Year 12 students in Western Australia who get D grades will still be able to pass ATAR subjects and graduate from high school, education authorities have announced.
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."
Principals backs move
WA Secondary School Executives Association (WASSEA) president Melissa Gillett said principals supported the reforms because they might "encourage more students to tackle the more challenging ATAR subjects".
“We know kids can choose an easier course to ensure they get a WACE," Ms Gillett said.
The changes mean a student who achieves a D grade, along with a mark of around 40, would receive a 'C grade equivalent' that would still count towards meeting WACE requirements.
Ms Gillett said the changes were "not about lowering standards" because students still needed to achieve 14 C grades or equivalents across year 11 and 12.
"This requirement is different to the school and examination scores that combine to generate an ATAR," she said.
The change will be in place for year 12 students this year.
'An absolute joke'
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.
Students should graduate
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 the necessary ATAR score to get into university.
'Absolutely fair'
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.
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".
Government support
Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said the changes would encourage more students to give ATAR a go.
"The reality is many kids are avoiding ATAR in [year] 11 and 12 because of the perceived toughness, so I think this is about making sure more young people chose ATAR courses," she said.
Ms Saffioti rejected suggestions students might now feel pressured to do ATAR subjects and pointed towards the many available TAFE pathways.
"This is about making sure young people choose a path that's right for them and don't feel pressured in any path, but also don't fear any path because they're afraid it's just going to be too tough," she said.