BSSS Courses

Courses available

ASCC is registered with the BSSS as a Specialist Education Provider in Chinese language programs. We have been accredited for Chinese T courses, A courses, and M courses at Beginning, Continuing and Advanced levels, and would be able to accommodate the Chinese learning needs of students who wish to study these courses with us. More information about these courses is included in the 2025 Student Handbook.

        The level of study of a student will be assessed and determined in accordance with the BSSS criteria based on the information provided by the student in the BSSS language eligibility form (the link to this form is at the end of the section on ‘Enrolment and fees’). An interview with the student / parent may be required if the information on the form is inadequate to determine the level of the student’s language proficiency.

Time and Venue

The class takes place in Belconnen at UC Senior Secondary College at Lake Ginninderra (2 Emu Bank Belconnen ACT 2617) on Sundays from 9:30 am-12:30 pm during school terms.

        We usually start on the Sunday just before the ACT public schools start, and end after the Sunday before the last week of the public schools. The first term of 2025 starts on Sunday 2 February 2025.

Enrolment and fees

To enroll, a student needs to complete the ASCC enrolment form as well as the BSSS language eligibility form (links to these forms are at the end of this section).  

  • Of the BSSS form, ASCC will complete section 5
  • The total fees are $1065 per year, including:
    • $370 tuition fee per semester per student ($200 per term)
    • $100 BSSS system access fee per semester (unit) per student
    • $115 material fee per year per student
    • $10 enrolment fee per year per student
      • Total fees for Semester 1: $595, (due in two weeks after Term 1 starts)
      • Total fees for Semester 2: $470 (including 370 tuition fee and $100 system access fee, due in two weeks after Term 3 starts)
  • Students will need to bring their laptops to the class.

The BSSS form is available at https://www.bsss.act.edu.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0018/572112/!Languages_Eligibility_Form_from_2024.docx

ASCC forms: Online form: https://www.standardchineseschool.act.edu.au/content/online-enrolment/ (ASCC Student enrolment form)

Printable form: https://www.standardchineseschool.act.edu.au/content/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ASCC_T_Course_Enrolment_Form.pdf

Teaching and learning mode

To study this course, students are to attend classes on campus. They are required to bring their own laptops to each week’s learning session. (All secondary students enrolled at an ACT public school should have a laptop provide by ACT Government if they did not opt out).

Blended learning and student-centred is the teaching and learning mode we use in this course. This is not only because we have multi-level learning needs in the class, but also because we believe that student-centred learning can better engage students and give them control over their own learning. To achieve this, the students need to learn how to learn as a start. They will also be guided to access learning resources that they can use to manage and facilitate their learning in the language.

At each learning session, students will be provided with learning materials at their levels, usually including one or more topical texts, vocabulary list, grammar and syntax / sentence pattern / expressions, exercises and drills helping them to practise what they are learning in the session.

The teacher may talk to the whole class on common issues, such as learn how to learn, mnemonics and their use in language learning, text types of writing, etc. In classes, the teacher may work with individual students when there is a need.

Scaling information

As ASCC usually has less than 10 students in the BSSS accredited courses, we are classified as a small group and our students’ work is compared to Chinese language student work in other schools and colleges by a Chinese language teacher in that school. This process usually happens in the last semester in Year 12 of the student’s learning using work from throughout the two years of assessment. The information from that comparison is used along with AST results and performance in other subjects to make the most accurate judgement possible for scaling.

How ASCC T Course contributes to a student’s ATAR

The ASCC T courses may directly contribute to a student’s T Course Package at their home school by providing recognised tertiary units of study.

These unit scores accumulate to form a course score, which is then scaled by the BSSS (using AST results) to ensure fairness across all ACT subjects and colleges. The scaled Chinese course score is then incorporated into the calculation of a student’s ATAR, if it is among their top 3.6 best-scoring eligible subjects.

In addition, some universities offer adjustment factors (bonus points) for students who complete a language other than English course in Year 11 and Year 12. For example, the Universities Language, Literacy and Mathematics Scheme provides 2 to 4 adjustment points to eligible students, which can improve their selection rank for university admissions. [Please note, the availability and impact of these adjustments may vary by institution and the student’s chosen course of study.]

Furthermore, successful completion of a BSSS accredited courses at ASCC is formally recorded on the student’s ACT Senior Secondary Certificate. This validates the student’s linguistic achievement and overall academic record, which may be useful for their further studies and future career.

More about post grade 9 course.