Teaching & Learning – Year 11

Introduction to Year 11 Subject and Elective selections.
Subjects must be selected for the right reasons, including individual challenge, personal passion and academic suitability.
Please read the short subject presentation available on this page to assist in making your son’s elective selections for Years 11 and 12.
After considering your son’s electives please complete the Year 11 subject selection form, available on this page, providing TWO electives, with back up preferences.
Key Staff

Mr Andrew Millar
Head of Curriculum
Year 11 Curriculum
Subjects
The following courses are offered to students in Years 11 and 12:
Agriculture
Ancient History
Biology
Business Studies
Chemistry
Chinese Continuers
Design and Technology
Drama
Earth and Environmental Science
Economics
Engineering Studies
English Advanced, Standard, EAL/D, English Studies
French Continuers
Geography
Health and Physical Education
Industrial Technology (Timber, Multimedia, Metal)
Investigating Science
Japanese Continuers
Latin Continuers
Legal Studies
Mathematics (Advanced, Standard)
Modern History Music (Course 1, Course 2)
Personal Development
Physics Software
Design and Development
Sport – Lifestyle and Recreation
Studies of Religion (1 Unit, 2 Unit, Studies of Catholic Thought)
Visual Arts Work Studies
The following 1 Unit Extension Courses will be offered in:
Year 11 Preliminary English Extension 1
Preliminary Mathematics Extension 1
Year 12 HSC Chinese Extension
HSC English Extension 1 and 2 HSC
French Extension
HSC History Extension
HSC Japanese Extension
HSC Latin Extension
HSC Mathematics Extension 1 and 2
HSC Music Extension
HSC Science Extension
St Joseph’s also offers the following Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses if sufficient numbers:
Business Studies
Primary Industries
Construction
Students are also able to study courses offered by:
TAFE (Technical and Further Education) at Meadowbank TAFE College
OTEN (Open Training Education Network)
NSW School of Languages (NSWL)
Important information
The Higher School Certificate (HSC) is overseen by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA):
The NESA has some helpful information for Year 10 students and their families, including at the following link:
What is a pattern of study?
- A pattern of study is the range and combination of subjects selected by a student
- Subjects should be selected on their individual merit. Yet, how the subjects ‘fit together’ in combination is equally important. E.g. Multiple Major Projects? Writing demands?
- The NESA also has requirements for the HSC (e.g. compulsory English), as do Catholic Schools (e.g. compulsory Religious Education)
- Many students at Joeys, in Year 11, select six 2-Unit subjects (for a total of 12-units)
- The Joeys Preliminary Subject Placements (PSP), issued in Term 2, will significantly influence course selection in the areas of English, Religious Education, Science and Mathematics.
HSC Course Structure
- All courses in the HSC have a unit value
- Most courses are 2 units, which equates to 120 hours of study and an HSC result out of 100 .
- At Joeys, this means classes are held 9 days out of 10 over the two week timetable cycle
- Some courses are 1 unit, which equates to 60 hours of study and an HSC result out of 50.
- At Joeys, this means classes are held 5 days out of 10 day over the two week timetable cycle
- Many 1-unit courses are extension courses, often added in Year 12, enabling 3 or 4 units of a subject to be studied.
NOTE:
Some extension courses are held ‘off timetable’ (e.g. at night), particularly in Year 12.
What are the requirements of the HSC?
Year 11:
- NESA has a minimum, and Joeys a maximum, 12-units in Year 11 (Preliminary – 3 terms)
- The boys must satisfactorily complete the Year 11 (Preliminary) course before commencing the corresponding Year 12 (HSC – 4 terms) course.
Year 12:
- Minimum of 10 units
Both the Year 11 (Preliminary) and Year 12 (HSC) pattern of study must include:
- 2 units of compulsory English
- In a Catholic school at least 1 unit of a Religious Education subject
- At least 6 units of Board Developed Courses (NESA developed syllabus content)
NOTE:
This means for students to attain their HSC a maximum of 4-units (out of 10-units) of TAFE or other Board Endorsed Courses (developed outside of NESA) can be studied in Year 12 e.g. Fitness, Work Studies, Sport Leisure & Recreation and so forth. The Board Endorsed Courses are identified in the Subject Information PowerPoint presentations.
Furthermore, students must achieve the HSC Minimum Standards in literacy and numeracy by the end of Year 12. This is a NESA requirement and a prerequisite for the HSC credential. Boys will start this testing in Year 10.
Additional requirements:
- at least 3 courses of 2 units value or greater
- at least 4 subjects (including English)
- a maximum of 6 units of Science in Year 11
- a maximum of 7 units of Science in Year 12 (as Science Extension is offered as an additional 1-unit in Year 12).
NOTE:
While Mathematics is NOT compulsory, the vast majority of Joeys students choose to study Mathematics. The Dux of 2020 – with an ATAR of 99.90 – did not study Mathematics.
What do I need to do to access an ATAR?
While the HSC is implemented by the NESA, and has the above requirements, the ATAR is calculated by the Universities Admission Centre and is a RANK (not a mark)
For more information go to: Year 10 students – UAC
For the 2025 HSC, there will be no distinction between Category A and Category B courses, as there has been previously.
To be eligible for an ATAR in NSW, you must satisfactorily complete at least 10 units of HSC courses. These courses must include at least:
- 10 units of Board Developed courses
- 2 units of English
- three Board Developed courses of 2 units or greater
- four subject areas.
Your ATAR is then calculated from your:
- best 2 units of English
- best 8 units from your remaining units.
Some students, for very good reasons, do not wish to receive an ATAR and are tracking along other excellent pathways e.g. Future apprenticeship.
NOTE:
- The ATAR is calculated based on the highest 10 units of scaled marks and must include 2 units of English
Common mistakes in subject selection:
- Choosing subjects based (solely) on the views, interests, expectations and (academic) strengths of others
- Linked to the above, putting too much weight on the well meaning opinions of friends, family or peers
- Failing to understand it is the boys’ HSC to own
- Not embracing the sound recommendations and advice from specialists within the College, including the most appropriate ‘pattern of study’
- Having the desire, but not the skills and (current) work ethic to achieve personalised success
- Selecting subjects that will supposedly ‘scale well’ when the student is not set-up for success in that course (and in the end, will ‘scale poorly’).
NOTE:
re. scaling, where scaling is the process used by UAC to ensure marks for different subjects can be fairly measured, compared and added together to help determine the ATAR.- All subjects have similar ‘scaling effects’ at the top end.
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For example, students in NSW who studied Legal Studies, Business Studies, PDHPE, Visual Arts, Drama and Music (and many other subjects) received ATARs in the high 99s in 2021. This happens every year.
Most importantly, subjects are not considered easy or hard by NESA or UAC!
Do the right subjects at the right level for the right reasons. Best results.
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Please explore this website to find out some initial information about the courses on offer. It is important to note that courses will be run at the discretion of the Timetabling Committee, including the College Headmaster. These decisions will be influenced by a range of factors, including the number of students who select the subject and broader timetabling considerations.
Mr Darren Frost
Director of Teaching and Learning
Year 11 2026 Subject Selection Presentation Video
Here is the video recording from the Subject Selection Information presentation held on Monday 28th July 2025.
Year 11 2026 Subject Selection Presentation Slide
Here is the PowerPoint presentation from the Subject Selection Information presentation held on Monday 28th July 2025.
Y10 Senior Ready Information Session 2025
Here you will find a recording of the information meeting held via Zoom back in February 2025.
Elective Subject Selection Process
As this is the first real opportunity to have choice and agency in subject selection, the TWO electives, with back up preferences, need careful consideration.
The boys are well supported through this process.
Mr Mr Andrew Millar
Teaching and Learning
Elective Form
Got a Question?
Please complete the online form.
We will review these on a regular basis and forward them to the relevant Faculty Coordinator for review.
Subjects offered.
Please explore the other subject selections listed below.
Agriculture ( 2 units )

Ancient History ( 2 units )

Biology ( 2 units )

Business Services (VET) ( 2 units )

Business Studies ( 2 units )

Chemistry ( 2 units )

Languages - Chinese Continuers ( 2 units )

Construction (VET) ( 2 units )

Design & Technology ( 2 units )

Earth & Environmental Science ( 2 units )

Economics ( 2 units )

Engineering Studies ( 2 units )

English Advanced ( 2 units )

English Extension ( 2 units )

English Standard ( 2 units )

English Studies ( 2 units )

Languages - French Continuers ( 2 units )

Geography ( 2 units )

Languages - Japanese Continuers ( 2 units )

Languages - Latin Continuers ( 2 units )

Legal Studies ( 2 units )

Mathematics Advanced ( 2 units )

Mathematics Extension ( 1 unit )

Mathematics Standard ( 2 units )

Modern History ( 2 units )

Music 1 ( 2 units )

Music 2 ( 2 units )

PDHPE ( 2 units )

Physics ( 2 units )

Primary Industries (VET) ( 2 units )

Software Engineering ( 2 units )

Sports Lifestyle & Recreation ( 1 unit )

Studies in Catholic Thought ( 1 unit )

Studies of Religion 1 ( 1 unit )

Studies of Religion 2 ( 2 units )

Visual Arts ( 2 units )

TAFE & External (VET) ( 2 units )

Drama ( 2 units )

Industrial Technology – Metal ( 2 units )

Industrial Technology – Timber ( 2 units )


