General Year 11-12 Subjects

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^General subjects are those that provide opportunities for students to follow a pathway that leads primarily to tertiary study (they can prepare students for vocational training and work also). General subjects are essential in the calculation of an ATAR (at least 4 of the 5 contributing subjects must be General). These subjects align with those previously known as Authority subjects.

The QCAA develops four types of senior subject syllabuses — General, Applied, Senior External Examinations and Short Courses. Results in General and Applied subjects contribute to the award of a QCE and may contribute to an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) calculation, although no more than one result in an Applied subject can be used in the calculation of a student's ATAR.

Extension subjects are extensions of the related General subjects and are studied either concurrently with, or after, Units 3 and 4 of the General course.

Typically, it is expected that most students will complete these courses across Years 11 and 12. All subjects build on the P–10 Australian Curriculum.

Results in General subjects contribute to the award of a QCE and may contribute to an ATAR.

Underpinning Skills

All General syllabuses are underpinned by:

•literacy skills — the set of knowledge and skills about language and texts essential for understanding and conveying content

•numeracy skills — the knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions that students need to use mathematics in a wide range of situations, to recognise and understand the role of mathematics in the world, and to develop the dispositions and capacities to use mathematical knowledge and skills purposefully

•21st century skills — the set of skills students need for success in life and work in the 21st century: critical thinking; creative thinking; communication; collaboration and teamwork; personal and social skills; ICT skills.