Year 12 HSC Science Extension

1 unit for Year 12 only (commencing start of Term 4) 
Board Developed Course. 

Note: Students who have shown an achievement in, and/or aptitude for, any of the Stage 6 Science courses: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science or Physics, in Year 11 may choose to study Science Extension in Year 12. This is a course for very capable Science students who are motivated and self-driven.  

Science Extension is a new course with a focus on the authentic application of scientific research skills to produce a Scientific Research Report generally acceptable for publication. Students propose and develop a research question, formulate a hypothesis and develop evidence-based responses to create their Scientific Research Report which is supported by a Scientific Research Portfolio. The four modules integrate the skills of Working Scientifically within the course content to form the framework for the Scientific Research Project. 

Students must propose and develop a research question, formulate a hypothesis and develop evidence-based responses in the form of a Scientific Research Report (approximately 2500–3000 words), which is supported by a Scientific Research Portfolio.  

The Scientific Research Report is a result of the student’s own work and must adhere to the principles and practices of good scholarship, as identified in the HSC: All My Own Work course. While students may collaborate with and draw upon the expertise, knowledge and data held by others in developing their Scientific Research Report and Portfolio, this assistance must be referenced using accepted protocols. 

All scientific research must be sensitive to community expectations and individual school requirements in relation to the question being interrogated. Students must adhere to ethical practices in the collection and analysis of data and the communication of results. 

Modules Covered

The Student Research Project will contribute 40% of a student’s HSC mark for this subject. 

Course Requirements:

Prerequisite courses for Science Extension Year 12 are one of, or a combination (up to 6 units of study) of, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science or Physics in Year 11. 

Co-requisite courses for Science Extension Year 12 are one of, or a combination (up to 7 units of study) of, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Investigating Science or Physics in Year 12.