Queensland Year 12s ‘generational leaders’ in new ATAR system
Within weeks of school starting 2020’s pioneering Year 12s are handing in internal assessments and busily preparing for the first exams of the year.
First published 21 February 2020
Up to 52,500 Year 12s will become the first to graduate under the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) system, the first to receive an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) and the first to sit high stakes external exams in 40 years.
Keeping a close watch on the implementation of the changes is QUT’s Faculty of Education Associate Professor Jill Willis who specialises on student performance, assessment and expectations.
Main points: -
Year 12s graduate with Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) under new system
ATAR replaces Overall Position (OP) as standard pathway to tertiary study
Exam block from October 26 – 17 November
End-of-year high stakes exams determine 25 to 50 per cent of final mark.
For the past three years QUT has been working with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority, schools and teachers to prepare for the changes.
Associate Professor Willis describes the Year 12s as “generational leaders” of Queensland education, being the first full cohort of Prep in 2008, the first to transition to high school for Year 7 in 2015 and the first ATAR graduates.
“These students have been amazing pioneers and partners with teachers to create new cultures in schools,” she said.
“The transition to Year 7 was highly successful and these young adults already have demonstrated the kind of adaptability, advocacy and resilience necessary for the constantly changing world.”
Associate Professor Willis said under the new Queensland system the number of assessment tasks per subject reduced from seven or eight, to four.
She said some new study habits would be needed with fewer tasks, particularly for high stakes exams.
“For students studying maths and science subjects their common exam will be worth 50 per cent, which can feel like a lot of pressure,” she said.
“Long term preparation of day-to-day learning and checking for understanding helps develop intellectual muscle memory and doing self-checks with teachers and peers will help ease the stress.”
Other challenges for Year 12s are concerns regarding tertiary entrance thresholds and what ATAR they will need to gain entry to their chosen course.
Due to last year’s reduced cohort, many university course entry levels were adapted across the state.
QUT anticipates strong applicants with an ATAR of 70.00 or above are likely to gain a place at QUT in 2021.
The university has also expanded the offer guarantee so students with an ATAR of 87.00 or above are assured entry to a wide range of courses. More competitive courses are guaranteed at an ATAR of 93.00 or above, with a small number of courses excluded.
MEDIA CONTACT: media@qut.edu.au or 07 3138 1150, after hours 0407 585 901.
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