Year 10  >  Making Choices - Year 9 to Year 10

Year 10 IB and VCE Application Form If you wish to study a VCE or IB subject when you are in Year 10, please download and complete this application form. Applications must be submitted by 8.30 am on Monday 6 August 2012.

Subject Selection Planning Sheet You may wish to think about where anticipation can lead your studies over the next few years. Use this Subject Selection Planning Sheet to map out some subject ideas.

Some issues to think about

During Term 3 of Year 9 you will be asked to make subject choices which will provide the foundation for your final two years of schooling. These choices may affect your access to tertiary courses and your career path. It is therefore very important that you read the information contained in pathways@carey carefully, as well as make full use of the resources available to you - people, publications and information sessions to help you make good decisions.

As you enter Year 10 level there are some significant questions related to subject choice which you will have to consider:

• Will the subjects I choose allow me to get into courses that I might want to do once I finish school (even if I don’t know what that is yet)?
• Should I be thinking about doing IB or VCE and do I have to make that decision yet?
• What are the pros and cons of anticipating/accelerating a subject at IB/VCE level and is this the right option for me?

The Subject Selection Student Workbook that is sent via email to all Year 9 students as they begin the subject selection process contains information that will help you answer each of these questions. It also gives the following general advice to Year 9 students when selecting Year 10 subjects:

• Select subjects that you like
• Select the hardest Mathematics subject you feel you can manage
• Keep going with a LOTE if you can
• Complete both units of Year 10 Science if possible.

Following these guidelines while still adhering to the rules of subject selection will usually result in choosing the best possible subject combination.

IB or VCE and Anticipation/Acceleration at Year 10 years of schooling

The decision as to whether to undertake the International Baccalaureate Diploma or the Victorian Certificate of Education does not have to be made until well into Year 10; however you should bear in mind that - providing you meet the criteria set down, which include obtaining results of 'A' standard in all Year 9 semester one subjects- an IB or VCE study taken in Year 10 can provide excellent preparation for both courses. 

Students may apply to take one IB Standard Level subject, chosen from the subjects listed on the application form (see above).  Students contemplating this option should make an appointment with Carey's IB Co-ordinator to discuss their proposed course of study. 

Students who are undecided about whether they will select the IB or the VCE when they are in Years 11 and 12, but who wish to study a Year 11 subject, are advised to apply for an IB subject, which is both useful preparation for the IB program, and a pathway to Units 3 and 4 in the VCE.

Please note: Undertaking an acceleration course does not suit most students in Year 10. However, as students develop skills throughout Year 10, it may be appropriate to select an acceleration VCE subject in Year 11. Students may apply in Term 3 of Year 10 to study one of a number of Unit 3 and 4 subjects in Year 11 without any Unit 1 and 2 background. For further information refer to the VCE section.