WA Year 12 students who get a D grade will still pass ATAR and achieve WACE under new reforms
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) hopes the decision to allow students to achieve a WA Certificate of Education with a D, rather than a C, will reverse the trend of students shying away from harder subjects.
In a statement, the SCSA said the decision was supported by "extensive analysis of student data and research that compared ATAR and general course content and standards".
"This showed that a D Grade in an ATAR course equates to at least a C grade in a comparable general course.
"Because a D grade for an ATAR course has been confirmed as aligning to a C grade in a general course, the WACE will continue to maintain its established standards as a robust, rigorous and contemporary senior certificate of education."
The move has divided listeners on ABC Radio Perth, with Frank describing the decision as "an absolute joke" that would contribute to a "dumbing down of the nation".
"How can you possibly reward someone for being incompetent? If you aren't good enough at something you should fail and you should move down," he said.
But teacher Lucy said it was unfair that under the current system, some students who tackled ATAR did not get a WACE graduation even when they worked very hard.
"Then there are students who go with a different pathway and get a C and they get their WACE graduation because it's easier and different to ATAR," she said.
"We have got students in year 12 who are recommended to not do ATAR because they won't get their WACE graduation.
Lucy pointed out they would still need to achieve a high ATAR score to get into university.
"I think the students who are trying to do ATAR and get a D should be rewarded ... for two years of really hard work."
Year 11 student Ella, who is doing five ATAR subjects and a general course, said a C grade in general "is absolutely equal to a D in ATAR" due to the higher workload.
"I do so much more work in my ATAR courses than I do in my general and I am comfortably passing my general without needing to do too much," she said.
"The amount of effort required for ATAR is so much more than people think.
"It doesn't mean they are going to get into the uni course they want but at least they are passing high school. It's absolutely fair."
The SCSA said consultation on the changes across the school sector and with other stakeholders "showed support for providing students studying Year 12 ATAR courses with recognition of their efforts".
The change will be in place for year 12 students this year.
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