The South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) and the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET) are senior secondary certificates managed by the SACE Board. To obtain the SACE or NTCET, students must achieve 200 credits. How are they counted and converted into an ATAR? Let me break it down for you in this article.
- How does the SACE work?
- What Assessments are there?
- How is the ATAR Calculated?
- FAQs
How does the SACE work?
The SACE involves Stage 1 subjects and Stage 2 subjects.
Stage 1 subjects are mostly taken in Year 11, and Stage 2 subjects are mostly taken in Year 12. Each semester of a subject is worth 10 credits when passed. Credits can also be gained through recognised VET courses, and other Recognised Studies.
Need some extra guidance to help you prepare for your SACEs? A tutor from KIS Academics can help you achieve your academic goals.
What are the Compulsory Subjects? (50 Credits)
Students must complete:
- 20 credits of English subjects
- 10 credits of Mathematics subjects
- 10 credits of Personal Learning Plan:
- Stage 1, 10-credit subject. Here, students consider their interests and strengths to form a plan for their future academic and professional goals. The PLP has a focus on student initiative by developing research skills and strategies to improve personal qualities.
- It is often the first SACE subject a student will take, as most schools offer PLP in Year 10
- 10 credits of Research Project A or B:
- Stage 2, 10-credit subject. There are two variants, Research Project A and B. Only Research Project B enables both ATAR and non-ATAR pathways.
- At the discretion of the school, students may take the subject in Year 11 or 12 (some even complete it during the summer break in-between!). Here, students select a research question, identify what makes high-quality research, refine research methods, analyse findings, and navigate problems encountered throughout.
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What is in Stage 2 or VET? (60 Credits)
- 60 credits must come from Stage 2 subjects and/or recognised vocational education and training course(s).
- Students must score at least a C-
- Students can undertake the two in whatever ratio they choose.
What are Other Studies? (90 Credits)
The rest of the 90 credits can be made up of any Recognised Studies. This may be:
- any SACE/NTCET subjects
- interstate/international senior secondary learning
- tertiary studies, including recognised VET and university studies
- community learning, through formal programs (like AMEB or St. John’s) or self-direction (like leading community projects or being a primary carer)
- And, many more!
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What Assessments are there?
SACE/NTCET subjects are evaluated through
- Internal (school-based)
- External assessments set by the SACE Board
External assessments allow for moderated marking standards, and not all subject have an exam as their externals. For example, an English external piece may be an assignment completed over weeks, and an arts external assessment may be a live performance instead.
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How is the ATAR Calculated?
SA and NT higher education admissions are managed by the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC).
The ATAR pathway is only available to students who complete:
- Research Project B
- at least 90 credits at Stage 2
- of which at least 60 credits must be from 20-credit Tertiary Admissions Subjects (TAS)
- and the other 30 credits from TAS, with up to 20 credits of Recognised Studies.
The aggregate calculation process involves:
- Selecting a student’s three best-performing subjects (with scaled marks out of 20)
- And a “flexible option”: can be another subject, credits from Recognised Studies, or a mix.
SATAC will work out the option that gives each student the highest possible aggregate before ranking them against each other to calculate the ATAR.
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Conclusion
The SACE system can be quite complex, and understanding what's going on can be very daunting for new students and parents. If you ever need some assistance with SACE studies or subject-specific help, KIS Academics tutors have a thorough understanding of their subjects and can assist in understanding curriculum requirements. Our online tutors are able to provide materials and teaching on how to prepare for SACE assessments. Learn about our SACE tutoring and book a free study skills consultation with a KIS Academics online tutor.
FAQs
What documents do SACE Graduates receive?
- South Australian Certificate of Education: Confirms completion.
- Record of Achievement: Lists all subjects and grades.
- Tertiary Entrance Statement: Issued by SATAC, includes the ATAR if eligible
Is SACE recognised outside of South Australia?
- Yes, the SACE is recognised by universities and employers across Australia and internationally.
- It is equivalent to other Australian senior secondary certificates.
Can VET be counted towards SACE?
- Yes, Vocational Education and Training (VET), community learning, and recognised prior learning can count as SACE credits.
Written by KIS Academics Tutor and State Consultant for South Australia (SACE), Yumeng Liu. Yumeng had an ATAR of 99.10, and she is passionate about helping other students achieve their dream ATAR as well. You can view Yumeng's profile here and request her as a tutor.
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.
