Year 10 | Sample Pathway Focus
Here are some sample study programs to help you with decisions about subject choices. Each has a focus and shows subjects which may complement that focus area. These are possible pathways only and do not represent the only combinations available to you, they are to be used as a guide.
Art Focus
Sarah enjoys ‘hands on’ subjects that enable her to use her artistic flair. She is considering working in advertising or graphic design after doing an Arts or Art Design course following VCE.
Commerce Focus
Krystyna is interested in pursuing a career in the commercial/business field. She is considering tertiary courses such as Accounting, Commerce, Business, Arts/Commerce or Business/Marketing and possible careers such as Accountancy, Personnel Management, Business Administration or Marketing. Her intended VCE program is thus focused on such subjects as Accounting, Maths and Business Management.
General VCE Focus
Carlee is not sure what she wants to do after Year 12. She recognizes that she needs a solid background in each subject so she does mostly 1 – 4 unit sequences. Her choice of subjects will cover the basic English and Mathematics pre-requisites for university entry, where required.
Humanities Focus
Hing enjoys and does well in subjects such as English and History at Year 10 level. She loves reading and reads quickly which is very helpful for these subjects. She is thinking about enrolling in an Arts or Law degree course after completing her VCE, or possibly a combined degree such as Arts/Business or Arts/Law, leading to careers which interest her such as in business, the legal profession, journalism or public relations.
Languages/Music Focus
Anna wants to continue her language study and apply to enter a highly competitive university course. Anna enjoys her music and wants to complete a straight year 10 with no VCE acceleration. She has a good record of consistent study habits and strong results so she plans to apply for acceleration when in year 11 to get the bonus from doing a sixth Unit 3 & 4 subject. She hopes that she will be approved for acceleration into Legal Studies 3 & 4 Unit in Year 11.
Languages/Humanities Focus
Brigita’s focus is on the subjects she loves, Languages and Humanities. She loves history and wants to travel the world. Her plans include acceleration in Geography. She also wants to go to university after Year 12 and realises that a sixth Unit 3 & 4 subject may enhance her ATAR score.
Maths/Science Focus - Engineering
Daniela is a capable Maths/Science student who is thinking about undertaking Engineering or Science courses at various tertiary institutions after completing her VCE. She is mindful of the fact that most Engineering courses advise that students should study Specialist Maths, Maths Methods and Physics at Units 3 & 4 level (or Specialist Maths, Maths Methods and either Physics of Chemistry eg. Monash Engineering) and some even require Physics and Chemistry as well as Units 3 & 4 (eg. Various Engineering courses at RMIT). These subjects benefit from a 1 plus 2 plus 3 & 4 Unit in Year 11 because she needed the background information learnt in Units 1 & 2 before doing a 3 & 4.
Science/Health Science Focus
Sarah is a very capable Maths/Science student who is thinking about undertaking a Science or Health Science course at university like Speech Pathology or Dietetics and Nutrition. She knows that a good background knowledge in Science is essential so she did 3 units of Science in Year 10. This gives her a wide range of choices for university courses. She realises Chemistry is a pre-requisite for all Science courses and many Health courses. She specialised in Science in Year 10 to prepare herself.
Science/Environmental Science Focus
Stephanie is a capable Maths/Science student who is thinking about undertaking a Science or Environmental Science course at University with a focus on plants and animals. She knows that good background knowledge in Science is essential so she did 3 units of Science in Year 10. This gives her a wide range of choices for university courses and allows her to accelerate into a Unit 3 & 4 Science in Year 11.