Camberwell Grammar School

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The VCE at Camberwell Grammar School
Choosing the right subjects
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Outline of Talk

• A The VCE at CGS
• B Choosing subjects
• C The process

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The VCE at CGS Support

• Mr P Hutton (VCE Yr 12)
• Mr D Ramalingam (VCE Yr 11)
• Mrs K Larn (Careers Counsellor)
• Ms P Clarke (Student Counsellor)
• Mr J Dowse (Head of Senior School and Deputy
  Headmaster)
• Mr G Pountney (Director of Administration)
• Mr J Tuckfield (Director of Studies)

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The VCE at Camberwell Grammar School

• In Year 11
• 7 subjects every semester
• 1 MUST be one of the English sequences
• You may apply to study one Unit 3 4 subject

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The VCE at Camberwell Grammar School

• In Year 12
• 5 subjects (6 for very able students)
• 1 MUST be one of the English sequences
• You may apply to study a University Enhancement
  subject as a 6th subject

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Choosing subjects Choosing subjects on a
flexible three-year plan

• Begin with the end in mind
• There are opportunities to amend choices during
  Year 11(such as the mid-year)

• University
• TAFE
• Work
• Other

Year 11 7 subjects (1 Unit ¾)
Year 12 5 or 6 subjects
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Choosing subjects for Year 11

• Subjects should be chosen for a balance of
  breadth and depth
• Good breadth and diversity of subjects gives
  options and broadens educational experience.
• Depth is served by choosing similar subjects that
  students are good at and that might lead to a
  Tertiary course.

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Choosing subjects Criteria

• Do choose the subjects that you like you will
  more likely do well in these
• Do choose subjects you are good at
• Do choose subjects you need for Tertiary courses
• Dont choose a subject just because it gets
  scaled up

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Choosing subjects Scaling

• Scaling is the way the VCE copes with subjects of
  varying degrees of competition
• Subjects that are regarded as more competitive
  are scaled up
• The aim is a level playing field a fair return
  for choosing more challenging subjects
• What you may gain in a scaled up score, you will
  probably pay for in extra time spent on it

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Choosing subjects Current results as a guide

• Students should be doing well in subjects that
  they wish to undertake in Year 11.
• For example, if a student wanted to do Biology
  and Chemistry then we would look at his Science
  grade at year 10.

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Choosing a Unit 3 4 subject

• We advise that you not choose your strongest
  subject to undertake at a Unit 3 4 level in
  Year 11
• Students need to have a C grade average overall
  and a B grade in the related year 10 subject
• Only one Unit 3 4 subject at Yr 11
• Online form Parent signature

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Choosing subjects English/ Chinese /Indonesian
as a Second Language

• By Application ONLY
• Based on country of residence, language of
  schooling, years of schooling
• Proof required passport, birth certificates and
  school reports
• Unless you have submitted the application to
  determine your status you can not be placed in an
  ESL, CSL or ISL class.

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Which English?

• English/English
• English Language/English
• Literature/English
• English as a Second Language
• Options undertaken in first semester, regular
  English in second semester
• Eng Language prerequisite for Yr 12

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Which Maths?

• General Mathematics B ? Further Mathematics
• Mathematical Methods 1 2 ? Mathematical Methods
  3 4
• General Mathematics A ? Specialist Mathematics

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Miscellaneous Notes

• Ethics An alternative to a period of Religious
  Education each week
• Students may choose to a VCE unit in Ethics - See
  Mr Daniel
• VCE Music Mr Byrne has already arranged matters
  with students. See him for further queries.

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The process of subject selection

• Students will enter their choices online on the
  school intranet
• It will be an ongoing process of research,
  discussion and decision during term 3.
• The process will involve the student, tutor and
  Head of House, subject teachers, careers
  counsellor and of course, parents and guardians.

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The process of subject selection

• Students should be aware of Tertiary course
  prerequisites
• Unit 3 4 and External subjects have to be
  applied for (forms online)
• Students who have performed poorly in a subject
  may still choose the related subject in Year 11
  if they improve significantly in this semester.

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The process of subject selection
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The schedule of subject selection

• Subject choices starts this week
• Initial subject selections by Week 4 (4th Aug)
  even if not all seven subjects are decided
• Unit 3 4 subject approval -Week 6 (18 Aug).
• ALL seven subjects by Week 8 (1st Sept)
• Parents /guardians should receive a copy of the
  subject choices in early term 4

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CAREERS_at_CAMBERWELL

• Kirsten Larn
• Careers Counsellor

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Year 10 Careers Programme

• Careers Unit within the Year 10 Health Human
  Relations course
• Includes identifying occupational interests
  resume building distribution and use of Job
  Guide accessing websites goal setting
• Careers Portfolio developed and to encourage
  its continued use.

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Year 10 Careers Programme

• Careers Night Work Experience Career Talks
  programme
• Introduction to VCE subject selection by Mr
  Ramalingam and Mr Hutton on the OHS training day
  June 2008
• To prepare for subject selection VICTER 2011

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Tertiary Entrance Requirements

• Victorian Tertiary Entrance Requirements (VicTER)
  2011 - Year 10 Tertiary Planner
• Newspaper supplement
• Provides details of the prerequisite subjects for
  the majority of courses at University and TAFE
  for entry in 2011
• This information helps to identify subjects
  students may NEED for future courses

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Subject Selection

• Some golden rules aim for subjects that
• Give Balance/Breadth
• You Enjoy
• You may Need (Prerequisite)
• Are your Strengths
• I call this the BENS principle!

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RESOURCES
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Build your own program to search for courses
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Select other search criteria
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VCE Program selected criteria
Eligible courses
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AVAILABILITY

• Monday to Friday - book appointments
• Appointments can be made before and after school
  by prior arrangement
• Parents contact me directly or via Head of
  House
• Email address is kel_at_cgs.vic.edu.au