Philosophy and Ethics learning area contacts:

• ATAR

  The Philosophy and Ethics ATAR course engages students with three classical questions of the human condition: ‘What is real?’; ‘How do we know?’ and ‘How should we live?’ Within this context, the course gives students the opportunity to explore the world of concepts from both contemporary and historical perspectives. Students are taught clarification, evaluation and argument. They develop the specific skills to inquire, reason and make judgements.

  Syllabus

  •  ATAR Syllabus Year 11 - For teaching from 2024 (352.7 KB) Last updated: 05 Feb 2024 9:13am
  •  ATAR Syllabus Year 11 - For teaching from 2024 (289.4 KB) Last updated: 05 Feb 2024 9:13am
  •  ATAR Syllabus Year 12 - For teaching from 2024 (350.9 KB) Last updated: 05 Feb 2024 9:04am
  •  ATAR Syllabus Year 12 - For teaching from 2024 (170.0 KB) Last updated: 05 Feb 2024 9:04am

  Grading

  • Grade descriptions in Year 11 syllabus

  • Grade descriptions in Year 12 syllabus

  Support Materials

  •  Glossary of key words used in the formulation of questions (328.7 KB) Last updated: 12 May 2025 4:11pm
  •  Glossary of key words used in the formulation of questions (211.7 KB) Last updated: 28 Jan 2025 7:24am
  • Minor syllabus changes have been made to Year 12 ATAR for implementation in 2023. The support materials are currently being updated to reflect these changes.
  •  ATAR Year 11 sample assessment outline (381.2 KB) Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 11:38am
  •  ATAR Year 11 sample assessment outline (352.1 KB) Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 11:38am
  •  ATAR Year 11 sample course outline (490.6 KB) Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 11:37am
  •  ATAR Year 11 sample course outline (378.8 KB) Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 11:38am
  •  ATAR Year 11 suggested references (468.8 KB) Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 11:38am
  •  ATAR Year 11 suggested references (353.0 KB) Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 11:38am
  •  ATAR Year 12 sample assessment outline (391.5 KB) Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 11:38am
  •  ATAR Year 12 sample assessment outline (353.3 KB) Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 11:38am
  •  ATAR Year 12 sample course outline (475.1 KB) Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 11:38am
  •  ATAR Year 12 sample course outline (371.3 KB) Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 11:38am
  •  ATAR Year 12 suggested references (410.1 KB) Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 11:38am
  •  ATAR Year 12 suggested references (352.9 KB) Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 11:38am

  Examination Materials

  •  2024 Summary examination report for candidates (123.3 KB) Last updated: 11 Apr 2025 12:42pm
  •  2024 Examination (375.6 KB) Last updated: 11 Mar 2025 3:57pm
  •  2024 Marking Key (704.6 KB) Last updated: 11 Mar 2025 3:58pm
  •  Additional Past ATAR Course Examinations
• General

  

  The General Year 11 Philosophy and Ethics course will not be available for teaching from 2025.
  The General Year 12 Philosophy and Ethics course will not be available for teaching from 2026.
  
  The General Years 11 and 12 Humanities and Social Sciences in Action course is available for teaching from 2025 in Year 11 and 2026 in Year 12.

  
  The Philosophy and Ethics General course requires students to ask the questions: What is real?’; ‘How do we know?’ and ‘How should we live?’ They examine some elements of reasoning and the basic components of argument. Students are taught clarification, evaluation and argument. They develop the specific skills to inquire, reason and make judgements.

  Syllabus

  •  General Syllabus Year 11 - For teaching from 2024 (337.6 KB) Last updated: 05 Feb 2024 10:07am
  •  General Syllabus Year 11 - For teaching from 2024 (163.7 KB) Last updated: 05 Feb 2024 10:07am
  •  General Syllabus Year 12 - For teaching from 2024 (354.4 KB) Last updated: 05 Feb 2024 10:06am
  •  General Syllabus Year 12 - For teaching from 2024 (287.6 KB) Last updated: 05 Feb 2024 10:06am

  Grading

  • Grade descriptions in Year 11 syllabus

  • Grade descriptions in Year 12 syllabus

  Support Materials

  •  Glossary of key words used in the formulation of questions (328.7 KB) Last updated: 12 May 2025 4:11pm
  •  Glossary of key words used in the formulation of questions (211.7 KB) Last updated: 28 Jan 2025 7:24am
  •  General Year 12 sample assessment outline (237.6 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:56pm
  •  General Year 12 sample assessment outline (352.7 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:56pm
  •  General Year 12 sample assessment tasks (406.8 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:56pm
  •  General Year 12 sample assessment tasks (376.3 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:56pm
  •  General Year 12 sample course outline (367.3 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:56pm
  •  General Year 12 sample course outline (265.6 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:56pm
  •  General Year 11 and 12 websites resource lists (47.5 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:35pm
  •  General Year 11 and 12 websites resource lists (16.4 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:35pm
  •  General Year 11 and 12 combined resource lists (28.7 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:35pm
  •  General Year 11 and 12 combined resource lists (41.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:35pm
  •  General Year 11 and 12 introduction resource lists (17.3 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:35pm
  •  General Year 11 and 12 introduction resource lists (51.5 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:35pm
  •  General Year 11 and 12 print materials resource lists (15.9 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:35pm
  •  General Year 11 and 12 print materials resource lists (42.5 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:35pm

  Externally Set Task Materials 2025

  •  2025 General EST Unit 3 content  (169.6 KB) Last updated: 18 Sep 2024 9:58am

  Externally Set Task Materials 2024

  •  2024 General EST Unit 3 content  (285.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:36pm

  • Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.

  Externally Set Task Materials 2023

  •  2023 General EST Unit 3 Content (182.2 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:10pm

  • Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.

  Externally Set Task Materials 2022

  •  2022 General EST Unit 3 Content (277.9 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:32pm

  • Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.

  Externally Set Task Materials 2021

  •  2021 PAE General EST Unit 3 Content (279.2 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:22pm

  • Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.

  Externally Set Task Materials 2020

  •  2020 General EST Unit 3 Content (279.4 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:10pm

  • Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.

  Externally Set Task Materials 2019

  •  2019 General EST Unit 3 content (148.3 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:50pm

  • Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.

  Externally Set Task Materials 2018

  •  2018 General EST Unit 3 content (141.8 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:33pm

  • Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.

  Externally Set Task Materials 2017

  •  2017 General EST Unit 3 content (165.3 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:24pm
  •  2017 General EST Unit 3 content (148.8 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:24pm

  • No student sample responses available for 2017 EST

  • Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.

  Externally Set Task Materials 2016

  •  General sample EST (302.4 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:22pm
  •  General sample EST (201.1 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:22pm
  •  General sample EST marking key (311.6 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:22pm
  •  General sample EST marking key (229.8 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:22pm

  • Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.