Subject and Career Choice Assessments are specifically designed, using scientific tools, to help understand a child’s unique personality and interests in order to navigate their ideal subject and career choices. These assessments are conducted by a professional education psychologist and enable learners to better understand their personal interests and strengths and encourage them to use this self-awareness to make informed subject and career choices.
- A Subject Choice Assessment is ideal for Grade 9 students who are deciding on which subjects to pursue in Grade 10, and for IGCSE students deciding to pursue A levels. An educational psychologist will use scientific tools and tests to identify and navigate a student's core competencies and key motivators to help select their ideal subject package.
- A Career Choice Assessment is perfect for students in their final two years of school (Grade 11 and Grade 12; IGCSE, AS and A level) who want to understand and map out their best potential career pathway. A Career Choice Assessment is a vital tool to assist students in choosing a career (and lifestyle) where they will thrive (and not just survive).
Some of the benefits of completing a professional assessment include:
- increased self-awareness
- defined learning goals and targets
- enhanced motivation
- lower varsity dropout rate
- increased employability
- increased job satisfaction
In this article, we will look into these benefits in more detail.
Increased Self-Awareness
When a teenager has increased self-awareness, they are able to better understand what motivates and inspires them. This ability to objectively understand themselves will play a vital role in building a life(style) that promotes happiness, open communication and good health. A student who is able to identify and deeply understand their strengths, weaknesses, interests and motivators will be able to define a study and career pathway that highlights and compliments their unique personality traits.
Define Learning Goals
By identifying their long-term goals, a student is able to create a targeted learning approach to achieve these clearly defined goals. When selecting subjects at high school level, a student should consider what career path they want to explore in order to ensure that they are equipped with the right skills and qualifications to enable them to pursue that career.
Some career paths may require that the child has completed certain subjects at school level in order to meet the minimum entry requirements to enrol in the course at tertiary level. For example, if a child decides that they want to pursue a career in medicine, then it would be essential that they choose Biology as a subject in high school.
Enhanced Student Motivation
It is no surprise that a streamlined, goal-orientated approach will aid in a child’s motivation, especially when it comes to their education. Having a goal (or light at the end of the tunnel) helps students to visualise what they are working towards and enables them to focus on these goals.
This means that they are less likely to get distracted and despondent with activities and tasks that don’t aid them in achieving their objectives. Achievement, goal-smashing and the feeling of success are key motivators when it comes to learning. Understanding the benefits and rewards associated with their efforts will greatly aid their abilities to tackle each new day.
Lower Varsity Dropout Rate
Through increased motivation and goal definition, students who complete subject and career assessments have shown a lower varsity dropout rate. This is largely due to the fact that the child (and parents) have taken the time and energy to evaluate and define appropriate learning pathways instead of just picking a career based on what will result in the greatest financial reward. Students who have clearly defined long-term goals are able to stay motivated in their studies at varsity level.
Increased Employability
“Employability” refers to the likelihood of a person obtaining employment. Students who complete subject or career choice assessments tend to have an increased employability potential. This is due to their specific, targeted education approach. Learners who are subject-specialised and focused on a specific career have a higher chance of employability based on course subject matter and experience.
Students who have spent the latter half of their high school career building their skillsets towards a career pathway that highlights their unique strengths are more likely to be able to build a resumé that attracts job offers that meet their areas of interest.
Increased Job Satisfaction
By identifying a student’s strengths and passions, we are able to advise on career pathways where they will be their happiest. Learners who pursue their career passions tend to have higher job satisfaction through their adult lives.
Most people will change careers at least five times on average during a lifetime. As technology and industries advance so new career opportunities that require new skills and attitudes will emerge. A career assessment is, therefore, more important than ever and it is not so much aimed at choosing a specific job, but rather on making sure the child ends up in the right career, field or industry.
Online learning platforms, like CambriLearn, offer access to a professional education psychologist who can assist with conducting a virtual subject and career assessment. These assessments will help understand a child’s strengths and weaknesses and enable them to make subject and career choices that will be sustainable and enjoyable throughout their lives.
Note: This article was first published on www.parentinghub.co.za in March 2022.
