How do I get a Merit in SACE?

In the SACE, the top students in a particular SACE stage 2 subject will be awarded a merit. But what is a merit, and how can you get one? I will break it down for you in this article, and hopefully you are able to get a merit too!

What is a Merit?

A merit is essentially a recognition of excellence in a SACE Stage 2 subject.

Merit does not mean that you necessarily achieved full marks for each subject assessment. Furthermore, doing so does not guarantee a merit, since awardees have to be selected by a panel. According to the SACE board, fewer than 2% of the subject cohort will be selected.

What are the Criteria to Get a Merit?

There are a few requirements listed by the SACE board:

• Gain an overall subject grade of A+ for that subject.
• Be selected by a panel, appointed by the SACE Board, as demonstrating exceptional achievement in the subject. Typically, fewer than 2% of the subject cohort would meet this criterion.
• Students who have been approved as 'private candidates' in a subject are not eligible for a subject merit.

How will you know if you got a Merit?

1. When you log in to SACE Students Online, you should instantly see your results on your screen.
2. If you have received merit, you should see the subject name above A+ with merit.
3. You will then be invited to attend the SACE merit ceremony where you will be awarded that certificate.

You can receive multiple merits; you are not limited to receiving one. Achieving a merit will significantly boost your ATAR, so if you want a mentor to help you achieve your goals, a tutor from KIS Academics is the way to go.

How do I get a Merit?

Achieving merit is not an easy task, but if you do get it, you should be extremely proud of yourself. Here are some of my hot tips for achieving merit:

1. Keep a Planner

• Colour code due dates so you can see clearly when assignments are due
• Get a planner with plenty of space, and start a fresh to-do list everyday

2. Be Specific with your To-Do lists

• It is important your to-do lists are specific. For instance, instead of writing ‘maths homework’ in your planner, write ‘Maths: Chapter 6 Questions 1-17’

3. Start Assignments as Early as Possible

• Start assignments early, and work on it a little bit each day.
• This gives you time to edit, and also gain new insights as you review your work.
• The more time you put into the assignment, the stronger it will be.

4. Understand the SACE Criteria

• Read through the SACE criteria and look at the keywords it uses. A trick I employed in year 12 was using the A-band keywords in my assignments.
• You must demonstrate to the marker that you have clearly met each criterion so that they are confident in giving you the highest grade.

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5. Have a Study Routine

• Sticking to a routine enables you to be consistent with your studies, and it makes it much easier to actually get your homework done.
• I also recommend having a study room separate from your bedroom; that way, you do not associate study with relaxation (thanks Pavlov)!

Building A Study Routine (That Will Actually Be Effective)

The key to performing well during high-school is consistency. There’s absolutely no doubt about it. An analogy that I think works well here is comparing your study to your savings. If your goal is to save up $200 by the end of the year, it’s much easier for you

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6. Do Practise Questions

• Doing practise test questions helps you put all your knowledge to test.
• I recommend looking at past test papers, online quizzes, or making your own practice tests on the content from your textbook!
• The more you practice, the easier it will be to recall all your knowledge.
  

Conclusion

At the end of the day, while achieving a merit is something to be extremely proud of, it is not the end-all-be-all achievement. You can still achieve a high ATAR without a merit. Whatever your result, you should be extremely proud of yourself for completing year 12! You made it all the way to your final year of schooling, and that’s something to celebrate! 🎉

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Written by Charlotte Kenning who pursued a Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Flinders University.

Looking for some extra help to guide you through your SACEs? Look no further, KIS Academics has many brilliant tutors that can help you achieve your academic goals.