The criteria used to determine entry to TAFE are quite different to those used for university entrance. The selection criteria do not consider an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank – instead calculation of entry points is done separately for each particular course.

Students who wish to keep their options open for TAFE entry should familiarise themselves with the individual TAFE Handbooks and consult the Scotch College Careers Adviser before finalising their Year 11 courses.

Course Levels

TAFE offers six levels of courses:

• Advanced Diploma
• Diploma
• Certificate IV
• Certificate III
• Certificate II
• Certificate I

To get into a full-time qualification at TAFEWA students need to meet the entrance requirements for the chosen qualification. For a number of qualifications there are also specific selection criteria.

Entrance requirements are communications (reading, writing, speaking and listening) and, if required, mathematics skills. In the TAFE handbook the level of communications and mathematics skills required for entry to a qualification are shown by dots:

• Basic skills
• Developed skills
• Well developed skills
• High developed skills

Selection criteria are addressed by submitting documented evidence as requested. Diploma students will implement the following procedure:

1. Students apply by using the TAFE application form and, because it has to go early, they attach their Winter term report which has predicted grades on it. Students also need to include things like records of work experience (sometimes even CAS) as the TAFE criteria are much wider. Students will also enclose a sheet about the IB Diploma (provided by DP Coordinator) that explains it and also an application support sheet written by the DP Coordinator.
2. The Diploma Coordinator or Careers Adviser will contact TAFE Admissions by telephone to discuss applications. This will be followed up with a letter that goes with each application.
3. On the day Diploma results are published, the Diploma Coordinator will send a fax to TAFE Admissions with the results of the students who have applied.

As the calculation of TAFE entry points is done separately for each particular course, it is not possible to make comments about the general level of scores. Similarly the demand for courses in TAFE varies significantly from year to year.

Some general trends that have applied to recent TAFE entry are:

• About 85% of applicants to TAFE received either their first or second preference.
• Because entry is driven by demand and supply, the entry scores varied considerably between the various TAFE centres and were generally much lower for non-metropolitan centres.
• Courses which are more competitive and required higher entry scores included animal care and veterinary nursing, photography, graphic design, broadcast operations, media design, hospitality and tourism, foreign languages, medical reception, public relations and trade training.
• These trends may not always apply for TAFE enrolment. Students should consult with TAFE information officers if there are any queries.

TAFE / University Transfer

Students should be aware that it is becoming easier to transfer from TAFE Certificate 4/Diploma level courses to a range of university courses. Individual arrangements exist between certain TAFE colleges and universities.