Year 12 Subject Selection & the SACE

Sacred Heart College Senior 2015

What is the SACE?

• The South Australian Certificate of Education

• A qualification awarded to students who successfully complete their senior secondary education (Years 11 and 12)

• Recognised nationally and internationally

• Used for entry into universities and further training

• SACE Board of SA – oversees the certificate

• Stage 1, Stage 2

• Credit points• 10 credits = 1 semester

• SACE grades • A to E for Stage 1 subjects• A+ to E- for Stage 2 subjects

SACE – some of the basics…

SACE Assessment

• Stage 1: 100% school assessed

• A to E grades

• Stage 2: 70% moderated teacher assessment, 30% external assessment

• A+ to E- grades

• Performance Standards

• Credit points

• Minimum 200 credits to achieve SACE

• 10 credits = 1 semester \ 20 semesters

• 60 Stage 2 credits (C- grade or better)

• Within Stage 1 and 2, there are an additional 50 compulsory credits

SACE Requirements

Compulsory elements

• Must achieve C or better for compulsory elements

• Personal Learning Plan

• Stage 1, 10 credits

• Completed at Year 10

SACE Requirements

Compulsory elements

• Must achieve C or better for compulsory elements

• Literacy and Numeracy

• Stage 1, 20 credits Literacy

• Stage 1, 10 credits Numeracy

• Completed at Year 11

SACE Requirements

Compulsory elements

• Must achieve C or better for compulsory elements

• Research Project

• Stage 2, 10 credits, C- or better

• In-depth study of topic of interest

• Research and presentation skills

• 70% internal assessment, 30% external

SACE Requirements

SACE Criteria to Meet in Yr 12:

(If C or better for all Stage 1 compulsory subjects)

• 60 Stage 2 credits – equivalent to 3 full year subjects (must get C- or better)

• Research Project (10 credits – must get C- or better)

• Minimum 200 credits total

• Complete the SACE

• Gain 90 Stage 2 credits – Tertiary Admissions Subjects (TAS) – this is NEW

• Including 3, 20-credit subjects

• “Prerequisite” requirements & “assumed knowledge”

• Comply with “counting restrictions” and “precluded combinations”

• Obtain an ATAR – Australian Tertiary Admission Rank

Eligibility for University Entrance

Scaled scores from 3, 20-credit TAS (60 credits of Stage 2 full year subjects)

+30 additional credits of other Stage 2 TAS subjects or

Recognised Studies=

University Aggregate out of 90

The University Aggregate is then converted to a percentile ranking (relative to the performance of other students) – the ATAR

Calculating the ATAR

Moderation and Scaling

• 70% teacher assessment - moderated

• Overall subject grade is scaled purely to calculate the ATAR

• Scaling - comparison of performance for subjects with different objectives, content, assessment processes

• Average for Subject A same as Subject B for students doing both (common candidature)

Should scaling affect subject choices?

• Scaling is not consistent

• It can be observed that scaling does not impact high grades as much as lower grades

• It is possible to get a better score for a subject that is scaled down than a more challenging subject that is scaled up

• Keep strengths in mind

Choosing Year 12 subjects

• Pre-requisites for Year 12 subjects• Some subjects must have done 20 credits Year 11

• Some subjects must have done 10 credits Year 11

• Some subjects no pre-requisites

• Research subjects

• Bonus points

• Off-site subjects, University subjects

• Workplace Practices (including VET)

• Self-directed Programs

• Community-developed Programs• www.sace.sa.edu.au/subjects/recognised-learning/community-learning

• Up to 90 credits can count towards SACE

• Doesn’t count towards ATAR

Community Learning

Special Provisions

• Illness, learning difficulty, disability or unforeseen circumstance interrupts student’s ability to complete assessment tasks

• Evidence/documentation required

• The same knowledge, skill requirements and standards are applied

• Flexibility relating to the conditions under which the assessment task is completed

• Student must negotiate changes to assessment with his/her teachers

Visit the SACE Board website – particularly the “Students and Families” and “Subjects” sections:

www.sace.sa.edu.au

SACE Board Website

The Subject Selection Process

• 4 week process• Folders distributed, information session, email

with slide show & WebChoice instructions• Parent night

• Subject selection due date: Thurs Aug 21st

• What happens after the form goes in?

• Not set in stone – can make changes

• Beware: the later the change, the less choice there is! It pays to get it right the first time.

• Promotions

Credits

Compulsory Subject

The Research Project (one semester) 10

Indicate below your FULL YEAR subjects

Preference 1 Specialist Maths 20

Preference 2 Maths Studies 20

Preference 3 Physics 20

Preference 4 Chemistry 20

Credits

Compulsory Subject

The Research Project (one semester) 10

Indicate below your FULL YEAR subjects

Preference 1 English Studies 20

Preference 2 Visual Art (Design) 20

Preference 3Visual Art (Art)

Photography20

Preference 4 Tourism 20

Credits

Compulsory Subject

The Research Project (one semester) 10

Indicate below your FULL YEAR subjects

Preference 1 English Communications 20

Preference 2Community Studies

(Trade Maths)20

Preference 3 Furniture Construction 20

Preference 4 Workplace Practices 20

Credits

Compulsory Subject

The Research Project (one semester) 10

Indicate below your FULL YEAR subjects

Preference 1 English Communications 20

Preference 2Integrated Learning (Fitness,

Health & Physical Activity)20

Preference 3 Furniture Construction 20

Preference 4 Workplace Practices 20

Please contact Karen Bailey (Director of Teaching & Learning), Gail Morgan

(Assistant Principal – Curriculum), Prue Wilkosz (Pathways

Coordinator), subject teachers or your child’s Homeroom teacher if

you have any questions about subject selection.