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New information on the PLP - revitalisation by the SACE Board of SA to now be replaced by Exploring Identities and Futures (EIF) as part of the 2018 SACE Stage 2 review.
 
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{{Short description|School qualification in South Australia}}
[[Image:Sace_logo.png|frame|SACE logo]]
{{More citations needed|date=August 2009}}
The '''South Australian Certificate of Education''' (SACE) is the credential given to students who have completed Year 11 and Year 12 of their secondary schooling, in the state of [[South Australia]], [[Australia]]. It is administered by the Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia (SSABSA).
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
The '''South Australian Certificate of Education''' ('''SACE''')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sace.sa.edu.au |title = Home - South Australian Certificate of Education}}</ref> is awarded to students who have successfully completed their senior secondary schooling in the state of [[South Australia]].


The SACE is the South Australian certificate within the Australian [[Senior Secondary Certificate of Education]], soon to be the [[Australian Certificate of Education]], part of the [[Australian Qualifications Framework]].
The SACE Board of South Australia (formerly known as the Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia, or SSABSA) administrates the certificate. The SACE Board of South Australia is an independent [[statutory authority]] of the South Australian Government accredited under ISO 9001:2008.


The SACE curriculum is also taught in [[Northern Territory]] secondary schools, where it is known as the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET). The South Australian Matriculation (SAM) certificate is a qualification based on the SACE curriculum which is administered by the SACE Board of South Australia and taught in some schools in Malaysia and China.
==Relative status==
It is considered to be one of the more rigorous secondary education programs in the world and is recognised as a requisite credential for admission to universities in Australia and worldwide, however it is also known throughout Australia for its considerable flexibility. Study for the SACE is usually completed over two years, but students are permitted to spend as long as they require. Recently in South Australia several schools have begun offering both the SACE and [[International Baccalaureate]] programs, providing a more academiclly challenging alternative for students in the state.


To receive the SACE, students must gain 200 credits from a range of subjects, usually over two years. Twenty credits is equal to a full year subject, while 10 credits is equal to a semester long subject. There are two stages: Stage 1, which most students do in Year 11, and Stage 2, which most students do in Year 12.
==Organisation==
Each SACE subject is organised into units. Students usually choose to study four, five or six subjects each year at the SACE level. The range of subjects depends on the school, as each individual school decides which subjects they will offer to their students. SACE subjects are divided into "Stage&nbsp;1" (subjects that are usually studied in Year&nbsp;11) or "Stage&nbsp;2" (subjects that are usually studied in Year&nbsp;12).


Students may attain a partial SACE certification by gaining the minimum number of credits, yet bypassing the [[Australian Tertiary Admission Rank|ATAR]] system. This approach does not guarantee an entry to university, however, a student may gain admittance via alternative pathways such as first attending TAFE then transferring to university, or by sitting an entry exam.
Most, but not all, SACE subjects at Stage 2 level comprise two units. All Stage&nbsp;1 level subjects are one unit, but most subjects have variations which can be studied in sequence. For example, a subject may be named "Legal Studies&nbsp;&ndash; The Australian Legal System" and another subject is named "Legal Studies&nbsp;&ndash; The Judiciary and Family Law". A unit is studied for one semester. Year&nbsp;11 students can ''accelerate'' and study a Stage&nbsp;2 subject early, enabling them to complete the SACE early or with a reduced workload in Year&nbsp;12. On completing a subject, a student receives a "SA" (Satisfactory Achievement), a "RA" (Recorded Achievement) or a "RNM" (Requirements Not Met). In addition to this, in most Stage 2 subjects students receive a grade out of 20.


==Importance==
In order to receive the SACE students must complete 22 units overall, with at least 6 at Stage&nbsp;2 level and 16 with the status "SA". Students must achieve at least "RA" status in 2 units of [[English studies|English]], 1 unit of Australian Studies and 1 unit of [[Mathematics]] at Stage&nbsp;1 level. In addition to this students must complete 2 Group&nbsp;1 units (Arts and Humanities subjects) and 2 Group&nbsp;2 units (Mathematics, Science and Technology subjects) at both Stage&nbsp;1 and Stage&nbsp;2 levels. Until 2005, students also had to complete a Writing Based Literacy Assessment, but this requirement has now been built into each individual subject.
Completion of the SACE is a general requirement to get into universities and colleges of technical and further education (TAFE colleges) in South Australia, nationally and internationally. The certificate also provides many study options for students who want to follow a different pathway into the workforce, such as undertaking apprenticeships while still at school. The SACE's Research Project has been suggested to be non compulsory in 2012 by Australian Education Union SA branch president Correna Haythorpe.<ref>{{cite news| title=On with research project, minister says | website=adelaidenow | date=21 November 2012 | url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sa-government-to-overhaul-year-12-sace-requirements-and-asks-universities-to-calculate-entry-on-90-point-scale/news-story/bf09deee4284aaf61c5d64090516f0a9 | access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref>


== How the SACE works ==
Students can receive units at Stage&nbsp;1 level (and sometimes at Stage&nbsp;2 level) for completing qualifications at TAFE through Vocational Education and Training partnerships between schools, [[TAFE]] SA institutes and employers. This system is considered by some to be pioneering, allowing students to get ahead in a trade situation while simultaneously allowing academic education (separating it from a purely vocational education) but traditionalists deride it as reducing the academic rigour required to complete the SACE.


There are two stages of the SACE:
Students' SACE results are the only data employed to formulate their Tertiary Entrance Rank or TER. In order to receive a TER, students must study five two-unit subjects at Stage&nbsp;2 level that deliver scores out of 20. Using these results, SSABSA ''scales'' these subjects based on their difficulty. This involves adding or subtracting a few marks to the students' grade for a subject. For example, a student who completed Chemistry would be likely to have one or two marks added to their grade whereas a student who completed Outdoor Education might have a mark or two subtracted from their grade. Then using these ''scaled'' grades, SSABSA formulates a University Aggregate out of 90 by summing the highest four grades and half of the lowest grade. For example, if a student received the following grades after scaling:
* Stage 1, which most students do in Year 11, apart from the Personal Learning Plan subject (now gradually being replaced by Exploring Identities and Futures; a culmination of work to revitalise the Personal Learning Plan), which most students do in Year 10
* Stage 2, which most students do in Year 12.


Each subject or course successfully completed earns ‘credits’ towards the SACE, with a minimum of 200 credits required for students to gain the certificate.
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!Subject
!Grade
|-
|Mathematical Studies
|18
|-
|Legal Studies
|16
|-
|Chemistry
|16
|-
|Physics
|14
|-
|English Studies
|13 (lowest subject; counts for half)
|-
|'''University Aggregate'''
|'''70.5'''
|}


Students will receive a final grade from A to E for each Stage 1 subject and A+ to E− for Stage 2 subjects. For compulsory requirements, to gain their SACE they will need to achieve:
After this, students are ranked on the basis of their University Aggregate on a range between 0 and 99.95, advancing in increments of 0.05. On average, between three and seven students receive each incremental rank. Universities then admit students who apply to courses from students ranked 99.95, then the students who apply ranked 99.90 and so on until all positions available are filled. The TER of the final student or students to receive a position is called the ''cut-off'' rank and is published as a guide to what TER is required to enter the course in the next year.
* a C grade or better at Stage 1
* a C− grade or better at Stage 2.


The compulsory requirements are:
== Results ==
* Personal Learning Plan (or as of recently, Exploring Identities and Futures) (10 credits at Stage 1)
Each year hundreds of students receive a merit in individual subjects. This merit is awarded to students that obtain a perfect score of 20 out of 20. The following address is a link to the merit list of 2005.[http://www.ssabsa.sa.edu.au/results/merits.htm Merit List 2005]. On top of this, there are also some students that receive five 20's. These students are the dux's of the state. Below is a table of the five students who got 5 20's
* Literacy – at least 20 credits from a range of English subjects or courses (Stage 1 or Stage 2)
* Numeracy – at least 10 credits from a range of mathematics subjects or courses (Stage 1 or Stage 2)
* Research Project (or as of recently, Activating Identities and Futures) – an in-depth major project (10 credits at Stage 2)
* Other Stage 2 subjects totalling at least 60 credits.


The remaining 90 credits can be gained through additional Stage 1 or Stage 2 subjects or Board-recognised courses (such as VET or community learning) of a student’s choice.
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!Name
!Subjects
|-
|[[Sophie Underwood]]
|Mathematics Studies, Chemistry, Physics, English Studies, Specialist Mathematics
|-
|Lauren Lim
|Chemistry, English Studies, Mathematics Studies, Physics, Specialist Mathematics
|-
|Emily Bain
|Mathematics Studies, Chemistry, Visual Arts Studies, English Studies, Biology
|-
|Charmaine Yam
|Chemistry, English Studies, Biology, Accounting Studies, Chinese (continuers)
|-
|Nicholas Smith
|Biology, Chemistry, English Communications, Mathematics Studies, Physics
|}


== SACE Terms ==
===Assessment===
SACE studies are assessed both internally (in school) and externally. All top-tier stage 2 subjects have a 30% external assessment, which may be an exam, investigation or performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sace.sa.edu.au/the-sace/students-families/stage-2|title=Stage 2 External Assessment and examinations|publisher=South Australian Certificate of Education Board|accessdate=30 August 2013}}</ref> As well as the compulsory subjects, stage 2 school based assessments are centrally moderated to ensure fair and accurate results.
'''Scaling:'''
Scaling is a mathematical process which adjusts the results students achieve in their various SACE
Stage 2 (year 12) subjects so that the students can compete on a fair basis for entry to university and
TAFE courses.


==SACE and tertiary studies==
'''SACE unit:'''
one-semester of full time study


SACE results are scaled and then used to calculate a University Aggregate, which is out of 90. This is then converted into an [[Australian Tertiary Admission Rank]] (ATAR), previously a [[Tertiary Entrance Rank]] (TER) which universities within Australia use to select students who will be offered places in particular courses. A [[TAFE SA]] selection score is also calculated for entry into other further education courses.
'''Stage 1:'''
Full details of South Australian university and TAFE entry requirements for 2012 onwards are provided in ‘Australian Tertiary Admissions Booklet 2013, 2014, 2015’, published by the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre, the South Australian Government authority which processes applications for tertiary courses in South Australia and the Northern Territory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.satac.edu.au/satac/pub.htm#teb|title=Tertiary Entrance Booklet 2013, 2014, 2015|publisher=[[South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre]]|date=July 2012|accessdate=2012-12-16}}</ref>
The first of the two stages of the SACE. Students usually undertake Stage 1 in Year 11.


==Awards==
'''Stage 2: '''
The second of the two stages of the SACE. Students usually undertake Stage 2 in Year 12.


SACE results are announced in December each year. [[Governor of South Australia Commendation]]s are awarded to people who receive merits in 90 Stage 2 credits (including Research Project) or achieved an A in 70 or more credits and displayed "Excellence in the development of one or more SACE capabilities".<ref>{{cite web|title=Governor of South Australia Commendations|url=http://www.sace.sa.edu.au/the-sace/teachers-schools/merits-in-the-sace/governor-of-south-australia-commendations|publisher=South Australian Certificate of Education Board|accessdate=30 August 2013}}</ref> Merits are awarded to students who receive an A+, and have displayed "exceptional achievement" (less than 2% of students taking a subject) in individual subjects in their Stage 2 SACE results.<ref>{{cite web|title=Merit Policy and Procedure|url=http://www.sace.sa.edu.au/documents/652891/f87522c4-9541-4690-a824-d1a2b806224d|publisher=South Australian Certificate of Education Board|access-date=30 August 2013|year=2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405062936/http://www.sace.sa.edu.au/documents/652891/f87522c4-9541-4690-a824-d1a2b806224d|archive-date=5 April 2013}}</ref> Prizes are awarded to the top student in certain subjects, including:
'''Summative assessment:'''
* Music (Don Maynard Music Prize)
Assessment that is designed to measure the extent of student achievement of curriculum statement learning outcomes. Summative assessment is usually undertaken on completion of a section, or the whole, of a unit. Results of student performance in summative assessment tasks contribute to or form the SACE final assessment for the unit.
* Physics (The Bronze Bragg Medal)
* Chemistry (The Way College Prize)
* Biology (The Hardwicke College Prize) and
* English Studies (The Tennyson Medal)


==Current usage==
'''Formative assessment:'''
Assessment usually used as practice so that students may grasp knowledge of what is required for a summative task. These do not count towards the SACE final assesment but are generally used by the schools to calculate term and semester marks.


A number of countries utilize SACE (known as SACE International outside of Australia) as one of the pre-university qualifications.
'''"Suicide Five":'''
The hardest possible combination of subjects. They are English Studies, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics Studies and Specialist Mathematics


== See also ==
===Malaysia===
SACE International offered in Malaysia is effectively an almost similar programme as Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT). The difference being their examination board and course structure. AUSMAT is administered by Western Australian Certificate of Education Board while SACE International is administered by South Australian Certificate of Education Board. As for the course structure, AUSMAT consists of 50% coursework and 50% examination, while SACE International consists of 70% coursework and 30% examination.
* [[College admissions#Australia|University admission]]

Some of the private universities offering AUSMAT / SACE International in Malaysia include:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/web/saceinternational/sace-international-colleges|title=AUSMAT / SACE International in Malaysia|last=|first=|date=|publisher=|work=sace.sa.edu.au|accessdate=11 November 2016}}</ref>
* [[International Education College|INTEC Education College]]
* [[INTI International University]]
* [[Taylor's College]]
* [[DISTED College]]

==See also==
* [[Australian Qualifications Framework]]
* [[Australian Qualifications Framework]]
* [[College admissions#Australia|University admission]]
* [[Education in Australia]]
* [[Education in Australia]]
* [[South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==sexams==
==External links==


ooooooooooooooo candy mountain


{{University Entrance in Australia|state=collapsed}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.ssabsa.sa.edu.au/ SSABSA (Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia)] - Administers the SACE.
* [http://www.satac.edu.au SATAC (South Ausrtalian Tertiary Adminissions Centre)] - Conducts university admissions.
* [http://www.hkshum.net/Math/ti83/index.html SACE TI-83 Programs] for the Specialists' Mathematics and Mathematical Studies exams.


{{DEFAULTSORT:South Australian Certificate Of Education}}
[[Category:School qualifications]]
[[Category:School qualifications]]
[[Category:Education in South Australia]]
[[Category:Education in South Australia]]
[[Category:Australian Certificate of Education]]
[[Category:Australian Certificate of Education]]
[[Category:Articles needing additional references from May 2013]]

Latest revision as of 08:28, 22 November 2024

The South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE)[1] is awarded to students who have successfully completed their senior secondary schooling in the state of South Australia.

The SACE Board of South Australia (formerly known as the Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia, or SSABSA) administrates the certificate. The SACE Board of South Australia is an independent statutory authority of the South Australian Government accredited under ISO 9001:2008.

The SACE curriculum is also taught in Northern Territory secondary schools, where it is known as the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET). The South Australian Matriculation (SAM) certificate is a qualification based on the SACE curriculum which is administered by the SACE Board of South Australia and taught in some schools in Malaysia and China.

To receive the SACE, students must gain 200 credits from a range of subjects, usually over two years. Twenty credits is equal to a full year subject, while 10 credits is equal to a semester long subject. There are two stages: Stage 1, which most students do in Year 11, and Stage 2, which most students do in Year 12.

Students may attain a partial SACE certification by gaining the minimum number of credits, yet bypassing the ATAR system. This approach does not guarantee an entry to university, however, a student may gain admittance via alternative pathways such as first attending TAFE then transferring to university, or by sitting an entry exam.

Importance

[edit]

Completion of the SACE is a general requirement to get into universities and colleges of technical and further education (TAFE colleges) in South Australia, nationally and internationally. The certificate also provides many study options for students who want to follow a different pathway into the workforce, such as undertaking apprenticeships while still at school. The SACE's Research Project has been suggested to be non compulsory in 2012 by Australian Education Union SA branch president Correna Haythorpe.[2]

How the SACE works

[edit]

There are two stages of the SACE:

  • Stage 1, which most students do in Year 11, apart from the Personal Learning Plan subject (now gradually being replaced by Exploring Identities and Futures; a culmination of work to revitalise the Personal Learning Plan), which most students do in Year 10
  • Stage 2, which most students do in Year 12.

Each subject or course successfully completed earns ‘credits’ towards the SACE, with a minimum of 200 credits required for students to gain the certificate.

Students will receive a final grade from A to E for each Stage 1 subject and A+ to E− for Stage 2 subjects. For compulsory requirements, to gain their SACE they will need to achieve:

  • a C grade or better at Stage 1
  • a C− grade or better at Stage 2.

The compulsory requirements are:

  • Personal Learning Plan (or as of recently, Exploring Identities and Futures) (10 credits at Stage 1)
  • Literacy – at least 20 credits from a range of English subjects or courses (Stage 1 or Stage 2)
  • Numeracy – at least 10 credits from a range of mathematics subjects or courses (Stage 1 or Stage 2)
  • Research Project (or as of recently, Activating Identities and Futures) – an in-depth major project (10 credits at Stage 2)
  • Other Stage 2 subjects totalling at least 60 credits.

The remaining 90 credits can be gained through additional Stage 1 or Stage 2 subjects or Board-recognised courses (such as VET or community learning) of a student’s choice.

Assessment

[edit]

SACE studies are assessed both internally (in school) and externally. All top-tier stage 2 subjects have a 30% external assessment, which may be an exam, investigation or performance.[3] As well as the compulsory subjects, stage 2 school based assessments are centrally moderated to ensure fair and accurate results.

SACE and tertiary studies

[edit]

SACE results are scaled and then used to calculate a University Aggregate, which is out of 90. This is then converted into an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), previously a Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) which universities within Australia use to select students who will be offered places in particular courses. A TAFE SA selection score is also calculated for entry into other further education courses. Full details of South Australian university and TAFE entry requirements for 2012 onwards are provided in ‘Australian Tertiary Admissions Booklet 2013, 2014, 2015’, published by the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre, the South Australian Government authority which processes applications for tertiary courses in South Australia and the Northern Territory.[4]

Awards

[edit]

SACE results are announced in December each year. Governor of South Australia Commendations are awarded to people who receive merits in 90 Stage 2 credits (including Research Project) or achieved an A in 70 or more credits and displayed "Excellence in the development of one or more SACE capabilities".[5] Merits are awarded to students who receive an A+, and have displayed "exceptional achievement" (less than 2% of students taking a subject) in individual subjects in their Stage 2 SACE results.[6] Prizes are awarded to the top student in certain subjects, including:

  • Music (Don Maynard Music Prize)
  • Physics (The Bronze Bragg Medal)
  • Chemistry (The Way College Prize)
  • Biology (The Hardwicke College Prize) and
  • English Studies (The Tennyson Medal)

Current usage

[edit]

A number of countries utilize SACE (known as SACE International outside of Australia) as one of the pre-university qualifications.

Malaysia

[edit]

SACE International offered in Malaysia is effectively an almost similar programme as Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT). The difference being their examination board and course structure. AUSMAT is administered by Western Australian Certificate of Education Board while SACE International is administered by South Australian Certificate of Education Board. As for the course structure, AUSMAT consists of 50% coursework and 50% examination, while SACE International consists of 70% coursework and 30% examination.

Some of the private universities offering AUSMAT / SACE International in Malaysia include:[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Home - South Australian Certificate of Education".
  2. ^ "On with research project, minister says". adelaidenow. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Stage 2 External Assessment and examinations". South Australian Certificate of Education Board. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Tertiary Entrance Booklet 2013, 2014, 2015". South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre. July 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Governor of South Australia Commendations". South Australian Certificate of Education Board. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Merit Policy and Procedure". South Australian Certificate of Education Board. 2013. Archived from the original on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  7. ^ "AUSMAT / SACE International in Malaysia". sace.sa.edu.au. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
[edit]
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