Year 11
If you commence at University Senior College in Year 11 you won’t be alone in being new to the school – you’ll have a fresh start.
We carefully manage the progression from Year 10 to a more tertiary-style study, and give you time to adapt from wherever you’ve come.
“The teachers continue to astound me! Their belief in us and our academic prowess boosted me, making me want to do the best I could to make their time worth it!”Milla, Year 11
Book a tour
The best way to see yourself at USC is to come on a guided tour or explore the College on one of our virtual tours and Q&A sessions.
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How your Year 11 classes will run
Every subject you study will have two-hour classes each week. These are longer sessions than most secondary schools, and allow you to explore your learning in more depth. The USC school day begins at 8:00am and on most days ends at 5:00pm. This extended day has the benefit of a flexible timetable structure, based upon two hour blocks.
Outside of scheduled classes, you’ll study independently either on the USC campus or on The University of Adelaide campus. This is a key skill to learn before you start University, and by the time you leave USC, you should have the time management, personal organisation skills and confidence to succeed in the unique environment of University.
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The Year 11 curriculum (Stage 1)
You can view all details of the curriculum in our Curriculum Handbook.
To achieve Stage 1 of your SACE, you must complete:
- The Exploring Identities and Futures (EIF), which is usually completed in Year 10
- 20 credits (2 semesters) of English
- At least 10 credits (1 semester) of Mathematics
- Activating Identities and Futures (AIF)
Generally at Stage 1, you undertake a total of 120 credits which is equivalent to 12 single semester courses, each of 10 credits, in addition to the EIF. If you have not completed your EIF at your previous school, we provide an opportunity to complete.
You will undertake six subjects in each semester. For most students, one of these six subjects is the Activating Identities and Futures (AIF).
At Stage 1, a few subjects are offered as pairs of units, both of which are seen as prerequisites for Stage 2. Subjects in this category include English, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and General Mathematics. However, most of the subjects offered at Year 11 are offered as single units. These provide the opportunity for you to try a range of subjects before making a commitment at Year 12.
You’ll have formal examinations in each semester in most subjects. We see the examination experience as an important aspect of our program. Undertaking Year 11 examinations is also a significant element contributing to the assessment process of our Partner’s Pathway Program.
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Career planning in Year 11
As a Year 11 student, you can take advantage of the weekly lunchtime sessions during Terms One and Two, where each week focuses on a specific career. In these sessions, students hear directly from universities about what it takes to study in that field. To further enhance your career exploration, career workshop activities are also incorporated into the Year 11 Mentoring program. Additionally, you will be given opportunities thought the year to seek advice from our old scholars who are leaders in their professions and to meet the Recruitment Officer at The University of Adelaide to discuss the courses that interest you.