Stage 5 Subject Selection Handbook

ASG offers a wide variety of courses to fulfil the needs of our students. Elective subject choices are made by students in Year 8 before going into Years 9 and 10. This information has been compiled to support all students to make informed choices of the courses they wish to study in Stage 5.

Please read this information carefully before you make your subject choices and make sure that you discuss it with your parents, teachers, careers advisor and other students in Years 9 and 10 before completing the subject selection forms.

Other useful websites that may assist in making your decision are listed below:

NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)

Careers information at MyFuture

Careers information at Job Outlook

Subject Selection

Students choose one subject from each group of available subjects on each line.

In making subject choices, always consider that:

  • the subject is of interest to you,

  • it addresses your further study and career path ambitions, and

  • you feel capable and confident of fulfilling the requirements of the course.

You should not be influenced by your peers or which teacher is taking the course when making your choices. You should instead talk to teachers, students in other courses, the careers advisor and family members and friends.

In offering elective subject choices, the School considers how the subjects can be managed using the resources available. The lines that form the basis of the timetable are based on student choices in rounds 1 and 2 of the subject selection process. The proposed courses may or may not run and the school will make a judgement on which courses will run based on course numbers, available resources and the nature of those courses. For a few students, some compromises may be necessary.

The minimum expectation of NESA is that students complete the mandatory curriculum and at least two or more elective courses. It is expected that students will stay with their courses until the end of Year 10. If changes can be made they are to done through the Academic Administrator and in the first six weeks of Term 1 of Year 9.

Some school courses also have additional costs involved.

Record of School Achievement (RoSA) Credentials

The RoSA is a cumulative credential for students who leave school before completing their HSC. It was introduced for school leavers in Year 10 in 2012. The RoSA lists all mandatory and additional Stage 5 and – where applicable – Stage 6 courses completed by the student, along with the grade awarded. The RoSA credential also lists any courses commenced but not completed and the date of leaving school. NESA issues the formal RoSA credential to students who satisfy the eligibility requirements when they leave school. A student will be considered to have satisfactorily completed a course if, in the Head of School’s view there is sufficient evidence that the student has:

  1. followed the course developed or endorsed by the board,

  2. applied themselves with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks and experiences provided in the course by the school, and

  3. achieved some or all of the course outcomes.

If at any time it appears that student is at risk of receiving an "N" determination (unsatisfactory completion of a course), the Head of School will warn the students as early as possible and advise the parent or guardian in writing.

Eligibility for the Record of School Achievement (ROSA)

To qualify for the RoSA, a student must have:

  • attended a government school, an accredited non-government school or a recognised school outside NSW,

  • completed courses of study that satisfy the Board’s curriculum and assessment requirements for the RoSA,

  • complied with all requirements imposed by the Minister or the Board, and

  • have completed Year 10.

Students leaving school who do not meet the RoSA requirements will be issued with a printed Transcript of Study.