Biology
Who Should Study This Course
The Biology course builds on the knowledge and skills of the study of living things found in the Science Stage 5 course. The course maintains a practical emphasis in the delivery of the course content and engages with the technologies that assist in investigating current and future biological applications. The course provides the foundation knowledge and skills required to study biology after completing school and supports participation in a range of careers in biology and related interdisciplinary industries.
Course Description
The Year 11 course investigates cellular structure and provides a basis for understanding the way in which multicellular organisms transport and absorb nutrients and carry out gas exchange. Exploring variations in the structures and functions of organisms provides an understanding of the effects of the environment on living things and on biodiversity. The Year 12 course investigates reproduction, inheritance patterns and the causes of genetic variation in both plants and animals. Applications of this knowledge in biotechnology and various genetic technologies are explored in the light of their uses in the treatment, prevention and control of infectious and non- infectious diseases.
What Students Learn
The study of Biology in Stage 6 enables students to develop an appreciation and understanding of biological concepts that are used to explore the diversity of life, from a molecular to a biological systems level, and the interactions between living things and the environments in which they live.
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Chemistry
Who Should Study This Course
Students who demonstrate an aptitude in Science and have highly developed numerate skills that are interested in the study of chemical behaviour and who wish to develop their working scientifically skills of: questioning and predicting, planning investigations, conducting investigations, processing data and information, analysing data and information, problem solving and communicating. Students intending to study a science-based course at tertiary level.
Course Description
The Year 11 course develops the knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to the properties and structures of matter, the types and drivers of chemical reactions and how we measure the quantities involved in these processes. The Year 12 course builds on the concepts introduced in Year 11 by examining particular classes of chemicals, processes and a variety of chemical reactions which incorporate organic compounds and acid/base equilibrium reactions. The course challenges students to apply this knowledge to the investigation of a range of methods used in identifying and measuring quantities of chemicals which leads to an understanding of the structure, properties and trends of and between classes of chemical.
What Students Learn
Chemistry explores the structure, composition and reactions of and between all elements, compounds and mixtures that exist in the Universe. The discovery and synthesis of new compounds, the monitoring of elements and compounds in the environment, and an understanding of industrial processes and their applications to life processes are central to human progress and our ability to develop future industries and sustainability.
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https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/stage-6-learning-areas/stage-6- science/chemistry-2017
Earth & Environmental Science
Who Should Study This Course
Students who demonstrate an aptitude in Science and have highly developed numerate skills that are interested in the study of the structure of the Earth and environmental science, and who wish to develop their working scientifically skills of: questioning and predicting, planning investigations, conducting investigations, processing data and information, analysing data and information, problem solving and communicating. Students intending to study a science-based course at tertiary level.
Course Description
The Year 11 course investigates compositional layers of the Earth, the origins of minerals, tectonic movements and energy transformations and includes the study of human impact on the Earth’s resources and its surface.
The Year 12 course investigates how the processes of plate tectonics, the formation of water and the introduction of life interact with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and climate. Investigation of hazards, the mitigation of their effects and resource management are also considered, which leads to an understanding of the need to centralise the theme of sustainability for the long-term welfare of our planet and all forms of life dependent upon it.
What Students Learn
Earth and Environmental Science builds upon the knowledge and working scientifically skills gained from the Earth and Space strand taught in science K-10. Students engage with the processes that have come to shape and influence the physical and biological worlds. The syllabus maintains an equal focus on earth science and environmental science. Throughout the course, an emphasis is placed on the processes that bring about natural phenomena that can be observed all over the earth, including a student's local environment, creating a sense of relevance and connectedness with the subject.
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https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/stage-6-learning-areas/stage-6-science/earth-and-environmental-science- 2017
Physics
Who Should Study This Course
Students who demonstrate an aptitude in Science and have highly developed numerate skills that are interested in the study of energy and motion and who wish to develop their working scientifically skills of: questioning and predicting, planning investigations, conducting investigations, processing data and information, analysing data and information, problem solving and communicating. Students intending to study a science-based course at tertiary level.
Course Description
The Year 11 course develops students’ knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to the study of motion, how we describe it and what causes it. The course also examines energy in its different forms, and how we describe and measure electricity and magnetism and their interrelated effects. The Year 12 course provides avenues for students to apply the concepts introduced in Year 11 and to motion in two dimensions, electromagnetism, the nature of light, and the atomic properties of matter.
What Students Learn
The Physics course involves the study of matter and its motion through space and time, along with related concepts that include energy and force. Physics deals with the study of things on scales from nuclear particles and their interactions up to the size and age of the Universe. This allows students to better understand the physical world and how it works and appreciate the uniqueness of the Universe.
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