Starting the SACE What you need to know

Starting the SACE What you need to know

What is the SACE? • SACE stands for South Australian Certificate of Education • Qualification for entry into universities and further training • Internationally recognised • Gives skills for work, training, and further study

About the SACE • Recognises learning and skills both in and outside school • You can combine study and part-time work, a traineeship or a school-based apprenticeship • You get credit for academic studies, vocational training, skilled work and community learning

About the SACE There are two ‘stages’ of the SACE: • Stage 1 is generally started in Year 10 and completed in Year 11 • Stage 2 is generally completed in Year 12.

About the SACE • All subjects are graded from A to E at Stage 1 and A+ to E- at Stage 2 • The knowledge and skills you learn help build your capabilities for Communication, Citizenship, Learning, Personal Development and Work • All subject assessments in Stage 1 are assessed by your teacher

About the SACE • In Stage 2 (Year 12): – 70% of your subject assessments (e. g. assignments) will be assessed by your teacher and moderated by the SACE Board – 30% of your subject assessments (e. g. investigations) will be assessed by someone outside the school (a SACE Board assessor) • School results in Stage 2 subjects are doublechecked

About the SACE You earn credits for completed subjects or courses: • you need 200 credits to get your SACE • you need to get a C grade or higher at Stage 1 for compulsory subjects and a C- grade or higher at Stage 2 to get your SACE • most 10 -credit subjects are done over a semester • most 20 -credit subjects are done over two semesters.

SACE Requirements

SACE Credits

Stage 1 Requirements In Stage 1, you must complete this requirement: • Personal Learning Plan (10 credits). You must achieve a C grade or higher for this subject to gain the SACE.

Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 Requirements You must also complete the literacy and numeracy requirements at Stage 1 or Stage 2: • literacy – from a range of English subjects or courses (20 credits) • numeracy – from a range of mathematics subjects or courses (10 credits). You must achieve a C grade or higher for both requirements.

Stage 2 Requirements In Stage 2, you must complete these requirements: • Research Project (10 credits) • other Stage 2 subjects and VET courses (60 more credits). Most students will complete subjects and courses worth more than 70 credits at Stage 2.

Additional choices You can choose from a range of Stage 1 or Stage 2 subjects or courses (90 credits). You must achieve a grade in these subjects or courses to gain the SACE.

When does SACE start? • Most students will start their SACE in Year 10 • In Year 10, you begin mapping out your future and looking at how to achieve your goals through a subject called the Personal Learning Plan

What is the Personal Learning Plan? • A Stage 1 subject • A compulsory subject, usually done in Year 10 • You need a C grade or higher in the Personal Learning Plan • Worth 10 credits

What is the Personal Learning Plan? It helps you: • set personal and learning goals and work towards them • monitor your progress and change your plans as needed • gain skills for future study and employment.

What is the Personal Learning Plan? It helps you: • look at different career paths and options • choose the right SACE subjects for your future plans • think about courses and activities outside school that help you to achieve your goals.

What is the Research Project? • A compulsory subject for Stage 2 students • A chance to do in-depth research and study a topic that interests you • You must achieve a C- grade or higher • Worth 10 credits • Research Project B can be included as part of your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)

Other subjects and courses

Recognised learning SACE recognises learning both in and outside school, for example: • Vocational Education and Training courses (VET) • University and TAFE courses • community learning (such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or volunteer work).

Vocational Education and Training (VET) • If you prefer hands-on learning or work outside the classroom, you can earn SACE credits for a wide range of activities • You can learn on-the-job skills while working towards both the SACE and a VET qualification • VET options are available at both Stage 1 and Stage 2

Assessment

How are my subjects assessed? • Subjects are graded A to E at Stage 1 and A+ to E- at Stage 2 • You need a C grade or higher at Stage 1 and a C- or higher at Stage 2 in all requirements to earn the SACE • Standards are set for each subject so you know what you need to achieve to earn a particular grade

How are my subjects assessed? • At Stage 1, all subjects are assessed by your school • School assessment is moderated (doublechecked) in mathematics, English and the Personal Learning Plan to confirm a minimum C standard

How are my subjects assessed? • At Stage 2, 70% of the assessment of every subject is marked by your teacher and moderated by the SACE Board • At Stage 2, 30% of the assessment of every subject (e. g. investigations) is marked by experts outside the school • The SACE Board makes sure the same standards are applied across all schools

Further study

Applying for university To apply for university from 2013 onward, you need to have: • completed the SACE • gained 80 Stage 2 credits, including at least 60 credits from Tertiary Admissions Subjects (TAS), and the other 20 credits from either TAS and/or Recognised Studies • completed the prerequisites needed for some university courses.

Applying for university To apply for university from 2013 onward, you need to have: • gained an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) • complied with rules regarding subject combinations and counting restrictions.

Australian universities entered by SACE students Including: • Flinders University • University of Adelaide • University of South Australia • Australian National University • University of Melbourne • University of Sydney

International universities entered by SACE students Including: • New York University • University of Oxford • Yale University • National University of Singapore • University of Cambridge • Princeton University

What is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank? (ATAR) • A measure of how your overall achievement in the SACE compared with other students • Used by universities to select school leavers for a place in university courses • Ranges from 0 to 99. 95 • Was formerly called the Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER)

What is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank? (ATAR) From 2012, the ATAR will be calculated: • using results from three full-year Tertiary Admissions Subjects (TAS) Plus, • results from a fourth full-year Tertiary Admissions Subject or other studies recognised by the SACE Board and universities.

Applying for TAFE • For Certificate II level courses you must successfully complete the literacy and numeracy requirements of the SACE • For Certificate III level courses you must achieve the SACE (for higher level courses, you must also obtain a TAFE SA Selection Score) • TAFE also recognises a range of other qualifications in the entry and selection process

What is the TAFE SA Selection Score? • Used by TAFE SA to select students for entry into courses • To obtain a TAFE SA Selection Score, you must: - have completed 60 credits of Stage 2, 40 of which must be from Tertiary Admissions Subjects (TAS) and a maximum of 20 credits from other Recognised Studies - comply with the rules regarding subject combinations

Want to know more about further study? • Full details on university and TAFE entry requirements for 2013 onward will be in the Tertiary Entrance 2012, 2013, 2014 booklet • The booklet is published by the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC), and given to schools every year

Individual circumstances

Students with a disability • The SACE Board offers modified subjects at Stage 1 and Stage 2 for students with identified intellectual disabilities to demonstrate their learning • If you are studying a modified subject, you will gain credits towards the SACE but not a grade for the subject; instead your achievement is recorded as ‘Completed’

Students with a disability • Any modified subjects you have done will be listed on your SACE certificate • More information about modified subjects can be found on the SACE website under Students and Families > Students with Disabilities

Special Provisions • Special provisions are available if you are in a situation where an illness, learning difficulty, or unforeseen circumstance has made completing your assessments difficult • If you are applying for special provisions you need to provide evidence of your illness, learning difficulty, or unforeseen circumstance • More information can be found under Students and Families > Special Provisions

I’m an interstate/overseas/adult student … • SACE Board will grant status for equivalent learning in other areas • Information about meeting the requirements for interstate, adult and overseas students can be found on the SACE website under Students and Families

Further information

In summary … The SACE: • provides challenging curriculum – both in and outside school • helps you achieve your potential • provides quality assurance – marking by experts outside the school and doublechecking of results at Stage 2 • is based on clear and achievable standards.

Achieve magazine • Copies of the latest edition of the SACE student magazine, ‘Achieve’, have been given to all Year 9, 10 and 11 students • The magazine contains useful information for students about the SACE • Parents are encouraged to read the magazine with students to help them consider and discuss their education plans

Want to know more? • Visit the SACE website at www. sace. sa. edu. au • You can log in to Students Online with your SACE registration and PIN. It helps you plan your SACE, check your progress and access your results • Talk to the teachers at your school • Read a copy of ‘Achieve’ magazine