Beyond the AST

Making the most

of
Year 12 in Canberra

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is growing, and a minority of that growth is from locals in Canberra staying to raise families generation after generation. If you don’t have first-hand experiences of traversing years 11 and 12 in Canberra, you might be surprised to find one of the most unique senior secondary systems in the world.

• What’s different in the ACT?

  ‘College’, in particular, has a specific meaning in Canberra schools for only years 11 and 12. All schools at this final end of the education machine are designed for work, study and university pathways, and most use final exams as a measurement tool for ATARs (university entrance scores) and pathways; however, the ACT and its Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) takes a different route with its system and its ‘final exam’ in the ACT Scaling Test (AST).

• What is the AST?

  The AST is the BSSS's capstone of critical thinking. Unlike a traditional, high-stakes final exam, the AST is designed to measure the very skills the BSSS system cultivates. It's a test of critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication, not rote memorisation. Your result on the AST is a team effort, contributing to the scaling of your entire school's course scores. This collaborative element reinforces the BSSS's community-oriented philosophy. Unlike many education systems that hinge on a single, high-stakes final examination, the ACT’s BSSS system operates on a model of continuous, school-based assessment that carries the most weight for your final ATAR. The skills you hone to succeed in your courses, from analytical reading to logical reasoning, are the same ones that lead to success in the AST, at university, and in your future career. The AST isn't just a test; it's an affirmation of the BSSS's commitment to preparing students for a complex world, a world where the ability to think is far more valuable than the ability to recall.

• Why this system?

  The strong benefit of this BSSS system is an intentional design to provide diverse pathways for every learner. Students can pursue interests and strengths throughout their Year 11 and 12 studies, regardless of their pathway preferences. University-bound students can study courses that directly prepare them for their further studies, but students can also study vocational education courses in their packages via ASBAs, CIT (Canberra’s TAFE) courses or apprenticeships with local RTOs. This flexible, student-centred approach aligns with the "adaptive curriculum pathways model" found in high-performing countries like Estonia and Singapore, where there is a clear commitment to "social levelling" and the recognition that all skills lead to viable and lifelong careers.

• How can I get a better ATAR?

  General AST Strategies

  • Practice is Key: The best way to prepare is through consistent practice. Simulate the test experience and mark your work harshly to identify areas for improvement.

  • Work on Barriers: Recognise and work through any personal barriers you have to performing well on tests.

  • Transferable Skills: The skills needed for the AST are not just for the test; they are also useful for class, work, and life.

  • Focus on Course Scores: The best way to get a high ATAR is by getting consistently good marks on your school assessments, as course scores matter more than AST scores. The AST is used to scale course scores to create a single rank for university admission.

  Multiple-Choice Test

  • Answer Every Question: Always attempt to answer every question. Even a 50/50 guess is better than a 25% guess.

  • Eliminate Options: Use keywords from the question to eliminate incorrect or inessential answer choices.

  • Trust Your Instincts: Be confident in your answers. You deserve to be in the room and are smarter than you know.

  Short-Answer Test

  • Allocate Time Wisely: Use your time effectively. For a question worth four points, make sure you write four distinct points.

  • Connect to the Stimulus: When analysing a picture, connect your thoughts and answers clearly to the provided stimulus.

  • Interpret, Don't Assume: Focus on interpreting the stimulus rather than making assumptions.

  • Dot Points and Mental Maths: Use dot points for your answers. The test does not allow calculators, so practice your mental math beforehand.

  Writing Task

  • Form an Opinion: Be aware of current events and issues to help form your own opinions on topics that may appear on the test.

  • Write a Clear Argument: The writing task requires you to write a clear argumentative essay of about 600 words.

• What are my options if I don’t want to sit the AST?

  First and foremost, talk to the transition and careers officer at your school, or at least your pastoral care officer to initiate conversations with your college about your study options.

  General options that vary from college to college include the following:

  • Students can complete their year 12 package without a Tertiary Entrance Score (ATAR). The opportunity to get an ATAR has a lot of specific requirements, but a complete year 12 package has less requirements and can be just as useful to your pathway planning as an ATAR package.

  • Many colleges support Standard Packages that include vocational study in the form of ASBAs, CIT courses, apprenticeships through local RTOs, and VET courses offered both within certain schools and externally in VET sphere.

  • Standard packages can directly or indirectly lead into VET study pathways that allow direct entry into university, with CIT and UC having a particularly strong relationship and standing Canberra.

  • A standard package with the BSSS is allowed to take up to 5 years to complete, allowing for part-time study options and long-term plans that could include 3-year ASBAs or other balanced approaches to completing year 12.

  • The BSSS is a very inclusive system. There is no age limit to studying, so anyone wanting a year 12, with or without a Tertiary Entrance Score, can enrol, with CIT’s Pathways College specialising in mature students. Students with intellectual disabilities can also complete their year 12 packages with the support of M courses designed to allow inclusive and appropriate educational experiences.

• References and links

  ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS)

  o   Summary: The BSSS is the central authority for senior secondary education in the ACT, responsible for the curriculum, assessment, and certification of students in Years 11 and 12. They oversee the administration of the AST and the awarding of the ACT Senior Secondary Certificate and the ATAR.

  o   Link: https://www.bsss.act.edu.au/

  ACT Department of Education

  o   Summary: Provides an overview of the ACT education system, including senior secondary schooling and various pathways available to students. This is a good source for general information on the structure and goals of the education system in the territory.

  o   Link: https://www.education.act.gov.au/

  Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)

  o   Summary: The ATAR is a measure of a student's overall academic achievement in relation to other students. It is used by universities to select applicants for courses.

  o   Link: https://www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/atar

  Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)

  o   Summary: CIT is Canberra's TAFE and a major provider of vocational education and training. It offers a range of courses that can be undertaken as part of a Year 12 package, including those that provide direct entry into university.

  o   Link: https://cit.edu.au

  Universities Admission Centre (UAC)

  o   Summary: UAC is an organisation that processes applications for admission to most undergraduate courses at universities in the ACT and New South Wales. They also provide information about the ATAR.

  o   Link: https://www.uac.edu.au/