Australian Matriculation (Tertiary Entrance Examinations)

The AUSMAT is an internationally recognized Pre-University programme that is equivalent to the GCE ‘A’ Level or Year 11/12. Administered by the Curriculum Council on behalf of the Government of Western Australia, it is typically a two year full-time programme.

The programme focuses on applied knowledge rather than abstract theories, developing critical thinking skills and the ability to be original in the analysis of subjects taken. There is a breadth of subjects to suit each student’s academic performance including contemporary disciplines like Media Production and Analysis, Drama Studies and Aviation Studies.

Students’ achievements are measured holistically through a balanced assessment of two main components: 50% in-school assessments such as projects, assignments, presentations, in-school examinations etc. and 50% from the external examination conducted by the Curriculum Council of Western Australia

ADVANTAGES OF OUR PROGRAMME

1. The Programme offers a wide range of subjects to suit each student’s academic preference.

2. AUSMAT adopts creative teaching methodologies and offers a less theoretical, more real-life problem based approach.

3. Having an outcome-based pedagogy, the programme prepares students better for modern day work environment where communication and cross-functional knowledge are the key.

4. Students who are non-Singaporeans and are not from native English-speaking countries can read English as a Second Language. This enables them to cope and achieve better results.

5. Students who have outstanding performance in the GCE ‘O’ Level examinations or its equivalent, and have demonstrated quality in their academic and language abilities, can be exempted from Year 11 and complete the programme in one year – Year 12. The St. Francis entrance test and interview will determine whether the student enters Year 11 or Year 12.

6. Being internationally recognized, each subject is well-structured to provide the strong foundation necessary for students to pursue tertiary education in all Australia, New Zealand and Scottish Universities, and some in United States, United Kingdom and Canada. It has also met the minimum requirements for entry into Singapore Universities such as The National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU) and Singapore Institute of Management University (UniSIM).

7. Students can study for the Scholastic Aptitude Test at St. Francis with expert instruction at additional cost. Programmes are conducted by professionals, with strong interest in education and rich in teaching experience. You can also sit for the S.A.T examinations in St. Francis as it is also a registered examination centre.

Curriculum Structure

Subjects offered

We offer a wide range of subject options for students to choose from. The course will be taught by dedicated and qualified teachers. Students are required to take at least 5 subjects including an English subject.

English as a An Additional Language or Dialect (EALD) is a compulsory subject for overseas students.

• English
• Media Production and Analysis
•Aviation Studies
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Biological Sciences
• Accounting and Finance
• Calculus
• Applicable Mathematics / Discrete Mathematics
• Advanced Chinese
• Advanced Indonesian
• Economics

(Please click on the subject name below to view the curriculum description.)

ACCOUNTING (E200)

The main aims of this subject are to:
• acquaint students with the nature and purpose of accounting and its function in business and in non-trading enterprises
• provide students with knowledge and understanding of the sole proprietor form of business organisation
• develop skills in problem-solving and financial management which will be of value to the students in their personal, social and business lives
• develop general and business literacy and computational skills
• foster an appreciation of the need to process and report financial data responsibly, reliably and with integrity.

ADVANCED CHINESE (E027)

The subject provides students with the opportunity to develop:
• written and oral skills in Chinese through the study of a variety of materials in modern standard Chinese (MSC)
• bilingual skills through extensive practice in oral and written translations
• skills and self-confidence in using MSC In a variety of situations
• knowledge of present-day China through a variety of literary and background studies.

ADVANCED INDONESIAN (E028)

To enable students to:
• enhance their ability in bilingual communication, for a variety of purposes in a variety of contexts using appropriate text type and register
• understand and explain important features of contemporary Indonesian culture and society.

APPLICABLE MATHEMATICS (E504)

Students will:
• use mathematical facts, traditional terminology, concepts, relationships and skills in routine ways
• comprehend information in oral and written forms including graphical, diagrammatic and tabular presentations
• select and use appropriate forms for representing mathematical data and relationships
• recognise and extend patterns and make conjectures, predictions and inferences from information given in oral and written forms
• apply suitable mathematical techniques and problem solving strategies to both routine and non-routine situations
• compare outcomes with expectations and verify the suitability and reasonableness of a result.

DISCRETE MATHEMATICS (E502)

BIOLOGY (E402)

The subject aims to help individual students develop:
• appreciation of the products and influences of science and technology, balanced by a concern for their wise application
• understanding of the nature and limitations of scientific activity
• ability to apply biological understanding to appropriate problems (including those of everyday life) and to approach those problems in rational ways
• ability to express themselves coherently and logically, both orally and in writing, and to use appropriately, modes of communication characteristic of scientific work

ECONOMICS (E304)

The Economics subject aims to:
• make students aware of contemporary economic issues and problems
• provide students with some of the tools of economic analysis as a means of illustrating and explaining basic economic principles and concepts
• promote the use of rational, objective methods in examining economic issues
• develop informed citizens able to participate in their changing economic and social environment.

CALCULUS (E506)

Students will:
• recall mathematical facts and traditional terminology
• acquire mathematical concepts
• understand mathematical relationships
• acquire manipulative and computational skills
• understand and use deductive reasoning and proof
• select and use technologies appropriately.
• communicate mathematical ideas and results in both oral and written forms
• compare outcomes with expectations and verify the suitability and reasonableness of a result.

CHEMISTRY (E403)

Students should be able to:
• state and apply fundamental facts and principles of chemistry dealing with
– the nature and properties of matter
– the physical and chemical properties and related uses of chemical substances
– changes which occur in chemical reactions
– important industrial chemical processes
• use appropriate conceptual and theoretical frameworks to explain relationships between the structure of matter and its properties and changes which occur in chemical reactions
• perform chemical calculations using the mole as a unifying concept
• demonstrate competence in the process skills of science i.e. observing, inferring, classifying, communicating, predicting, measuring, formulating and testing hypotheses, controlling variables, interpreting data, designing and performing experiments.

ENGLISH

This subject is designed to enable students to:
• learn and use the language forms and conventions used in schooling and in the world beyond school
• use English as a medium for learning and personal growth
• learn about, share in, and develop a critical awareness of the language and cultures of Australia
• understand how structures, patterns and audience expectations influence language and meaning.

ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE OR DIALECT (EALD)

This subject is designed to enable students to:
• learn about and share in the language and cultures of Australia
• learn and use the language forms and conventions used in schooling and in the world beyond school
• understand how structures, patterns and audience expectations influence language and meaning.

PHYSICS (E409)

Through the study of this subject, it is intended that students will:
• comprehend the fundamental concepts and principles of physics through experimental and theoretical studies
• develop skills of logical thinking and be able to use these skills to solve problems of a theoretical and practical nature
• use the language and conventions of physics to develop skills in communication
• be encouraged to read and comprehend scientific and technological literature
• appreciate the link between the theoretical models in physics and their justification through experimentation
• demonstrate an awareness of the relevance of physics to technology and daily living
• recognise the limitations and capabilities of scientific knowledge
• develop a sustained interest in the study of physics.

AVIATION

In the Aviation course of study, students will investigate the scientific, historical, technical, environmental, sociological and managerial aspects of aviation. Students learn the principles and practices involved in the safe operation of aircraft and management of aircraft services. They will also investigate the contribution of aviation to shaping technological, economic and social change.

MEDIA PRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS

In the Media Production and Analysis course of study, students explore media that range from traditional forms such as film, photography, newspapers, magazines, comics, radio and television to new and emerging multimedia technologies. They view, listen, read, research, analyse and discuss media, considering how people, events and issues are represented. They also create, produce and present their own works in media of their choice. Working independently, and in collaboration with others, they become confident and competent in using media technologies to express their ideas.

Grading Structure

The Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) is derived from the Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA).

The TEA will be calculated by adding the best four scaled scores in Courses or TEE subjects (at least two different units of the Course must have been completed.)

Admission Requirement

3 ‘O’ Level/ GCSE/ IGCSE Passes or equivalent

* St. Francis is the first educational institute to offer the AUSMAT in Singapore since 2001. We continue to be the only provider of this programme in Singapore.