Teaching & Learning – Year 11

Introduction to Year 11 Subject and Elective selections.

Key Staff

Mr Andrew Millar

Head of Curriculum

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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:

  HSC Subject Selection

• 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

Year 11 2026 Subject Selection Presentation Slide

Y10 Senior Ready Information Session 2025

Elective Subject Selection Process

Elective Form