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COLLECTION METHODS

STANDARD QUESTION MODULE

The method of obtaining data for this variable is by direct question.

The following question is used:

Interviewer-based collections

For interviewer-based collections, 'Highest year of school completed' uses the following recommended question.

Note: The word-sub [Never attended school] is generally used for persons aged 25 years and older.

	Q1	What is the highest year of primary or secondary school that [name has/you have] completed?
		i
		Year 12 or equivalent
		Year 11 or equivalent
		Year 10 or equivalent
		Year 9 or equivalent
		Year 8 or below
		[Never attended school]

Where the symbol i is included above with the interviewer-based questions, the following on screen interviewer help instructions are recommended.

Q1 Select 'Year 12 or equivalent' if completed:

• Year 13
• 6th form
• Matriculation
• Highest year of school available

• If highest year of schooling is in primary school, please select 'Year 8 or below'.
• "Leaving certificate" can be any of Year 10, 11 or 12. Probe for more information.
• Prompt for best estimate if highest year not known.
• For years up to and including Year 11, the term 'completed' means to attend the full year of school enabling the student to progress to the next year of school.
• For Year 12 ‘completed’ refers to successful completion of Year 12 and attainment of a certificate or statement of results.

	Q1	What is the highest year of primary or secondary school [you have] [the person has] completed?
		Mark one box only
		Year 12 or equivalent
		Year 11 or equivalent
		Year 10 or equivalent
		Year 9 or equivalent
		Year 8 or below
		Did not go to school

Web-based collections

	Q1.	What is the highest year of primary or secondary school that [name has/you have] completed?
		Note: Select 'Year 12 or equivalent' if completed: Year 13 6th form Matriculation Highest year of school possible If highest year of schooling completed was in primary school, select 'Year 8 or below'.
		Year 12 or equivalent
		Year 11 or equivalent
		Year 10 or equivalent
		Year 9 or equivalent
		Year 8 or below
		[Did not go to school]

Collections for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

For collections on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples there are two standard modules, the first module is used in non-remote areas and the second module is used in remote areas. Both questions contain an expanded set of response categories, to include categories for “Year 7 or equivalent” and “Year 6 or below”. These questions apply to all collection modes.

IF Non-Remote

	Q1	What is the highest year of primary or secondary school that you completed?
		Year 12 or equivalent
		Year 11 or equivalent
		Year 10 or equivalent
		Year 9 or equivalent
		Year 8 or equivalent
		Year 7 or equivalent
		Year 6 or below
		[Never attended school]

IF Remote

	Q1	What is the highest year of school that you completed?
		Year 12 or equivalent
		Year 11 or equivalent
		Year 10 or equivalent
		Year 9 or equivalent
		Year 8 or equivalent
		Year 7 or equivalent
		Year 6 or below
		[Never attended school]

STANDARD INPUT CATEGORIES

The standard input categories for the 'Highest year of school completed' question module are the detailed level categories of the ASCED Level of Education Classification. They may be represented either by their three-digit ASCED codes or the alternative codes (which are detailed in 'the code structure' section). For operational reasons, supplementary codes also exist.