Uni/Tafe couses and Uni points.

[TheHarrisonFamily]

Hi

 

We have two teenage children. The eldest has sat GCSes and A levels. The youngest GCSEs only.

How do we go about converting scores to SACE eqivalents. I have seen some web sites that convert A levels, but her grades were different to the options showing on the site.

Also my daughter wants to go to Uni, but we think wont have enough points and will need to go to college to get some more. I assume this would be the local TAFE?? We are due to fly end Jan, so wont be there until college term starts. Do you know if she can enrol for a course whilst still in UK, so is ready to go when they restart Jan 2011.

Is there anywhere that can advice her on what extra points she may need and how many points each Tafe course is woth??

 

She is a bit bewildered by the system at the mo.

 

I did try to ring DECs, but was passed from 1 department to another with no one really able to offer any advice.

 

Any info would be appreciated.

 

Donna

[SWMBO]

Contact SSABSA they can help the GCSE will be converted so that your child will only have to complete year twelve,my son did this as he had already done first year of A levels in uk.My son is now at Uni doing a double degree,remember if you are not a citizen you have to pay your fees up front each semester.

 

www.sace.sa.edu.au is the website for what used to known as ssabsa they are very helpfull you can go and see them when you arrive.

[Guest Jo&Phil]

TAFE courses in semester 1 tend to start first week of Feb.

Depending on your visa situtation your daughter may or may not be treated as an overseas student - speak to TAFE Intl Students Unit to find out ...... see www.tafe.sa.edu.au

 

TAFE and Uni entry systems are different. Uni's take entrants based on the Tertiary Education Ranking (or something like that) the TER. TAFE does not. TAFE entrance for Diploma and above is based - usually - on successful completion of Year 12 SACE or equivalent or Cert III or the TAFE Assessment of Basic Skills (TABS) literacy/numeracy test.

 

It would be good to get definitive advice on A'level equivalency ..... but TAFE Intl Student should be able to help with that or point you in the right direction.

 

If your daughter is categorised as a domestic student then she should apply online through www.satac.edu.au for her preferred course(s).

 

What does she want to do at Uni? It is worth checking if there is a specific pathway TAFE:Uni for her chosen career ....... see info on both TAFE website and the 3 Uni's in SA (Adelaide, UniSA, Flinders).

 

Good luck - it's a bit complicated until you're in it and then it makes (sort of) sense.

Jo :-)

[Guest guest4829]

Hi donna,

 

We are currently going through the process for our twins and everything goes through SATAC who assess the UK grades and then process the applications to all south Australian universities. when I first emailed them re transferring my boys grades this was the link they sent me: SATAC UniWeb

 

Daniel

[lorluc]

Yeah...what visa are you on? If on a temp visa, TAFE etc will treat you as an overseas student and clobber you...Permanent visa...you still have to pay, but minimal compared to being on a temp visa

[Guest guest4829]

I forgot to mention that you have until Thursday (30th sep) to apply for the courses starting in Feb 2011 otherwise yo pay a 'late' fee. You apply online through SATAC so it shouldn't matter if you are overseas (although you may have a problem if you don't yet have an Aussie address).

[TheHarrisonFamily]

Hi all

 

We are on a 176 permanent residency visa which is a huge relief.

Anyway must fly to work. Will have a look throught this info later. Wont get an application in by Thursday.( Is chaos in our house at the mo). Need to shove daughter in the right direction to do her own research.

 

Donna

[Guest Chandan]

i have this years SATAC Uni guide that converts A levels and GCSE's etc, pm me your email and I can either scan the page for you to read or convert their scores for you.

 

For anyone who is interested in the above you can get a copy from any newsagents for both SATAC UNI and STATC Tafe for around $12. Lets you know how everything works..what courses there are the requirements etc very handy.

[Guest almost there]

Hi, SWMBO I was very interested to read your post. If we arrive in June when my son has completed GCSE in English, Maths, Science, ICT, RS will these be enough for him to skip the whole of yr 11? If so will he wait until the following Feb to start yr 12. Did you son struggle with any aspects of skipping a year?

Thanks

[SWMBO]

Hi, SWMBO I was very interested to read your post. If we arrive in June when my son has completed GCSE in English, Maths, Science, ICT, RS will these be enough for him to skip the whole of yr 11? If so will he wait until the following Feb to start yr 12. Did you son struggle with any aspects of skipping a year?

Thanks

 

My son had completed first year of A levels at an A Level college, and had achieved A* in all his GCSE so he was a a bright and able student, if he had just finished GCSE he would have been better doing year 11 and 12,but already having completed one year of A levels was more than able to cope with doing just year 12.

 

I have another son just completing year twelve and it is a jump from GCSE and I think your son coming from just doing GCSE might struggle.But only you and your son can decide what is best for him.

[Guest jan&andy]

Hi Donna

 

We moved here two years ago after my eldest daughter had just completed her GCSE's. She was an A*/A grade student and was given credit for year 11 here, so only did year 12. She found the jump in maths really hard as a lot of what they had covered in year 11 for Maths Studies and Specialist Maths they don't do in the UK until 'A' level so ended up changing her subject choices a few weeks into year 12. Other subjects weren't such a problem and some were not much different to GCSE level (French & English). I guess it all depends on what subjects they want to study and if any are compulsory for later Uni courses. We found that just because they give you credit, it doesn't mean that you will have actually covered the work.

 

The points table below may give you an idea of how the 'A' level results can be converted.

 

'A' level

A* = 140

A = 120

B = 100

C = 80

D = 60

E = 40

 

'AS' level

 

A = 60

B = 50

C = 40

D = 30

E = 20

 

You must have at least two 'A' levels and not more than two AS levels. The scores then convert to a ATAR (TER) score which is what the Uni's mainly use to determine who gets a place. A few examples would be:-

 

Score 340 = ATAR 97

 

Score 270 = ATAR 85.5

 

Score 230 = ATAR 79.2

 

Score 100 = ATAR 62

 

All the University websites will give the ATAR (TER) which was the lowest accepted for 2010 on the course guides which you can access on line.

 

I hope that hasn't confused you too much and best of luck with your move. Send me a pm if you have any more questions and I'll try to help.

 

Jan

[TheHarrisonFamily]

Thats brilliant. Thanks for that JanandAndy.

 

We didnt realise the AS levels were taken into account also. Will get her to have a look when she comes home as i cant remember her AS grades.

 

Thanks again

Donna