AUSTRALIA CURRICULUM Courses
Higher School Certificate (HSC) – New South Wales (NSW)
Structure:
The HSC is the final credential awarded to students in New South Wales at the end of Year 12. It involves a combination of internal assessments
and external exams. Students typically select a minimum of 10 units from various subjects, with each subject contributing 1-2 units.
Core Subjects:
English is mandatory, with options such as Standard, Advanced, Extension 1, Extension 2, and English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D).
Students can choose from a range of elective subjects, including Mathematics (Standard, Advanced, Extension 1, Extension 2), Sciences (Physics, Chemistry,
Biology, Earth and Environmental Science), Humanities (Ancient History, Modern History, Geography, Legal Studies, Economics), Languages, Creative Arts (Visual Arts,
Music, Drama), Technology (Information Processes and Technology, Design and Technology), and more
Key Coaching Areas:
Advanced Mathematics, English (especially Extension levels), Science subjects (Physics and Chemistry), and essay-based subjects (History, Legal Studies, Economics).
Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) – Victoria
Structure:
The VCE is a two-year program (Year 11 and Year 12) with a flexible curriculum allowing students to choose from over 90 subjects.
Students must complete at least 16 units, including a minimum of 3 units of English.
Core Subjects:
English: Students must complete at least three units from English options like English, English Language, Literature, or EAL.
Mathematics: Options include Further Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics.
Science: Subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Physics.
Humanities: History, Geography, Legal Studies, Economics, Philosophy.
Languages, Arts, and Technologies: A wide range of subjects is available based on interest and career goals.
Key Coaching Areas:
English, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics, Sciences (especially Chemistry and Physics), and humanities subjects requiring analytical skills.
Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) – Queensland
Structure:
The QCE is awarded upon completion of a set number of learning achievements,
with students typically completing Year 11 and 12 studies. Students must complete 20 credits from a combination of core, preparatory,
complementary, and advanced courses.
Core Subjects:
English: Essential English, English, Literature.
Mathematics: Essential Mathematics, General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics.
Science: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Marine Science, Physics, Psychology.
Humanities and Social Sciences: Modern History, Ancient History, Geography, Legal Studies, Philosophy and Reason.
Languages, Arts, and Technologies: Options in various creative arts, design, and technology subjects.
Key Coaching Areas:
Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics, English, Chemistry, Physics, and Humanities subjects.
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) – Western Australia
Structure:
The WACE is completed in Years 11 and 12, requiring students to complete a certain number of courses and achieve a minimum standard in literacy and numeracy.
Core Subjects:
English: English, Literature, English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD).
Mathematics: Mathematics Applications, Mathematics Methods, Mathematics Specialist.
Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology, Physics, Integrated Science.
Humanities: Ancient History, Modern History, Economics, Geography, Politics and Law.
Arts, Languages, and Technologies: A range of subjects in arts, design, and languages.
Key Coaching Areas:
English, Advanced Mathematics subjects (Methods and Specialist), Sciences, and essay-based Humanities subjects.
South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) – South Australia
Structure:
The SACE is completed over two stages: Stage 1 (Year 11) and Stage 2 (Year 12). Students must earn 200 credits, including 60 credits of compulsory subjects like English and Mathematics.
Core Subjects:
English: Essential English, English, English Literary Studies.
Mathematics: Essential Mathematics, General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics.
Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Nutrition.
Humanities: Modern History, Geography, Legal Studies, Business Innovation.
Creative Arts and Technologies: Visual Arts, Design, Digital Technologies, and various languages.
Key Coaching Areas:
Mathematics, Sciences, English Literary Studies, and essay-based Humanities.
Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) – Tasmania
Structure:
The TCE requires students to complete a set number of points from a range of subjects across Years 11 and 12, demonstrating proficiency in literacy, numeracy, and ICT.
Core Subjects:
English: English, English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD), Literature.
Mathematics: General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics.
Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science.
Humanities: Modern History, Geography, Economics, Philosophy.
Languages, Arts and Technologies: A variety of subjects based on student interest.
Key Coaching Areas:
Advanced Mathematics, Science subjects, English, and Humanities.
Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET) – Northern Territory
Structure:
The NTCET is modeled on the South Australian SACE, requiring students to complete Stage 1 (Year 11) and Stage 2 (Year 12) subjects, earning a total of 200 credits.
Core Subjects:
English: English, Essential English, English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D).
Mathematics: General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics.
Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology.
Humanities and Social Sciences: Modern History, Legal Studies, Geography, Philosophy.
Languages, Arts and Technologies: Various options, including languages, digital technologies, and creative arts.
Key Coaching Areas:
English, Mathematics, Sciences, and Humanities.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Senior Secondary Certificate – ACT
Structure:
The ACT Senior Secondary Certificate involves continuous assessment over Years 11 and 12. Students select courses based on their interests and career goals.
Core Subjects:
English: Essential English, English, Literature.
Mathematics: Essential Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics.
Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology
Humanities and Social Sciences: History, Geography, Legal Studies, Business Studies.
Languages, Arts and Technologies: Options available based on student preferences
Key Coaching Areas:
English, Advanced Mathematics, Sciences, and Humanities.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
Structure:
The ACT Senior Secondary Certificate involves continuous assessment over Years 11 and 12. Students select courses based on their interests and career goals.The IB Diploma is a two-year program involving six subject groups, a core comprising Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).
Core Subjects:
Individuals and Societies: Subjects like History, Geography, Economics, Psychology, Business Management, and Global Politics.
Sciences: Options include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Systems and Societies, and Computer Science.
Mathematics: Two levels are available – Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation, each at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL).
Arts: Includes Visual Arts, Music, Theatre, and Dance. Alternatively, students can choose an additional subject from the other groups.
Key Coaching Areas:
English, Advanced Mathematics, Sciences, and Humanities.
NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy)
Structure:
NAPLAN is a standardized test taken by students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 across Australia to assess their literacy and numeracy skills. The tests are held annually.
Core Subjects:
Reading: Comprehension of various text types, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and informational texts.
Writing: Students are required to write a text (narrative or persuasive) based on a given prompt.
Language Conventions: Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
Numeracy: Mathematical concepts including number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability.
Key Coaching Areas:
Reading comprehension, essay writing (narrative and persuasive), spelling, grammar, and numeracy skills, particularly problem-solving and understanding mathematical concepts.
Selective High School and Scholarship Exams
Structure:
These exams are conducted to select students for entry into selective high schools or to award academic scholarships. The exams vary by state and school but are typically held for Year 6 or Year 8 students.
Core Subjects:
English: Reading comprehension and creative or persuasive writing.
Mathematics: Advanced mathematical concepts including algebra, geometry, and arithmetic.
General Ability: Often tests logic, reasoning, pattern recognition, and problem-solving skills.
Writing: Tests students' ability to write essays or creative pieces under time constraints.
Key Coaching Areas:
Mathematics (advanced concepts), reading comprehension, essay writing (creative and persuasive), and general ability, including logical reasoning and pattern recognition.
University Entrance Exams
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
The UCAT is a standardized test used for admission to medical and dental schools across Australia and New Zealand. The test assesses a range of mental abilities identified by university medical and dental schools as important. It consists of five distinct sections, each focusing on different cognitive skills and professional attributes.
Section 1: Verbal Reasoning
Topics Covered:
Comprehension Skills: Interpretation of various text types, including scientific articles, medical case studies, and academic passages.
Critical Thinking: Identifying key arguments, drawing conclusions, and understanding implied meanings.
Logical Reasoning: Evaluating evidence, comparing contrasting views, and understanding cause-and-effect relationships.
Section 2: Decision Making
Topics Covered:
Logical Deduction: Drawing conclusions from statements, evaluating the strength of arguments, and identifying flaws in reasoning.
Quantitative Problem Solving: Interpreting numerical data, graphs, and charts; understanding statistical concepts.
Decision Analysis: Making decisions in scenarios involving risk, probability, and uncertainty.
Section 3: Quantitative Reasoning
Topics Covered:
Arithmetic and Algebra: Basic arithmetic operations, percentages, ratios, fractions, and algebraic equations.
Data Interpretation: Analyzing data from tables, graphs, and charts; understanding averages, rates, and trends.
Mathematical Reasoning: Solving real-world mathematical problems related to healthcare and everyday scenarios.
Section 4: Abstract Reasoning
Topics Covered:
Pattern Recognition: Identifying sequences, patterns, and relationships in sets of shapes and symbols.
Spatial Awareness: Understanding spatial relationships, symmetry, and rotations.
Logical Sequences: Determining the next shape in a series and identifying anomalies within a set.
Section 5: Situational Judgment
Topics Covered:
Professionalism and Ethics: Understanding ethical principles in medical practice, such as patient confidentiality, consent, and integrity.
Communication Skills: Evaluating scenarios requiring empathy, listening, and effective communication with patients and colleagues.
Teamwork and Decision-Making: Understanding roles in a healthcare setting, conflict resolution, and collaborative problem-solving.
Key Coaching Areas:
Regular practice with past papers and simulated exams to develop familiarity with the format and improve speed.
Targeted exercises to strengthen areas of weakness identified through diagnostic tests.
Development of strategies for time management, prioritization of questions, and handling test anxiety.
Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT)
The GAMSAT is designed to assess the capacity to undertake high-level intellectual studies in a medical and healthcare context. The test evaluates critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to understand and apply scientific and humanities knowledge. It is used for entry into graduate medical programs.
Section I: Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences
Topics Covered:
Critical Reading and Analysis:
Understanding and interpreting prose, poetry, drama, and non-fiction texts.
Identifying arguments, themes, and underlying assumptions.
Analyzing the tone, context, and perspective of various authors.
Humanities Knowledge:
Basic concepts from philosophy, ethics, history, and literature.
Familiarity with social and cultural issues relevant to contemporary society.
Section II: Written Communication
Topics Covered:
Essay Writing Skills:
Structuring arguments with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
Presenting balanced viewpoints and substantiating arguments with evidence.
Demonstrating creativity and critical thought on diverse topics, such as social justice, politics, culture, and ethics.
Reflective and Analytical Writing:
Constructing coherent essays that reflect personal views and understanding of complex issues.
Writing under timed conditions to simulate exam constraints.
Section III: Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences
Topics Covered:
Biology:
Fundamental concepts in cell biology, genetics, physiology, and evolution.
Knowledge of human anatomy, biochemistry, and disease processes.
Analysis of biological experiments, interpretation of data, and application of scientific principles.
Chemistry:
General, organic, and physical chemistry concepts.
Understanding chemical reactions, stoichiometry, kinetics, and thermodynamics.
Ability to interpret chemical equations, molecular structures, and laboratory data.
Physics::
Principles of mechanics, electricity, magnetism, and thermodynamics.
Application of physical laws to real-world scenarios.
Skills in solving physics problems, interpreting graphs, and understanding experimental methods.
Key Coaching Areas:
Rigorous preparation in scientific concepts at the first-year university level, particularly for biology, chemistry, and physics.
Enhancing critical reading and analytical skills through practice with a variety of humanities and social science texts.
Intensive essay writing practice to develop clear, structured, and coherent responses under timed conditions.
Familiarity with multiple-choice question strategies and techniques for efficient problem-solving.