Tertiary examinations start tomorrow

5/11/00
Written Tertiary Entrance Examinations (TEE) start tomorrow, with more than 13,400 students set to take examinations over the next two and half weeks.
Education Minister Colin Barnett extended his best wishes to all students and encouraged them to maintain confidence in their ability.
"While the written TEE is traditionally regarded as a make-or-break time for students, they should remember 50 per cent of their final score in a subject is based on school assessment, and many students have already taken practical examinations," Mr Barnett said.
He said 69 per cent of WA's 19,415 Year 12 students were enrolled to sit at least one TEE subject, with about 85 per cent of TEE students enrolled to take four or more subjects.
"No new subjects have been introduced this year to the list of 33 subjects but enrolments for drama studies, introduced last year, and information systems have risen significantly - 45 per cent and 41 per cent respectively," the Minister said.
"Most students will be sitting examinations at 138 schools and secondary colleges throughout WA.
"But some candidates are doing the WA exams in Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Japan, three other Australian States and three WA correctional institutions.
"There are also three new school centres this year - Clarkson and Warnbro community high schools and Murdoch College."
Mr Barnett said although the number of individual students taking the TEE had increased by about one per cent since last year, the Curriculum Council, which administered the examinations, had reduced the number of candidates sitting two examinations on the same day by 40 per cent.
"Although the TEE is a massive logistical exercise, with about 550 supervisors administering 55,000 examination papers written by about 100 examiners, the Curriculum Council strives to accommodate student needs, including making special arrangements for students with temporary or permanent disabilities that could disadvantage them during the examination process," he said.
Mr Barnett said it was important for students and their families who supported them to keep a positive attitude.
"Your best asset when tackling any challenging activity is an alert mind, so get a good night's sleep, eat properly, make sure you have the right materials for the exam and give yourself plenty of time to get to the exam room," he said.
Written examinations will finish on the afternoon of November 22 with French. For the first time, TEE candidates will be able to access their results on the Internet.
From December 27, results will be available at http://www.curriculum.wa.edu.au or by ringing the TISC (Tertiary Institutions Service Centre) phone line on 1901 191 091.
Media contact: Diana Callander on 9222 9699

2000 TEE FACT SHEET