‘Does Year 9-10 really matter?’ – Top questions we get asked about Year 9-10 subject selection

Top questions we get asked about Year 9-10 subject selection:

• Does Year 9-10 matter?
• How do my subject choices affect my future?
• How do I make the best subject choice for Year 9-10?
• What do I do if I hate my electives?

Does Year 9-10 matter?

Teachers and tutors hear this question all the time. Short answer: Yes – but maybe not for the reason you think!

Years 9-10 are often referred to as the ‘bludge’ or ‘easy’ years in high school and yet they’re the training ground for your Preliminary and HSC studies. Not only that, Year 10 is often the year that you’re offered the opportunity to do work experience before choosing your HSC subjects.

Trying to figure out what you like and how you like to work can be a rollercoaster. It seems like everyone is asking you what you want to be and what your plans are. The truth is that no one really expects you to have it figured out yet.

Think about it this way - Years 9-10 is a bit like eating at a buffet. There are the things you have to eat like everyone else – English, Maths, Science and HSIE – but there are also different sides you get to try – e.g. Visual Arts, Design and Technology, Languages and Commerce.

Some food tastes good to you and gives you energy – that’s the stuff you’ll go back to for seconds. There are others which leave you feeling dissatisfied – that’s the stuff you might want to avoid.

Use this time to take note of what you like so that when you go to choose next time, you can make the best choice for you.

2. How do my subject choices affect my future?

Often, it’s the skills, rather than the content, which actually carries forward from Year 10 into your senior years and even beyond the HSC. We call these skills ‘transferable’ – skills which you can use across a wide variety of subject areas.

English:

On the surface, its : Memorising quotes and writing essays

You actually learn to: 

• Decode deeper meaning from writing, images, video and sound
• Form your own opinions and interpretations of ideas
• Organise your ideas and express them clearly and concisely

You can use these skills in: 

• Law
• Jounalism
• Business development
• Consultancy

Design and Technology:

On the surface, its : Making new things

You actually learn to: 

• Solve problems using both known approaches and your own creativity
• Manage your time and projects under stressful conditions
• Brainstorm and then narrow down which new ideas to pursue

You can use these skills in: 

• Architecture
• Marketing
• Nursing
• Engineering
• UX design

Physical Activity and Sports Studies:

On the surface, its : Playing Sports

You actually learn to: 

• Set personal goals and plan the steps to achieve them
• Work with others to help them improve their own abilities
• Understand the world around you better as you engage with social issues

You can use these skills in: 

• Teaching
• Physiotherapy
• Project Management
• Psychology
• Business Sales

All of these skills can be applied to not only other subjects in Year 11 and 12, but also beyond high school in your study, work and everyday life.

3. How do I make the best subject choice for Year 9-10?

There is never one ‘best’ subject when it comes to Year 9-10 electives. You might be a little stressed out, with your parents or family encouraging you to do certain subjects or follow a particular pathway, or perhaps they’re leaving it up to you to choose and you’re feeling a bit lost.

"Year 9-10 is a time for experimenting with your subject interests, giving you a chance to figure out what you like, how you learn and which skills you would like to build. Every student approaches it differently!"

When choosing your electives, consider the following three factors:

1. Your interests both inside and outside of school
2. Your strengths and weaknesses, including the things you might like to get better at
3. Any potential career pathways which sound interesting to you

4. What do I do if I hate my electives?

So what do you do when you realise that your choices were not the right ones for you?

Well, the options really depend on your school’s electives policy and the reasons why you don’t like your elective choice. Some schools will allow you to change subjects after you’ve spoken with your Year Coordinator and parents or carers.

Other schools might not allow you to switch. In this case, it’s important to think about why you dislike your electives:

Is it because of your class? Perhaps you can ask to switch to another class. Remember, sometimes it just takes time to adjust to your new class.

Is it because of the content? Maybe you’re finding your elective too hard or even boring. Remember that you will be covering a variety of topics over the course of your elective, so other topics in the subject might be more interesting to you or match your skills better.

Is it because of the workload? It’s totally normal to struggle with the heavier workload when heading into Year 9-10. Other existing priorities can also greatly influence your experience.

If you think you might grow to like your subjects, you can try to wait it out and find aspects or skills which you like.

Things to Remember

In any case, it’s best to chat to your teacher about how you’re feeling and what your options are. They are the subject experts and can help you decide if it’s right for you to continue.

At the end of the day, your Year 9-10 subject choices don't necessarily have to correlate towards concrete goals - Rather, they offer you a taste test before you have to commit. Pay attention to what you like and dislike in Years 9-10 and you will be able to figure out more about yourself, your interests and your skills.

We hope that understanding your own learning earlier will make your next subject choice, and eventually post-school pathway decision, that much easier for you.