Glossary of Terms
- ATAR
- Australian Tertiary Admission Rank – a percentile score with a maximum of 99.95, which reports a student‘s rank relative to all other Western Australian students of Year 12 school leaving age. It helps institutions rank applicants for selection into tertiary courses. It is calculated on behalf of the universities and released by TISC.
The ATAR is a rank, not a mark. - ATAR courses
- ATAR courses are usually chosen by students intending to seek university entrance.
- CAS
- Creativity, Action and Service – a compulsory component of the IB Diploma
- DP
- Diploma Programme – this is a pre-university course which facilitates access to Australian and international universities. Students are required to study 6 subjects, one from each Group as well as Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and Creativity, Action and Service.
- EE
- Extended Essay
- ELC
- English Language Competency – To be eligible for admission to an undergraduate course you must demonstrate satisfactory performance (scaled mark of 50% or above) in WACE English ATAR or Literature ATAR at Year 12 level.
- GAMSAT
- Graduate Australian Medical School Admission Test – The medical entrance test used to assist with the selection of students into graduate-entry medical courses.
- General Courses
- General courses are usually chosen by students not intending to seek university entrance.
- GPA
- Grade Point Average – a simple numerical index which summarises academic performance in a course
- Groups (IB)
- There are six Subject Groups from which students must select a subject.
- HL
- Higher Level – IB Diploma subject. Minimum of 240 hours contact time
- IB Scale
- The grades used for predictions and final scores: Grades range from 1-7. Grades for Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay are from Grade A to E.
- IBCA
- International Baccalaureate Curriculum and Assessment Centre – The curriculum and assessment centre is located in Cardiff, United Kingdom.
- IBO
- International Baccalaureate Organisation – The body which oversees the design and implementation of the Diploma Programme. Head office is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
- IELTS
- International English Language Testing System – Of relevance to students who do not demonstrate competence in English in the standard way.
- OCC
- On-line Curriculum Centre
- SCSA
- School Curriculum & Standards Authority – The statutory body charged with overseeing school education in Western Australia (previously known as the Curriculum Council).
- Secondary Graduation
- Students graduate as a result of their studies in the Senior School by obtaining the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
- SL
- Standard Level – IB Diploma subject. Minimum of 150 hours contact time
- STAT
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test – An alternative tertiary admissions test for those candidates who do not have a recent Year 12 certificate.
- TAFE
- Technical and Further Education – Tertiary institutions offering vocational certificate and diploma courses.
- Tertiary Institution
- Any institution offering a tertiary (post-school) education Australia-wide. In Western Australia, this includes the four public Universities and Notre Dame University, TAFE and private providers.
- TEA
- Tertiary Entrance Aggregate – The total mark of the best four ATAR courses.
The maximum TEA is 430. - TISC
- Tertiary Institutions Service Centre – The body that manages entry to universities in Western Australia.
- ToK
- Theory of Knowledge – a compulsory component of the IB Diploma
- UMAT
- Undergraduate Medical and Health Sciences Admission Test – The medical entrance test used to assist with the selection of students into medicine, dentistry and health science programs at undergraduate level.
- Unit
- Each WACE course is divided into four units, with students covering one unit per semester (a period of learning of about of 18 to 20 weeks) in Years 11 &12.
Scotch will offer Units 1, 2, 3 & 4 in ATAR courses and General courses.
- WACE
- Western Australian Certificate of Education – A Certificate signifying that a student has successfully met the breadth and depth, the achievement standard and the English language requirements in their senior secondary schooling.
- WASSA
- Western Australian Statement of Student Achievement – A statement of results issued to all Year 12 students who complete any study that contributes towards a WACE. It lists all courses and programs that students have completed in Year 11 and 12.
