QTAC Information Sheet

Upgrading via Tertiary Study - Competency-based Training

There are many pathways available to students wishing to upgrade their qualifications and improve their chances of gaining tertiary entrance. Completing tertiary study is one option to consider.

What is competency-based training?

Competency-based training (CBT) focuses on students achieving learning outcomes to a specified level (ie Competent). Once this level is attained all students receive a grade of Competent regardless of their individual level of performance. If you are receiving results of Competent or Not Yet Competent, then you are being assessed on the basis of achieving a desired level of competence. Some vocational education and training providers using competency-based assessment may also allocate students a grade or a percentage mark for each subject. Where grades are available, QTAC will use these results to assign a selection rank. View more on graded study....

How can I upgrade my selection rank through tertiary study?

Your Overall Position does not change once you complete some tertiary study. However, when you apply through QTAC, a new, additional selection rank based on your tertiary study is allocated. Tertiary results are not combined with an original Year 12 score.

For example, a student who completed Year 12 and gained an OP (Overall Position) of 10 and then completed a competency-based diploma would have two selection ranks: 81 (the QTAC selection rank roughly equivalent to an OP 10, depending on the year the secondary study was completed) and a base rank of 82 for the diploma.

Applicants with a completed CBT AQF diploma or AQF advanced diploma award are allocated a rank on the basis of the tables below.

Depending on the structure of your study program, you may be considered on other schedules to receive a rank for incomplete studies. Generally, ranks for partial studies are not as competitive as for completed qualifications.

More competitive selection ranks are derived from higher level qualifications and longer periods of study of one year full-time or more.

Applicants should note that the Queensland University of Technology does not accept selection ranks derived from diploma and advanced diploma study of less than one full-time year duration. Similarly, the university only accepts selection ranks derived from 75% or more of a full-time year of degree level study (or the part-time equivalent). QUT will, however, allocate a selection rank for degree level study of less than 75% of a full-time year (or the part-time equivalent) if the study was undertaken at QUT. For further information on these policies, contact Admissions.

How can I increase my selection rank if my course assessment is competency-based?

As all students achieving grades of Competent in all subjects attempted will be assigned the same QTAC selection rank, you are also able to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) to try to increase your selection rank. If you achieve a good result on the STAT, this will combine with your competency-based tertiary study to increase your selection rank, providing that you have achieved competency in all subjects.

A poor result in the STAT will not be used to downgrade your selection rank. View more on STAT.....

What if I receive one or more grades of Not Yet Competent?

If you receive one or more grades of Not Yet Competent (or any other grades which indicate that you did not achieve competency) you will be assessed according to different schedules and the STAT will not be used to improve the selection rank allocated. Your selection rank will be assigned by working out your Grade Point Average (GPA). This is done by assigning a grade of 1.5 for each Not Yet Competent and a grade of 4 for each Competent. View more on Graded study....

If you subsequently repeat the subject(s) for which you received Not Yet Competent and gain a result of Competent, QTAC will assess you as Competent in all subjects and assign a selection rank according to the competency-based schedules.

Can I upgrade if I have completed a competency-based certificate?

Applicants are also assigned selection ranks based on some certificates. As institutions have specific policies regarding the assessment of certificate level study, you are advised to check with the admissions office of the institution you wish to attend as to their policy. Generally, institutions assign selection ranks based on competency-based certificates of eight weeks full-time (or part-time equivalent) or longer, with more competitive selection ranks being gained for higher level study (such as Certificates III and IV). Selection ranks are not allocated on the basis of Certificates I or II. If you have completed some study in a certificate program but have not yet completed the entire course you may still be allocated a selection rank. Again, it is advisable for you to check with the admissions office of the institution you wish to attend regarding their policy.

What if I have received some grades of competent and some grades on another scale, eg Pass or Credit?

If you have received mostly grades of Competent (ie 75% or more of the course) you will be assessed according to the competency-based schedules. If you have received mostly grades assigned on a graded scale, you will be assessed according to the graded scale schedules. Please refer to Upgrading via Tertiary Study. If you have been assessed equally on graded assessment and competency-based assessment, you will be assessed on whichever scale gives you the highest selection rank.

Performance Level Assessment

Some TAFE courses have Performance Level Assessment (PLA) as a supplementary reporting system for TAFE students. The PLA supplementary report provides additional information about grades to students, employers and universities concerning student achievement demonstrated whilst undertaking TAFE training. It provides evidence of additional effort and performance against identified PLA criteria. To be given a PLA result, you must first achieve a competent result in the unit or module in which you are enrolled. Not all TAFE courses, and not all units within a TAFE course, attract a PLA result. Please contact your local TAFE Institute for further information.

If you have received mostly PLA results, you will be assessed according to the graded scale schedules. If you have been assessed equally on PLA and competency-based assessment, you will be assessed on whichever scale gives you the highest selection rank.

How do I use the schedules to calculate my selection rank?

If you have achieved competency in all subjects, you will be awarded the selection rank listed at the bottom of the schedule. If you also sat the STAT, you can look at the STAT scores in the columns to the left and then look across to see the combined STAT and competency-based assessment selection rank.

What if my diploma contains certificates?

Some diplomas contain 'nested' certificate courses. This means that students may exit a course with a completed certificate qualification before completing the requirements of a diploma. If you are enrolled in a course like this, you may receive a selection rank for the study undertaken in the certificate component of the course.

Keep in mind that if you wish to upgrade to a competitive course, the level of study you complete, and the length of study, will be crucial factors in determining the selection rank assigned to you. For further information regarding tertiary pathways it is recommended that you read the QTAC Guide. This publication also contains useful information on Alternative Entry.

COMPLETED UNGRADED AQF DIPLOMAS AND ADVANCED DIPLOMAS
Special Tertiary Admissions Test Score^a	Special Tertiary Admissions Test Score^b	Diploma^c,d	Advanced Diploma^c,d
164 and over	170 and over	91	96
162	167	89	94
160	165	87	93
159	161	86	92
158	160	84	91
157	159	83	91
156	157	82	91
155	155	82	91
Below 155 or did not sit	Below 155 or did not sit	82	91

a Refers to any version of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test, designed by the Australian Council for Educational Research Ltd and administered since 1992 to March 2010.

b Refers to any version of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test, designed by the Australian Council for Educational Research Ltd and administered from April 2010.

c A Rank is assigned on the basis of a completed advanced diploma or ungraded diploma only.

d The order of consideration of tertiary ranks and ranks based on other qualifications varies according to institutional policy. Factors affecting the order of consideration in the course rank set may include the level of tertiary studies attempted (where the applicant has studied at more than one level); whether the tertiary course has been completed or not; whether the field of education of the course attempted is similar to that to which admission is sought (where a record of failure has been obtained); whether a superior rank is subsequently obtained; whether a minimum grade point average has been attained (where pre-tertiary ranks are inferior) etc.

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