Subject selection in Year 10 is one of the most important decisions a student makes before the HSC. The subjects you choose determine what you study for two years, how your ATAR is calculated, and in some cases what university courses are open to you. It is worth taking the time to get it right.
Most schools run their subject selection in the middle of the year. Students choose their Year 11 and 12 courses, and those choices lock in for the rest of senior high school. Changing subjects after Term 1 of Year 11 is possible but disruptive.
Pick Subjects You Are Good At
This sounds obvious but it is the most common mistake. Students pick subjects because they sound interesting or because their friends are doing them, then struggle for two years because the content is harder than they expected. Your ATAR is based on your best results, so doing well in subjects you are strong in matters more than picking impressive-sounding ones.
Look at your Year 9 and 10 results. The subjects where you consistently perform well are a reliable indicator of where you will do well in the HSC.
Understand How Scaling Works
Scaling adjusts your raw marks based on how difficult a subject is relative to others. Harder subjects like Maths Extension and Physics tend to scale up, meaning your mark gets a boost. Easier subjects scale down. This does not mean you should pick hard subjects for the scaling alone. A mediocre mark in a high-scaling subject can be worth less than a strong mark in a lower-scaling one.
The best strategy is to pick subjects where you can score highly. Scaling rewards the top performers in every subject, not just the ones enrolled in the hardest courses.
Check University Prerequisites
Some university degrees require specific HSC subjects. Engineering and most science degrees require Maths (usually Advanced or above). Some health science courses require Chemistry or Biology. If you have a particular degree in mind, check the prerequisites before you finalise your subjects.
If you are not sure what you want to study at university, that is fine. Keep your options open by including Maths Advanced and at least one science. These give you the broadest range of university courses to choose from later.
Do Not Overload Yourself
Most students need 10 units in Year 12. Some take 12 in Year 11 and drop a subject at the end of the year. That gives you flexibility, but be realistic about how much work you can manage. Taking too many demanding subjects at once leads to burnout and worse results across the board.
Balance your timetable. If you are doing three heavy content subjects like Chemistry, Physics, and Extension Maths, consider pairing them with something lighter to give yourself breathing room.