Student Workbook

Subject
Selection
For selection in 2024 for
2025 senior students
SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Welcome
Once you've finished this workbook, you'll
probably know which subjects you want to
choose, and be able to feel confident with your
decisions.

But it's possible that you won't know exactly

what you want to do at the end of this
workbook, and that's OK.

This is a big decision, and it's a good idea to

speak with some other people about the
process before you submit your selections.

If you can, reach out to your Careers Advisor or

Guidance Counsellor, talk about it with your
significant adults, or even talk about it with your
friends that you trust.
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Ready to select your

subjects?
Choosing senior subjects is an exciting
time - you've finally got control over
Goals
what you study and how you spend
(some of) your time.

Many students feel the pressure to

make the 'right' choice, and with such a Pathways
large number of things to consider the
process can become overwhelming.

That's why we've put together this

workbook to walk you through the
process, step-by-step. Preparation
We'll start by thinking about some goals,
then look at pathways to help you
achieve them. Then we'll get into the
business of picking your subjects.
Subjects
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Let's start with goal

setting
Before setting off on a journey, it's helpful to know what the destination could
look like. Before you can pick your subjects, we're going to work through some
goal setting exercises to help you work out what you really like, and connect
that with possible future careers.

By the end of this section, you'll have more of an idea of where you want to go,
which should make it a bit easier to choose some subjects. Here are some
examples of goals you could choose:

Start a career Start a career

in the space in the creative
industry arts

Work with
children and
young people
Help others Become a
with their farmer and
mental health grow food
Enjoy a career
in the food
industry

Protect the Start my own

planet as a business
conservationist
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

What do you enjoy?

For our first activity, we are going to think about your interests. Connecting the
things you enjoy with your study and career can make it feel more enjoyable
and fulfilling.

What are some of the things you enjoy the most? List as many as you can.

Do your interests have an overarching theme? If so, what is it?

Did you list lots of things that you enjoy, or just a few?

Heaps Some Not many

 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

What motivates you?

Below are some common motivation factors. The choice you pick is likely your
#1 motivating factor. It can help to know what makes you 'tick', so you can look
for jobs (and subjects) that will help you meet those aims.

I want to achieve my potential, and I’m driven to be the

best version of myself. I love beating my personal bests Personal
and look for meaning in what I do.

I love being included and want to fit in. I like being

Social recognised for my achievements and receiving awards,
and I often seek approval from others.

I want to create a better world and help others. I like

being useful and feel good when people thank me for Community
my help. I look for ways to improve things.

I want to make enough money to buy the things I want,

Lifestyle and have time for the things I love. I balance study with
other things, like sport or time with friends.

I want to make sure I can get a job that earns a good

income, and I’ve thought about where I’m going to live Practical
and how I’ll get enough money once I’ve left home.

My motivation factor is: Select one...

 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

What are you

interested in?
Take a look at the groups of things below and think about what you're most
interested in.

Science Collaboration Exploring Negotiating

Nature Social Media Outdoors Budgeting
Climate Motivating Activity Business
Animals Teamwork Travel Finance
Oceans Managing Sports Money

Creativity Numbers Self-care

Design Analytics Wellbeing
Events Statistics Fashion
Dance Maths Beauty
Arts Data Diet

Construction Technology Biology Geography

Architecture Computers Anatomy Learning
Machines Software Caring History
Buildings Coding Health Politics
Robots AI Fitness Law

Write down your favourites, as well as anything else we might have missed:
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

What’s in your future?

What sort of future do you see for yourself? Have you thought about it before?
It's normal to daydream what the future might look like, and thinking through
possibilities can help you work out which ones you actually want, and which
ones can stay in your imagination.

In two years from now I will be...

Studying

Working

Travelling

In five years from now I will be...

Studying

Working

Travelling

In ten years from now I will be...

Studying

Working

Travelling
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Goal refinement
Use this page to find and refine your career related goals - we'll use these to
help guide your subject choices.

Does it
How much do Is it match your
Goals: you want it? achievable? motivations?

1. 10

2. 10

3. 10

4. 10

5. 10

6. 10

7. 10

8. 10

Now you've thought about your goals, get rid of any that don't score highly -
it's best if you can get it down to just one or two main goals going forward
(and remember you can always change these later).
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Let’s look at pathways

Now you've got an idea of where you want to go, let's talk about the different
paths you can take to get to your desired destination. This is the bit where we
work out some milestones for your goals, which will help you find the right
subjects to make them happen.

There are many pathways for every career - and it's OK to not take the
straightest path. For example, here's just two possible pathways you could
take to become an Emergency Nurse:

Finish Year 12 with an Finish Year 12 with an

ATAR of 81 ATAR of 68

Miss out on uni - get into a

Diploma of Nursing at TAFE
Get into a 4 Year
Bachelor of Nursing
Start a Bachelor of Nursing,
get credit for the Diploma,
and earn money as an
enrolled nurse as you study

Gain 1 or 2 years of
experience nursing in Gain 1 or 2 years of experience
another area nursing in another area

Qualified Emergency Nurse

From here, we're going to come up with a couple of possible pathways for
your career goals from the previous section. You'll work out a Plan A, then a
Plan B, and we can also look at some backup options.
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Your pathways
Pick your top two career related goals, then do some research if necessary,
and follow the steps to create three possible pathways for each.

Goal one:

Requires a VET qualification

Requires a university qualification - I need an ATAR of:

Requires other post-qualification training

Plan A: Plan B: Plan C:

Goal two:

Requires a VET qualification

Requires a university qualification - I need an ATAR of:

Requires other post-qualification training

Plan A: Plan B: Plan C:

 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Prepare to select your

subjects
By now, you should know a bit more about where you want to go, as well as
have some ideas about how you're going to get there. There are a few things
to read, grab, and identify before you launch into selecting your subjects, so
get these sorted:

1
Gather the things you need - your computer/tablet, this
workbook, your working subject list (next page), a
coffee/tea/water, and the list of subjects your school is
offering.

Read through any instructions or paperwork your school has

2
provided, and make sure you understand how many subjects
you need to pick. If anything in this handbook conflicts with
your school's information, then go with what your school has
advised.

Identify any compulsory subjects which your school requires

you to take. Some schools require you to take sport, or

3 religious studies, or even maths and English. If there are any,

write them on your working subject list and tick 'compulsory'.
Then continue with the activities on the following pages to help
you select the rest of your subjects.
Subject
Compulsory

I'm good at it

I enjoy it

It gives me variety
SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Uni prerequisite

Gives bonus points

TOTAL
Working subject list

RANK
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Prerequisite subjects
'Prerequisite subjects' are subjects which you must have completed to get in to
certain university degrees.

Every university gets to decide which high school subjects they consider to be
prerequisites, which means you may need to study a subject to get in to one
university, but not need it for the same degree at another university.

Universities decide to make some subjects a prerequisite because they want all
students who start that particular degree to have already gained knowledge in that
subject area. This means they don't need to cover that information in the degree,
and they assume you will have that knowledge before you start. Even if a university
doesn't have any set prerequisites, they may tell you there is 'assumed knowledge',
or they may suggest subjects.

If you have your heart set on a degree with prerequisites or assumed knowledge, but
really don't want to take those subjects in high school, then we would suggest
reconsidering - if they ask you to study a subject in high school, then you can expect
to do a lot more of it at university.

Unless you are certain right now which university you want to attend, and which
course you want to study, we suggest taking steps to give yourself choices down the
track.

Are you considering any careers that require a university degree?

Yes - do some research No - move on to the next section

 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

You probably need

English
You'll need to write, speak, read, and
listen throughout your career, no matter
Struggling to keep up?
what you choose.
Pick the base level of English

Even if you live in one of the states

where it isn't compulsory, almost all
universities now expect you to have Doing OK so far?
studied English in Year 11 & 12 to be
eligible to apply. Choose Standard English

Studying a basic level of English in your

senior years ensures you have the skills
and knowledge to be able to Achieving above average?
communicate when needed, whether
that's writing emails to customers, Consider Advanced English
submitting job applications, or speaking
on the phone.

If you really don't want to take English, Want to study teaching, law
then we recommend you speak with a or communications at uni?
teacher you trust about your decision.
Sometimes there are other factors at Think about Extension English
play, and they may be able to help you
find a way to continue with English with
additional support.
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

You probably also

need maths
You need maths skills for almost every
single job there is, as well as in everyday
Struggling to keep up?
life - tradies use maths to measure
Pick the base level of Maths
materials, doctors use maths to manage
medications, web designers use maths
to track their analytics.
Doing OK so far?
If you want to study science, health,
engineering, business, art, design, or Choose Standard Maths
architecture you'll need maths.

If you really don't want to take Maths,

then we recommend you speak with a Achieving above average?
teacher you trust about your decision.
Consider Advanced Maths
We know that maths can be anxiety-
inducing, but if this is the case for you it
may be an idea to seek mental health
support to work through any issues that Want to study STEM or
are putting you off studying maths - medicine at university?
even if you make the same decision, at
least you'll have had the chance to talk Think about Extension Maths
it through.
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Let's look at what's left

Now that Maths and English are out of the way, we can move on to the remaining
subjects. There are a few things to cover first, then we can go through a couple of
steps to fine-tune your choices and come up with some solid selections.

If you think you might want to go to university, then you need to know that
only around 1 in 4 students (26%) get in on the basis of their ATAR alone.

The other 74% get in using a combination of things, including their ATAR,
adjustment factors, entry schemes and alternative pathways, Early Entry
programs, portfolios, auditions, interviews, Principal's Recommendations, and
additional tests.

If your school offers VET subjects for Year 11 & 12, it may be possible for you to
combine a VET course with your other subjects and still qualify for university
entry. You may need to sit additional tests or meet other requirements to
ensure your VET qualification is counted, so we recommend you do your
research first.

If you have too many subjects on your list, remember that you can learn some
things outside of school. Cooking, languages, dance, art, etc. can all be learned
another way, so if you're running out of room, keep in mind that you have
growth opportunities outside the classroom.
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Choose subjects you enjoy

There is a direct link between doing something you enjoy and how much effort
you put in. Choosing subjects you like will help you stay motivated, on track,
and do your best work, so it's worth considering how much you enjoy a subject
as part of the selection process. Tick the subjects you enjoy:

Agriculture Design + tech Science

History Legal studies Music

Visual arts Religion Engineering

Economics PE/Health Indigenous

studies

Geography IT/Computing Business

studies

Industrial Food Dance

technology technology

Drama Languages Hospitality

If you only like it because you get on with the teacher, your friends are taking it,
or you find it easy, think twice before adding it to your working subject list. On
the other hand, if you can see yourself using it in your career, consider taking it.
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

What subjects are you good at?

Just like choosing subjects you enjoy can lead to better results, choosing
subjects you're already good at can also make an impact. If you find you do
consistently well in a subject, even if you can't see how it could relate to a
career right now, it might be a good idea for you to add it into the mix.

Not only will you be building on your previous success, you'll give yourself a
good chance of improving your final results. List your three best subject results
from your most recent reports here:

Best subject Second subject Third subject

Report 1:

Report 2:

Report 3:

Report 4:

For your top three subjects, if you enjoy them and think you can keep your
marks up in Year 11 & 12, add them to your working subject list.

The last thing to do is match up the number of subjects (or units) on your list
with the number you need to pick. This process will ensure you have the right
mix of subjects to qualify for a certificate of school completion, and an ATAR (if
you want or need one).
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Drop any subjects

you don't like
If, somehow, a subject has made its way onto your working subject list and you really
don't like it, then we need to see if we can get rid of it. Follow this process:

Are there any OPTIONAL

subjects on your working
subject list that you don't
enjoy?
yes no

Do you want to go to uni, Go to the

and is it a prerequisite next page
subject for a course in your
career pathway?

no yes

Cross it out Try to find a way

to enjoy it

If you find yourself in the position of choosing a subject you don't like because
it's a prerequisite for a course you want to study down the track, then be aware
that you can expect to continue with this subject for your degree and quite
possibly your career.
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Are your subjects at

the right level?
Sometimes it's not about which subjects to pick, it's about which level you should be
choosing. Follow this process to work out if you've selected the right level of subject:

Are there any subjects on your

working subject list that are too
yes easy or hard?
no

Too easy Too hard Go to the next page

Are you sure you don't Are you 110% committed to

want to push yourself? raising your grades?

We know that students

sometimes choose an easier
level to maximise their ATAR no yes
scaling (most commonly
seen with maths), but this
could backfire if you end up Cross it out Leave it on
wanting to study a maths- your list
related degree.
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Rank your remaining

subjects
By now, there's a good chance that your
working subject list may be a bit of a
Am I good at it?
mess.

You should have crossed out some

subjects, added others, and you should Do I enjoy it?
be getting pretty close to the right
number and combination of subjects.

If you already have the right number of

subjects and units to submit to your
Will it challenge me?
school, then stop now and move on to
the next page. If you don't have enough
subjects, go back a few steps and see if
you can add any others into the mix. Does it give me variety?
If you have too many, then we're going
to rank them. This will give you an
overall score and rank for each subject,
which could make it a bit easier to
Is it a uni prerequisite?
compare them.

To do this, add up the ticks for each

subject, then give them a rank. Will I get bonus points?
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Go with your
intuition
Throughout this process, we've used
logic and what you know about yourself
and your goals to select some subjects
for your final years of school, but it's
important to remember that sometimes
the best decision is to go with what your
intuition is telling you.
From here, we'll finalise your subject list
by transferring the subjects you're going
to select over to your final subject list
(so you'll need that list for this step).
But before we do that, is there is
anything on your list that you really
don't want to do? Or anything you've
removed but want to add back on?
That is totally OK.
You are the one who will be studying
these subjects through some of the
most intense years of your life, so you
need to be comfortable with your
choices.

Take a minute to triple check that the subjects you've selected will ensure you are
eligible for a school completion certificate in your state, and for an ATAR if you think
there is any chance you want to go to university. Then, transfer the remaining
subjects from your working subject list onto your final subject list.

BEFORE you submit your final list to your school, stick it to your wall for at least
a couple of days in a place where you will look at it regularly. Take the time to
think about your choices, and if you need to rearrange anything then feel free
to do so. If you feel comfortable, ask a parent, significant adult or a teacher to
go over your list with you before you submit it, and if you can, make a time to
meet with your Careers Advisor to check it too.
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

Final subject list

Subject Units
 SUBJECT SELECTION GUIDE

What's next?
You've come a long way, and it's a good idea to take some time to reflect on what
you've learned about yourself, your goals, and your possible future careers. You
could write about the things that surprised you, the elements of the process you
found most difficult, and how you felt about making your final choices.

Here's some space to leave your thoughts:

"...Choose the enabling subjects, the

ones that will keep the doors of
opportunity open."
DR ALAN FINKEL, CHIEF SCIENTIST 2016-2020
 p. + 61 7 4039 3862
e. info@studyworkgrow.com