Careers information and guidance when choosing subjects

WHICH SUBJECTS SHOULD I STUDY?

To choose your subject options you need to think about these things:

Interests:

What do you enjoy? You are more likely to work hard and do well in courses that interest you. 

Skills and Abilities:

Which subjects are you good at? Look at your assessment results and discuss these with your parents and subject teachers. 

Learning Style:

Do you prefer researching, listening and discussing, practical work, creative work, working with numbers etc? 

Career Choices:

Start thinking about what you plan to do when you leave school. Research the subjects required or recommended for your career ideas and study plans. 

Do I have sufficient flexibility in my subjects to change my direction if my career goals change?

For further direction, make an appointment with the Careers team, or use our online programme - Career Central (www.cc.school.nz) or Careers NZ (www.careers.govt.nz).

FINDING OUT ABOUT SUBJECTS:

In order to decide whether to study a subject, you need to be clear about the content and how it is assessed. Some subjects may be new to you, so you need to find out what they are like.  There are benefits to continuing with a subject rather than switching and changing each year to subjects in which you have no prior learning.

Talk to subject teachers and senior students. You could use these questions in order to find out about a subject:

• What skills do I need/ will I learn?

• Will I be reading books?

• Will I be writing essays? 

• Will I be doing practical experiments?

• Will I be making things?

• Will the subject involve working in groups or discussing with other people in the class?

• What topics does the subject cover?

• Will the subject involve field trips, projects or performances?

• How is the subject assessed – end-of-year exams, assignments, internal assessments, portfolios etc?

• Is the subject on the University Approved list of subjects? 

GUIDELINES FOR ENTRY INTO TERTIARY PROGRAMMES:

In general, minimum entry requirements are as follows:-

Certificate Courses: Entry level certificate courses at polytechnics or private training providers require at least three years of secondary education i.e. completion of Year 11. Open Entry or NCEA Level 1 or 2 may be required depending on the certificate.

Apprenticeships:  Entry requirements tend to be open, however, most providers and employers are looking for students to complete at least Level 2.  

(Electrical Apprenticeships generally require students to have at least 10 credits in English, Maths and any Science (ESS, BIO, PHY, CHEM) at Level 2 or above. Physics is preferred but NOT essential.)                

Diploma Courses:  Successful completion of a Certificate Course or NCEA Level 2.

Degree Courses:  University Entrance is standard for all NZ Universities. There are often additional requirements such as certain subject requirements, rank score, audition, portfolio etc. It is therefore vital that students are active in checking entry requirements to potential courses of interest.

University Entrance:  Common university entry standard will still be the minimum entry requirement for undergraduate degrees at NZ universities.  However, students will also need to meet the Guaranteed Entry Scores or Preferential Entry Requirements that each university is setting for their undergraduate degrees. Students will need to meet all of the following requirements as a minimum:

Attain 60 credits at NCEA Level 3

Achieve 14 credits at Level 3 in each of three (3) subjects from the list of approved subjects

Achieve UE numeracy – 10 credits at Level 1 and above from specific achievement standards or 3 specific numeracy unit standards

Achieve UE literacy – 10 credits (5 in reading and 5 in writing) at Level 2 and above from specific standards (from a range of subjects)

The University of Auckland:   

The University of Auckland expects the applicant to gain a minimum of 17 credits in English at Level 2 or above to meet their Academic English Language Requirement (AELR).  This is in addition to the UE requirements and other entry and programme requirements, e.g. Rank score and/or specific subject requirements.   Students not meeting the 17 credit English requirement will be required to take (and pass) an academic English paper in their first year of university study.

Entrance to University and Unit Standards:

Although Level 3 Unit Standard courses contribute to the requirement of 60 credits at Level 3, they are not an Approved subject for Univeristy and do not contribute towards a Rank Score. Students intending to study for any degree at University level are strongly recommended to take FOUR, (preferably FIVE) subjects with Achievement Standards at Level 3. Achievement Standards are the best preparation for university study and count towards a Rank Score.

The aim at Year 13 is to get Level 3 and UE. 

SUBJECT CHOICE GUIDANCE BASED ON FAQs:

HUMANITIES/ENGLISH-RICH SUBJECTS:

• English is compulsory in Years 11 and 12.  

• New Zealand Universities may require English or another English-rich/Humanities subject for particular degree programmes. 

• The main English-rich subjects are English, Geography and History. Some Universities consider Te Reo Maori, Religious Studies, Media Studies and Physical Education as English-rich. Students should check University prospectuses/website entry requirements for current details.

• English is required at Level 3 for Australian Universities. (See note at end.)

MATHEMATICS:

• Mathematics is compulsory in Years 11.  Many study, training and employers prefer or require a higher level of Mathematics. 
• Many Apprenticeships either require or prefer a background in a Year 12 Mathematics subject, e.g Electrical Apprenticeships.
• Mathematics, Calculus or Statistics are required or recommended for many University and Polytechnic courses.
• Calculus is a requirement for Engineering.

SCIENCE: 

• Science is compulsory in Year 11.  
• If you are not considering taking Science subjects to a higher level beyond Year 11, think carefully about the areas you plan to work in first.  Many Apprenticeships either require or prefer a background in a Year 12 Science subject, e.g Electrical Apprenticeships.
• Physics is a requirement for Engineering. (Chemistry is also a requirement for some Engineering disciplines at Canterbury University.)
• Students interested in Medicine and other Health Science & Clinical pathways need a strong Science background, usually in more than one Science as entry is highly competitive, requiring all-round high academic ability and achievement.

SOME OF THE POPULAR CAREER CHOICES FOR DILWORTH BOYS:

ARCHITECTURE:  Students interested in Architecture need strong academic results and should take Visual Art subjects to Year 13 e.g. Art Design or Design & Visual Communication.  Some programmes require a portfolio of creative work. Other recommended subjects are Physics, Mathematics and an English-rich subject. 

ART AND DESIGN:  Some programmes require a portfolio of work to be submitted for selection.  A Visual Art/Design subject should be taken at Year 13.  Media Design programmes, such as Graphic Design or Web/UX Design may ask for a portfolio of work from subjects such as Digital Technologies or Art and Design courses. Media Studies is also useful preparation for many creative study areas.

COMMUNICATION:  Media Studies, English and Drama provide good preparation for Communication programmes. Communication is broad and can lead to a number of different career opportunities from Journalism to Digital Marketing. Therefore all subjects are relevant if students have a specific passion, such as Physical Education for Sports Journalism.

COMMERCE:  Students intending to study Commerce/Business degrees should have a good background in English or aother English-rich subject and Mathematics, preferably to Year 13 level.  Economics, Accounting and Business Studies are useful. 

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:  Different programmes have different entry requirements. Recommended and useful subjects include Digital Technology or Electronics and Calculus. Mathematics, Statistics and an English-rich subject is useful.

ENGINEERING:  To enter degree courses students must attain very good results in NCEA Level 3 Mathematics (Calculus) and Physics. Chemistry is recommended for some specialisations, particularly for Canterbury University. 

EDUCATION:  Primary school teachers are required to have a broad let of skills and knowledge across subjects including English, Maths and Science. Secondary teachers will have one or two subjects that they would like to pursue further in order to teach. English-rich subjects and Te Reo Māori are valuable for all educational settings.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION:  A strong Science background is useful along with an interest in natural resources, sustainability and the impact on society.

HEALTH, MEDICINE AND CLINICAL CAREERS:  Entry to these programmes is highly competitive. A strong background in Science - Chemistry, Biology and Physics, as well as Mathematics and an English-rich subject are also recommended. Students need to check the recommended subject preparation for their areas of interest.

HOSPITALITY & TOURISM: Entry into certificate, Diploma and Degree programmes have different entry requirements. Useful subjects include Business Studies, Accounting, Hospitality, Te Reo Māori and Geography.

LANGUAGES:  Te Reo Maori is recognised as an English-rich subject for entry to the University of Auckland. Involvement in extra-curricular performances and cultural activities, such as kapa haka, will be valuable.

LAW:  Recommended subjects include English and other writing subjects such as History, Geography and Religious Studies. Drama is also useful. Note: First-year law students usually enrol in another degree programme and need to meet the requirements of this degree. Check other recommended subjects.

PERFORMING ARTS:  For students interested in Performing Arts courses, a strong theoretical and practical background from studying Drama and/or Music, plus involvement in extra-curricular performance activities, will increase the ability to succeed at an audition. The transferrable skills developed through the Performing Arts are useful for a huge range of career pathways.

SPORT: Physical Education and Science subjects are good preparation for many programmes including Sports and Exercise Science, Health and Nutrition, and Sport and Recreation Management. Along with a science background, Physical Education is also good preparation for courses in Physiotherapy.

PSYCHOLOGY:  May be studied in a Science or Arts degree.  There are no required subjects but Biology, Mathematics (Statistics) and English or another English-rich subject are recommended.

TRADES:  Trades careers offer a wide variety of options. Recommended subjects depend on the area of interest, however, Mathematics, English and Science are all valuable, as are vocational courses such as Hard Materials and Hospitality. Most trades at least a Restricted Driving Licence.

Recommended Senior School Subjects for Degree Majors:

Below are links to assist with subject choice. Specific requirements will vary for each university or provider, for specific courses and from year to year. Always check current websites and prospectuses for up-to-date information. Note: Required subjects are essential for a particular degree, they are needed to gain entry. Recommended or preparation subjects are those that are useful but not required to gain entry.

Useful/Recommended Subjects for degrees - general guide

The University of Auckland Recommended Subjects

AUT Subject Choice Activity

Otago University Recommended Subjects

Victoria University of Wellington Recommended Subjects

Waikato University Recommended Subjects

Canterbury University Recommended Subjects

Massey University Recommended Subjects

Entry to Overseas Universities

Qualifications required for entry to courses at overseas universities vary enormously.  It is essential that students interested in studying overseas see the Head of Learning Area - Careers and Pathways to discuss subject choices.  Students need to prepare thoroughly, start planning early and carefully check websites and overseas university prospectuses for up-to-date details.  

NCEA is a recognised qualification for applications to all overseas universities. 

Study in Australia:

Please check carefully the application requirements of your selected universities, particularly the requirements for completing an English course at an appropriate level.  Some Australian universities require equivalent final secondary year study in English.

Study in United Kingdom:

www.ucas.com

Study in the United States of America:

The process of applying to study in the United States takes far longer to organise than the application process for study in New Zealand.  It is recommended that you start 12-18 months before you plan to begin study in the United States.

Standardised tests are a requirement for entry into most United States universities.  SAT tests are widely recognised for undergraduate college admissions.

www.collegeboard.org            SAT’s

www.ncaa.org                         Sports Scholarships, Rankings

USA Sports Student Guide

Students who intend applying to the United States for a Sporting Scholarship need to make sure that they study the required core subjects as requested by the NCAA, as only core courses are used in the calculation of the grade-point average.