Solution for: CBT GT Reading Test 39: Dial-IT Information Services

Dial-IT Information Services

(One local call fee is charged for each call)

Student Information and Services

TAFE Course Descriptions

The Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC)

The Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC) is a matriculation course for mature age students. The TPC aims to help students develop confidence and competence in a range of skills. It is particularly suitable for people who have not studied for some time, and who need to develop effective study skills. These skills include: use of a library, writing skills (including word usage, essays and report writing), speaking to small groups of people, techniques for successful independent learning, note taking, organising lesson material, presenting seminars, efficient reading and research techniques.

Successful completion of the TPC will allow entry to TAFE Diploma and Associate Diploma courses. The TPC is accepted by most universities and tertiary institutions for entry into most courses. It is also recognized by the NSW Public Service, the Defence Forces, and the NSW Police.

NOTE: The completion of a TPC course does not guarantee eligibility for entry into all tertiary institutions or courses. You should contact the relevant tertiary institution(s) to ensure you are eligible for entry into the course and institution of your choice.

Entry Requirements

The entry requirement for TPC courses is either the NSW School Certificate or TAFE's Certificate in General Education, or equivalent. Students who lack these qualifications need to show that they could succeed in the course. In general, preference will be given to older students.

Age: Minimum age 18 years at time of enrolment.

Attendance: Full-time — weekly attendance is 22 hours (1 year course); Part-time — weekly attendance is up to 11 hours (2 year course)

The Course

There is only one compulsory subject — Language and Learning Skills. Other subjects include: Anthropology, Australian Politics and Government, Australian Society, Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Experimental Processes, Education and Society, Environmental Studies, Literature, Mathematics, Media Studies, Physics, Statistics, The Australian Economy, and World History Turning Point.

The grid on the next page shows which colleges offer the TPC course. Not all colleges offer all subjects. You must ensure that the subjects you select will allow you entry to your chosen course(s). For example, most tertiary science courses require a background in mathematics and chemistry and/or physics.

If you wish to enter a university course you must complete at least five subjects (a total of ten semester units of study). If you wish to enter a TAFE Diploma or Associate Diploma you must complete at least four subjects (eight semester units of study). You may find it helpful to discuss your subject selection with a TAFE Counsellor.

Assessment

TPC students are assessed throughout the year. The final mark includes written assignments, tutorials, practical work and tests. Assessment tasks are worth 80 per cent of the total mark for each subject. The end-of-year examination is worth 20 per cent of the total mark for each subject. The TPC is assessed by TAFE.

Ready, get set, but know what you're going for

Being a member of a university's chocolate club or campaigning in its local conservation group are not the only requirements necessary for adaptation to life on campus.

This is the advice of 20-year-old Michael Francis, a second year student at the University of NSW, who, like other students, believes newcomers to tertiary life can make it if they follow their own rules.

Many would say Michael entered university the hard way — he didn't get enough marks when he completed his Higher School Certificate at Waverley College in 1987, so he did it again in 1988 at Randwick Technical College. One year later and 150 marks more, Michael was accepted into the social science course at the University of NSW with an entry score of 355.

'It took me six months to adapt and feel confident about myself and I can honestly say it has taken others up to a year to fit in,' Michael said.

Michael felt that he matured fast at technical college last year, where he was constantly surrounded by older people and required to do a lot of work on his own.

Michael said that while he loved being at university, he had several criticisms about the university system in general.

'There needs to be some sort of bridge between Year 12 and first year at university because students need to be told what to expect on enrolment day. Perhaps they should visit the university and meet students before they go there.'

Michael described university as being intimidating at first — being in tutorials with older people who seemed to have so much knowledge but said students must realise they too had knowledge in other areas. 'Students should not be embarrassed if they make mistakes — everybody makes mistakes.'

Kylie Dance, 18, knew she had made the right move when she started the Bachelor of Business Management course at the University of Western Sydney this year. However, she said one of the biggest problems many students had was choosing the most suitable course. Kylie put a great deal of thought into her future when she left Blaxland High School last year. She made the choice knowing that she wanted a job which would pay well, allow her some freedom and time to bring up children later on.

'The hardest thing at university is keeping up with the pace,' Kylie said. 'University is different to high school as students are left to work on their own and if they fall behind they're in trouble.'

Kylie said she was lucky that some of the lectures were held in small groups and that the lecturers at the university were approachable.

'There appears to be less work at university than at school, but we are required to work much faster. Sometimes you can go three weeks with next to nothing to do and then all of a sudden mid-semester exams and assignments just hit you.'

Students needed to be able to learn quickly if they were contemplating tertiary study and should start thinking about assignments as soon as they were given them.

The major difference between university and school was that at university students did their own 'pacing', she said.

Narelle Oxley, 18, has wanted to be a nurse since she was a young girl. She started her three-year course at Charles Sturt University, Mitchell campus, last year and has not run into any problems so far.

'I don't really know how different university life at Charles Sturt is to life in a city university — I would imagine it is the same,' she said.

'The first couple of weeks were scary because I felt alone. But then I realised that all the students were in the same boat.'

It was totally different from school because there were more essays, and students seemed to help you more, whereas at school there was so much competition and little help from classmates, she said.

'It is more relaxing at university and lectures are so different to the classroom atmosphere. I thought lectures would be difficult, but the lecturers are helpful, often dictating the important parts.' Narelle suggests that students try to make the right decision in the beginning, rather than starting a course, finding out they don't like it, then either dropping out or seeking a transfer.