Questions before the information evening?

These questions have been asked in previous years at information sessions.

Questions

Answers

If a student takes a Yr 11 Units 1+2 subject such as Music, do they also need to take a Yr 10 Music - elective subject?

No, they don’t have to. However, if they would also like to study Music with their peer group (Yr 10s) they are welcome to select it.

Is a VET subject a whole year commitment or are

there some that are just one semester?

VET courses are a whole year commitment.

What happens if there is a timetabling clash with students’ selected options?

Reserve options will be drawn on in this

circumstance.

How will the class composition /house placement work now that students are choosing many more electives?

All classes will be allocated according to student subject choices. Launch classes will remain the same but all other classes will have a mixture of peers in Year 10.

Is the choice of the various Yr 10 Maths Core subjects completely up to the student, or are there minimum requirements for being able to select Core Maths - General?

Recommendations will be made by teachers in addition to the Math the student feels they will be able to cope with. Conversations about this have already started in Math classes.

Are there some elective (or core) subjects that will only run in one semester? If so, can we be advised of these subjects and which semester they’re planned for, so that backups can be chosen if needed?

No. Building a timetable is very complex and subject numbers, student preferences and staffing all have to be accounted for. Choices made assume that the student is happy to do the subject in whichever semester it runs. Backups will be used if a preferred subject doesn’t attract enough students to be viable, or if there is a clash.

It looks as though students no longer do PE in Year 10 – is that correct?

PE is an elective not compulsory at Year 10.

If a student is currently learning Japanese, can they take on Yr 11 Units 1+2 as it mentions native speaker only?

If not a native speaker of Japanese then acceleration is not an option. The student is still welcome to study Japanese Units 1&2 in Year 11.

My child is going to do Unit 1&2 Chinese next year with her Chinese school outside. What does she need to do?

We will just need a copy of the enrolment form so it can be entered into the VASS (student records) system.

Can non-EA students apply for Enhanced Mathematics?

No – this is not an acceleration application subject. This is by College invitation. Student learning data is considered by a Curriculum and wellbeing panel. Students identified as being a suitable candidate for this pathway will be offered the opportunity to select it. Students will be notified if they receiving an invitation on the same day as VCE acceleration offers are sent out. Same applies for Enhanced English.

Can the Methods and Specialist combination be chosen for 9AE students in year 10?

Enhanced Mathematics is the recommended pathway for a student considering a maths Method and Specialist pathway. It sets students up well for this.

My daughter is currently in the accelerating class. Can she do Maths Method Unit 1&2 next year and then repeat Maths Method Unit 1&2 again in year 11?

It is usually not advised to repeat Maths Methods Unit 1 and 2 in year 11. They would move onto Unit 3 and 4 Methods in Year 11. If they are unsure whether this will be possible, it is recommended to take on the Enhanced course, as it prepares students for Methods and Specialist maths the following year.

Is Science^2 the same as both Physics and Biology combined?

Yes it combines the two semester based science subjects of atomic chemistry and physics and biology and chemical of life. This does keep all the science VCE subjects open to the student in Year 11. It also offers further opportunities to develop scientific understanding and

methodology

What’s difference between Math Methods and specialist math and Enhanced Mathematics, are they all considered as VCE unit 1 & 2?

Enhanced Mathematics is a course developed by the school to prepare students for Year 11 Methods and Specialist maths. Methods and Specialist are both highly algebra intense, with specialist maths focussing more on kinematics, complex numbers and vectors.

If student hand in their subject choices early (not the advanced, just the normal subjects), would it be first in, best dressed?

No. We need a majority of students to have entered their choices to build a timetable and get an indication of what subjects are running. Being early is not an advantage. HOWEVER, being late may mean choices are not able to included and is a significant disadvantage. Students will have to choose from subjects that are available rather

than have the options of all subjects.

For a student looking at doing a trade/VET which maths option would be best?

It really depends on the student and their maths confidence. Encourage your child to speak with their Math teacher.

If a student received both above the standard and at the standard marks on their report can they still accelerate in a subject?

All acceleration applications are considered by a panel of Curriculum and Wellbeing staff members. The application is considered using the criteria, student engagement, experiences and achievement levels across subjects, organisational skills etc. This is to ensure that the decision made is considered and in the best interest of the individual student.

Will students who attended the school for student leadership still have the ability to apply for acceleration as their attendance will not be 90% over the semester.

Yes, this is a school approved absence. As they missed the first term the panel will also take this into consideration in assessing the application.

Is it recommended to do year 10 Psychology before jumping straight into unit 1&2 Psychology?

It is up to the student. It is not compulsory for a student to complete the Year 10 elective psychology before going into the Year 11 subject. If the student does complete the Year 10 elective subject they may be familiar with certain topics. However the Yr 11 teacher will teach all topics again to the class when they enter the VCE subject

If we have more questions for year 10 subject selection, where we can get help for school?

Students can speak with their House Leader, Head of House, classroom teacher, Heads of Domain across the College and our pathways team who are presenting tonight: Ms Vaina or Ms Peck. There will also be a subject selection counselling session in which the student, a parent and a teacher will meet to discuss subject preferences.

Can you take a VET Cert III course that is typically a 2 year course just for 1 year in year 10 as an elective?

Yes you can, you enrol in one year at a time, so you can either complete just one year, or re enrol and continue with the second year

Just to clarify, some subjects they are invited to accelerate, and some subjects they have to apply. Is that correct?

Yes – Enhanced Maths and Enhanced

English are by invitation. Other subjects where acceleration is offered need to be applied for.

What do we need to do to study a language other than those offered at Viewbank College, for example at Victorian School of Languages(VSL)?

Students would need to be already studying the language. If they are studying a language through any external provider, parents need to notify the College. Victorian School of Languages is coordinated within the college by Claire Fleming.

How much extra work are the portfolio subjects (like Art Making and Exhibiting) for Unit 1 & 2?

The work is not ‘extra’ compared to other VCE subjects. It is that the nature of the work requires students to be highly organised, have good time management, able to meet deadlines, able to work consistently. Classwork makes up each step, is accountable and builds to the portfolios.

Students need to be self- motivated.

When do students need to apply for all subjects? What if they choose only 4 Unit of electives and 2 for VCE 1&2 , and then not accepted for VCE 1 &2? Do they still have to choose 6 electives and apply for VCE 1&2 at the same time?

Students put in a VCE acceleration application for any subject they are interested in and meet the criteria for acceleration in. As part of the subject selection process, students have to select a number of ‘back-up’ subjects. This will be supported through the subject selection process. Students will also have the outcome of their acceleration application prior to subject selection submission.

What is the advantage for a student to study unit 1&2 in yr 10, 3&4 in yr 11 instead of studying units 1-4 in yrs 11 & 12? Wont they be graded against students who have studied an extra year & are more mature.

Great question! Studying a subject by acceleration in Year 10 & 11 gives the students an ‘extra’ subject to contribute to their ATAR. The ATAR is calculated using the students 4 top study scores plus 10% of their 5th and 6th subject. A majority of students will have 5 subjects at Year 12. Acceleration is not suited to all students and the level of maturity is certainly a consideration. It also provides some students the opportunity to follow a passion subject, gain an experience of VCE to prepare them, or take on a ‘pathway prerequisite’ subject, and still enable a broad choice of VCE subjects in Year 11. This is a very individual thing, and needs to be considered based on the students strengths, pathways and most importantly wellbeing. Often students do not achieve their ‘best’ result when accelerating as they are competing against learners with an extra year of maturity.

If she wants to do IT or Engineering undergraduate course, does she need to take computing or systems engineering as vce prerequisite subjects? I have checked Monash as example, is not required, only require english, math, or science

You will need to check with the tertiary institution and the prerequisites the particular course your student is interested in undertaking. These do change between the universities/tafes.

If they are thinking of studying this subject at

university level I would recommend that the student does complete it as part of their VCE studies. The choice is ultimately up to the student. You just need to be mindful about ensuring you meet any prerequisite. These can change year to year. So keeping up to date with this information is important.

Is a student allowed to choose a subject for year 11 if they did not learn the subject in year 10? As well as is the student permitted to do the VCE subject even if they did not learn the subject back in year 11.

Students can select a Unit 1 and 2 Subject based on their interest and pathways plans, regardless of whether they studied it at year 10, with the exception of Languages, and Maths Methods.

Is it risky for a student to choose a subject such as Drama if they didn’t do Drama in Year 9?

No, the student may find that they have an interest in this subject area. Year 10 still should be a year about exploration for the student before they narrow down in their VCE subject choice.

What is the advantage for a student to study unit 1&2 in yr 10, 3&4 in yr 11 instead of studying units 1-4 in yrs 11 & 12? Wont they be graded against students who have studied an extra year & are more mature.

Great question! Studying a subject by acceleration in Year 10 & 11 gives the students an ‘extra’ subject to contribute to their ATAR. The ATAR is calculated using the students 4 top study scores plus 10% of their 5th and 6th subject. A majority of students will have 5 subjects at Year 12. Acceleration is not suited to all students and the level of maturity is certainly a consideration. It also provides some students the opportunity to follow a passion subject, gain an experience of VCE to prepare them, or take on a ‘pathway prerequisite’ subject, and still enable a broad choice of VCE subjects in Year 11. This is a very individual thing, and needs to be considered based on the students strengths, pathways and most importantly wellbeing. Often students do not achieve their ‘best’ result when accelerating as they are competing against learners with an extra year of maturity.

If they want to do IT or Engineering undergraduate course, do they need to take computing or systems engineering as VCE prerequisite subjects? I have checked Monash as example, is not required, only require English, Math, or Science

You will need to check with the tertiary institution and the prerequisites the particular course your student is interested in undertaking. These do change between the universities/tafes.

If they are thinking of studying this subject at

university level I would recommend that the student does complete it as part of their VCE studies. The choice is ultimately up to the student. You just need to be mindful about ensuring you meet any prerequisite. These can change year to year. So keeping up to date with this information is important.

Is a student allowed to choose a subject for year 11 if they did not learn the subject in year 10? As well as is the student permitted to do the VCE subject even if they did not learn the subject back in year 11.

Students can select a Unit 1 and 2 Subject based on their interest and pathways plans, regardless of whether they studied it at year 10, with the exception of Languages, some sciences and Maths Methods.

How many places on average are generally available for year 10 students in a VCE (units 1 and 2) subject - or does this depend upon the amount of year 11 students?

Year 11 students are given priority into the Units 1 and 2 subjects offered by the College, this is because they must complete a full load of Unit 1 and 2 subjects only. The remaining places are offered to Year 10 students. However this is dependent on the number of classes that run, class numbers, clashes with other year 10 subjects. We try to accommodate as many Year

10s as possible.

If you were to do Biology/ Chemistry of Life and

Physics/Chemistry in Motion, is it just worth doing Science squared?

You cannot do the two semester based subjects.

If you are looking to do year long science the student needs to select science squared.

Are subjects being given out based reports from before? Will it be a higher report, more likely to be chosen for that subject? Also, what happens if a main subject the student was thinking of choosing for VCE is taken/full, would that mean they are able to continue the subject the following year, catching up on the knowledge missed, or will that subject not be an option for

the student in the future?

Once students are given the approval to preference a VCE accelerated subject, they each have the same access to spaces in the course.

If a VCE place is not available once timetable is built, and Year 11 students have been placed, students are not restricted from accessing it the following year as a Unit 1 and 2 subject

Do you have to select 5 reserve subjects?

All reserves need to be selected. It does not allow you to submit the form without the full number of reserves entered

Who do we contact for further discussion re maths & science prereq for university engineering?

You need to explore the Universities/Tertiary institutions websites to see this level of information. You can also contact Sandra Vaina for some advice on what links to access

Is Work experience arranged by the school or students?

Students are encouraged and supported to find their own work experience placements

Would you recommend for an AE student interested in completing the Math Methods and Math Specialist route to jump into the Maths Methods Unit 1&2 or along with the Enhanced maths or just stick to the Enhanced Mathematics and then go to Methods and Specialist classes in Year 11?

We recommend the student does Enhanced Mathematics. This gives them a strong foundation for being ready for undertaking VCE Methods and Specialist when they are in Year 11.

Summary of Year 10-12 Subjects 2025