HSC Minimum Standards Support
This program offers support for students to meet the required standard in Literacy and Numeracy, and consequently, guarantee eligibility for the HSC. Students are required to demonstrate through online testing that they do meet the minimum standards. The minimum standards tests are aligned with level 2-4 of the Australian Core Skills Framework. The assessments require students to demonstrate skills that are regarded as essential to meet daily life demands.
Why Subscribe to the Program
The Minimum Standards Support program has been carefully designed to aid students achieve the minimum standard in all components (numeracy, reading snd writing) as required by the NESA.
It is particularly relevant to ESL (English as a second language), EALD (English as an Additional Language/Dialect) and LBOTE (Language Background other than English) students.
The numeracy component is scaffolded, and the language used in the asking of questions is user friendly. There are teaching points along the way as well as hints and full solutions to most quizzes.
Road to Success
Numeracy: Each student’s achievement is monitored by the success in completing the practice tests. The practice tests are colour coded, starting with blue (20 questions) and finishing with purple (45 questions). Each practice quiz has extra questions that include a new area (strand) of mathematics. By the end of the program, it is expected that the student will reach the minimum standard (purple). Once this is achieved, then success in the next round of online testing is more probable. The tests are designed to help the student manage their responses to answer all questions on time.
Reading: This component has three skill builders (quizzes) followed by a full practice. This process is repeated six times. The full practices replicate what the students view on the day.
Writing: Students have a choice of nine prompts on which to write responses. Each response has sample responses that students can compare with their own. There are hints and advice on how to tackle each response.
The Program
Background
What does the student know about the topic? This is a list of questions that the student attempts ‘cold’ to give the tutor/teacher an idea of where the student is at.
Skill Builder
Follows the Background check and is given to those students who demonstrate proficiency in the skills present in the Background section. The students working on the Skill Builder have yet to require guidance in work to date. These questions are wordier and make use of the skills covered in the Background section of the program.
Module
Given to those students who require more practice to consolidate their understanding of the concept. These students would have received some conferencing following the Background and Skill Builder quizzes.
Practice
Attempted once the student has satisfactorily completed the Background, Skill builder and/or Module. The practice quizzes are designed to give the students the importance of monitoring their time. The five practice quizzes have time limits of between 20 and 60 minutes. The six final quizzes replicate the online assessment that the student sits. A timer is in situ, so students can monitor their time throughout the practice quizzes.