Australian High School Grades

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30975, 3 February 1966, Page 6

Australian High School Grades

The Australian Commonwealth Office of Education has issued a table of the secondary school grades in the different Australian states. This is of value for anyone trying to assess Australian secondary education since the Wyndham plan added a sixth year to the New South Wales course.

New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory (Canberra): A six-year secondary course preceded by seven years primary education. The average age in first year is 13 years and two months. The old Intermediate Certificate examination which fell in third year (average age, 15 years) is to be dropped after 1966. It has been replaced by the School Certificate in fourth year (average age, 16). The Leaving Certificate in fifth year will be dropped after 1965 and replaced from 1967 by the Higher School Certificate (matriculation) at the end of the sixth year.

Victoria: A six-year secondary course, preceded by seven years primary education. The average age in first year is 12 years and nine months. In third year there is a Proficiency Certificate and a Junior Technical Certificate that is to be dropped after 1965. In fourth year (average age 15 years and eight months) come the School Intermediate, Intermediate Technical, Consolidated School Intermediate and Girls Secondary School Intermediate examinations. In fifth year (average age 16 years and eight months) come the School Leaving, Leaving Tech-

ndcal and Giris Secondary School Leaving examinations; and in sixth year (average age 17 years and eight months) the matriculation examination.

Queensland: A five-year secondary course preceded by seven years primary education. The average age in first year is 13 years and five months. In third year (average age 15 years and six months) comes the junior examination; in fifth-year (average age 17 years and six months), the senior ('matriculation) examination.

South Australia (and the Northern Territory): A fiveyear secondary course preceded by seven to eight years primary education. The average age in first year is 13 years and seven months. In third year (average age 15 years and six months) come the Intermediate Certificate,

Intermediate High School Certificate, Intermediate Technical Certificate and Intermediate Area Certificate examinations. In fourth year (average age 16 years and six months) come the Leaving Certificate (matriculation up to 1965), Leaving Technical Certificate and Leaving Area Certificate examinations. In fifth year (average age 17 years and three months) come the Leaving Honours Certificate (up to 1965) and matriculation (from 1966) examinations.

Western Australia: A fiveyear secondary course preceded by seven years primary education. The average age

in first year is 13 years and five months. In third year (average age 15 years and four months) come the Junior Certificate and High School Certificate examinations; in fifth year (average age 17 years and three months) the Leaving Certificate (matriculation) examination.

Tasmania: A five or sixyear secondary course preceded by six to seven years primary education. The average in first year is 13 years. In third year (average age 15 years) comes the Secondary School Certificate examination; in fourth year (average age 16 years) the Schools' Board Certificate examination; in fifth or sixth year (average ages 16 years and nine months and 17 years and seven months) come matriculation examinations. Matriculation studies are often spread over the two years.