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Comparing New South Wales High School Certificate, A-Levels and International Baccalaureate: Which Curriculum Is Better For Your Child?

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Aug 09, 2021

Recently, Mr Liam King, the Principal of the Australian International School Malaysia (AISM), and Mr Chris Broadbent, the Careers and Pathways Coordinator hosted a talk on understanding whether International Baccalaureate (IB), A-Levels or the New South Wales Higher School Certificate (HSC) would best suit your child and benefit them.

Both educators have experience with learning in these models: the International Baccalaureate, A-Levels, and the New South Wales Higher School Certificate. They have accumulated over thirty years experience in learning and teaching these curriculum. In the talk, Mr Liam said: 

“By 2030, what we do in every job will change. The demand of future work will be 30% learning and almost 100% problem-solving.”

He further elaborated that learning content is no longer a fundamental skill. Therefore curricula that adopt the traditional focus on content  would not deliver the skills required for the job today and into the future. A traditional approach to learning  based on content delivery was appropriate when knowledge was limited. However, today we are in an age where knowledge is at the tip of our fingers and different skills are required. Hence, assessments that focus solely on content knowledge are doing a disservice to our children as they are not preparing them adequately for university and future careers.

Here are some pointers that were gathered from the talk, specifically on assessment methods for New South Wales High School Certificate (HSC), A-Levels and IB (International Baccalaureate):

• New South Wales High School Certificate (NSW HSC)

AISM offers New South Wales High School Certificate (HSC). Australia’s High School system varies by state. The Australian Education system is based on the southern hemisphere calendar, where classes run from January to December and their final exams take place in November. The duration of the HSC  course is  two years, like IB and A-Levels.  In Year 11 of the HSC, students may choose 6 subjects with the only compulsory subject being English; once they progress to Year 12, they can choose to drop one subject as the minimum requirement is to complete 5 subjects.  

The method of assessment is 50 final percentage assessed externally, and the remaining 50 percent will be assessed internally. In Year 12, in most subjects, they need to complete four assignments. The nature of the NSW HSC is flexible and offers a broad range of subjects. It is advantageous to students who don’t enjoy final assessments, as the HSC assessed continuously during their study. Another strong advantage is that as the exams are completed in November students with HSC would be able to apply for their desired universities with their actual results compared to IB and A-Levels which use predicted scores as part of their application. The actual results provide clarity when applying for university placement and be able to receive a better offer.

The NSW HSC Certificate grades are measured by the band. The top band is band six, which is equivalent to 90% and above. In addition to that, when applying to universities in Australia, the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is used to rank students. The ATAR is a measure of achievement for the Australian system. The ATAR is a measure to rank students academically and individual performance and compares them among Australia's peers. Since the education system varies across Australia by state or territory, this is a standardised measurement tool for all students in Australia before admission to a university. ATAR is a rank and not a mark with regards to the assessment they complete their HSC. AISM has shared previous AISM graduates utilising the ATAR Ranking which has helped students gain direct entry to universities but not limited only to Australian universities. The ATAR has helped students gain admission to top global universities such as in Singapore, Japan, Korea, United States and the United Kingdom.

• A-Levels

The A-Levels curriculum is prevalent in Malaysia and worldwide. The traditional A-Levels take about two years to complete. In the UK, it is for Year 12 and 13. A student traditionally takes up to three to four subjects. The examination is carried out in May and June each year.

A-Levels are more specialised; there are no compulsory subjects, and it is entirely assessed through examinations. It is essentially a very content focused system. The subjects options in A-Levels are diverse. This assessment approach is excellent for those who are sure of their pathway and aim to focus on their specialised paths. It promotes technical subjects as part of the learning experience. In addition to that, students are awarded separate certificates for the subjects they have completed in their A-Levels.

• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP)

The International Baccalaureate system is a curriculum that is designed for highly motivated students. This curriculum fosters critical thinking and building problem-solving skills. It also encourages diversity, international mindedness, curiosity and an appetite for learning and excellence. Therefore, students who are looking to enrol for this programme are mentally strong. For IBDP, a student must undertake one subject from each of the six subject groups. When a student is undertaking an IBDP subject, they must choose two language subjects, a social science subject, art, mathematics, and science. In addition, a student must sit for  mathematics and science subjects, which can be rigid. The exams for IBDP are held in May.

The programme is 75 percent assessment based. When choosing an IB programme, it is recommended that your child is strong across a range of subjects. The reason universities like the IBDP programme is because of the Core Studies subject which emphasises transferable skills. As part of the Diploma Core requirements, a student must participate in community service. The assessment is assessed 80 percent externally and 20 percent externally. The International Baccalaureate is graded between 25 to 45 points. 

Each curriculum may differ in terms of assessments. However, as the world has been rapidly evolving, it is essential to note that a child's learning should be a positive experience to prepare them for the future. Choosing a curriculum to fit your child's ability and needs could improve the learning experience and grades achieved. If you are interested to know more about the New South Wales Curriculum, join AISM's Virtual Open Week from 23 to 28 August from the comfort of your home. Register your interest to be entitled for up to 75% admissions fee waiver. Check AISM Open Week page to register and book your virtual 1-to-1 appointment today!

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