Subject Selection
There are three types of subjects offered through Senior
Studies at William Ross State High School.
General Subjects
These subjects contribute to a student’s eligibility for
University entrance, and contribute to an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
(ATAR) calculation. A student must study a minimum of 4 General Subjects to be
eligible for an ATAR.
Applied Subjects
Applied subjects are suited to students who are primarily interested
in pathways beyond senior secondary schooling that lead to vocational education
and training or work. One Applied Subject may be used in the
calculation of an ATAR.
Vocational Education and
Training (VET)
VET courses contribute to credits for the QCE (up to 8
credits for a Certificate III course). A VET certificate carries National
Accreditation and upon completion students are issued with a certificate
qualification.
Australian Tertiary
Admission Rank (ATAR)
An ATAR is used for tertiary entrance purposes only. The calculation
of an ATAR will be based on one of the following:
Best five General subject results, or
Best results in a combination of four General subject results plus
One Applied
subject result, or One Certificate III or higher VET
qualification
Please Note: English
Requirement – Eligibility for an ATAR will require a sound level of
achievement in an English subject at the end of Unit 4. It is not mandatory for
a student’s English result to be included in the calculation of their ATAR.
The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) has
responsibility for ATAR calculations.
Queensland
Certificate of Education (QCE)
The QCE is Queensland’s senior school qualification, which
is awarded to eligible students usually at the end of Year 12. To be awarded a
QCE, students must have at least 20 QCE points and fulfil literacy and numeracy
requirements. QCE points are awarded to General subjects, Applied subjects, VET
courses, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, university subjects
completed whilst at school, workplace learning and certificates such as
Australian Music Examination Board.