Across all Science subjects offered in Year 11 (preliminary) and 12 (HSC), students will take part in field work and practical tasks to further there understanding of the various aspects of science.
Students will be planning and conducting investigations, conducting experiments, note taking, research, calculations, problem solving techniques, group work, computer experiences and processing information.
For the Higher School Certificate (HSC), students can study the following science subjects:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Investigating Science
- Physics
Biology
Year 11 (preliminary)
What students study
- Module 1: Cells as the basis of life
- Module 2: Organisation of living things
- Module 3: Biological diversity
- Module 4: Ecosystem dynamics
Year 12 (HSC)
What students study
- Module 5: Heredity
- Module 6: Genetic change
- Module 7: Infectious diseases
- Module 8: Non-Infectious diseases
School assessment
- a research project in each of the preliminary and Higher School Certificate (HSC) courses
- other tasks include formal examinations, practical tests and reports, topic tests.
HSC examination
The HSC examination is a written 3 hour exam:
- Section 1 is multiple choice (20 marks)
- Section 2 (80 marks)
Chemistry
Year 11 (preliminary)
What students study
- Module 1: Properties and structure of matter
- Module 2: Introduction to quantitative chemistry
- Module 3: Reactive chemistry
- Module 4: Drivers of reactions
Year 12 (HSC)
What students study
- Module 5: Equilibrium and acid reactions
- Module 6: Acid/base reactions
- Module 7: Organic chemistry
- Module 8: Applying chemical ideas
School assessment
- a research project in each of the preliminary and HSC courses
- other tasks include formal examinations, practical tests and reports, topic tests.
HSC examination
The HSC examination is a written 3 hour exam:
- Section 1 is multiple choice (20 marks)
- Section 2 (80 marks)
Earth and Environmental Science
Year 11 (preliminary)
What students study
- Module 1: Resources from earth
- Module 2: Plate tectonics
- Module 3: Transforming energy
- Module 4: Impacts of humans
Year 12 (HSC)
What students study
- Module 5: Earth’s processes
- Module 6: Hazards
- Module 7: Climate science
- Module 8: Resource management
School assessment
- a research project in each of the preliminary and HSC courses
- other tasks include formal examinations, practical tests and reports, topic tests.
HSC examination
The HSC examination is a written 3 hour exam:
- Section 1 is multiple choice (20 marks)
- Section 2 (80 marks)
Investigating Science
Year 11 (preliminary)
What students study
- Module 1: Cause and effect-observing
- Module 2: Cause and effect-inferences and generalisations
- Module 3: Scientific models
- Module 4: Theories and laws
Year 12 (HSC)
What students study
- Module 5: Scientific investigations
- Module 6: Technologies
- Module 7: Fact or fallacy
- Module 8: Science and society
School assessment
- a research project in each of the preliminary and HSC courses
- other tasks include formal examinations, practical tests and reports, topic tests.
HSC examination
The HSC examination is a written 3 hour exam:
- Section 1 is multiple choice (20 marks)
- Section 2 (80 marks)
Physics
Year 11 (preliminary)
What students study
- Module 1: Kinematics
- Module 2: Dynamics
- Module 3: Waves and thermodynamics
- Module 4: Electricity and magnetism
Year 12 (HSC)
What students study
- Module 5: Advanced mechanics
- Module 6: Electromagnetism
- Module 7: The nature of light
- Module 8: From the universe to the ato
School assessment
- a research project in each of the preliminary and Higher School Certificate (HSC) courses
- other tasks include formal examinations, practical tests and reports, topic tests.
HSC examination
The HSC examination is a written 3 hour exam:
- Section 1 is multiple choice (20 marks)
- Section 2 (80 marks)