GENERAL INFORMATION

The new SACE

What is the new SACE?

The SACE is being updated and strengthened to ensure it meets the needs of students, families, higher and further education providers, employers and the community. The new SACE will build upon the achievements of the current SACE and help students develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed – whether they are headed for further education and training, university, an apprenticeship or straight into the workforce.

The certificate is based on two stages of achievement: Stage 1 (normally undertaken in Year 11) and Stage 2 (Year 12). Students will be able to study a wide range of subjects and courses as part of the SACE.

When will it start?

The new SACE begins in 2009 with the introduction of a compulsory subject called the Personal Learning Plan, normally undertaken in Year 10. The SACE then continues through Year 11 and Year 12, with the first group of students graduating with the new qualification in 2011.

Who will be affected?

Students in Year 9 in 2008 will be the first to undertake the new SACE, starting in Year 10 in 2009.

What are some of the features of the new SACE?

As part of the new SACE students will:

• receive credits for many different forms of education and training (such as academic subjects, learning a trade, TAFE, vocational training and community service) provided they are recognised by the SACE Board
• be able to return to their studies at any time in the future to complete the SACE without losing credit for work already undertaken
• receive A-E grades in every Stage 1 and Stage 2 SACE subject
• be expected to gain and demonstrate essential skills and knowledge for their future, focusing on communication, citizenship, personal development, work and learning
• have 30 per cent of their work in every Stage 2 subject externally assessed. This will be done in various ways, including exams, practical performances and presentations
• have outside moderators check the school-assessed parts of Stage 2 subjects to ensure consistent grading across the State.
  

The requirements to achieve the new SACE

To gain the new certificate students must earn 200 credits. Ten credits are equivalent to one semester or six months’ study in a particular subject or course.

Some elements of the new SACE are compulsory. These are:

• a Personal Learning Plan at Stage 1 (usually undertaken in Year 10), worth 10 credits
• at least 20 credits towards literacy from a range of English/English as a Second Language studies at Stage 1
• at least 10 credits towards numeracy from a range of mathematics studies at Stage 1
• a major project of extended studies called the Extended Learning Initiative at Stage 2, worth 10 credits
• completion of at least 60 additional credits in Stage 2 subjects and courses.

The importance of the compulsory elements is reflected in the requirement that students must achieve either an A, B, C or equivalent in these subjects to complete the new SACE successfully.

In addition to the compulsory elements, students will choose from a wide range of subjects and courses to earn the remaining 90 credits to gain the SACE. These include subjects and courses from either Stage 1 or Stage 2.

Personal Learning Plan

What is it?

The Personal Learning Plan is a new compulsory SACE subject, normally undertaken in Year 10. Students will consider their aspirations and research reliable career information to help them make appropriate subject choices and map out their future. Students will work towards goals they need to achieve as they progress through school towards work, training or further study.

The Personal Learning Plan will help students:

• identify and research career paths and options (including further education, training and work)
• choose appropriate SACE subjects and courses based on plans for future work and study
• consider and access subjects and courses available in and beyond school
• review their strengths and areas they need to work on, including literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT) skills
• gain skills for future employment
• identify goals and plans for improvement
• review and adjust plans to achieve goals.

The Personal Learning Plan will contribute 10 credits towards the SACE.

How will the Personal Learning Plan be taught?

The Personal Learning Plan is designed to be tailored to the needs of students. Scotch will offer the Personal Learning Plan in Year 10. Schools may work with students after they have formally completed the subject to encourage students to review and update their goals and plans.
Scotch will offer the PLP at Year 10 level. It will be offered to students using the House structure. At this stage it will be one period a week in Year 10 and will continue until Semester 1 Year 11.

Subject selection for current Year 9 students

What is happening?

The Personal Learning Plan will be taught in schools from 2009. Next year it will be the only new SACE subject offered. Most schools will teach the Personal Learning Plan in Year 10. Other subjects in the new SACE will be phased in over the following two years.

Transition: Current SACE to new SACE

No student will be disadvantaged by the transition from the current SACE to the new SACE. Any subject or course that a student successfully completes, whether part of the current or new SACE, can be counted towards the certificate. Generally, one unit of current SACE studies will be considered equal to 10 credits of new SACE studies and vice versa.

Where can I find more information about the subjects being offered from 2010?

Most subjects available in the current SACE will continue to be offered in the new SACE. There may be minor changes to subject content because of the inclusion of new requirements, such as A-E grading in every subject in both Stage 1 and Stage 2, and 30 per cent Stage 2 external assessment.

In addition:

• Information and updates about the new SACE will be posted on the future SACE website at www.futuresace.sa.gov.au
• Information about the current SACE will be provided on the SSABSA website at www.ssabsa.sa.edu.au
• A new combined website is expected to be launched in 2009.

How will the new SACE affect current Year 10 and 11 students?

Students in Year 10 or Year 11 in 2008 will probably complete the current SACE. However, students who decide to complete their studies over a longer period may need to undertake subjects as part of the new SACE. No student will be disadvantaged because of the transition to the new SACE. Any subject or course that a student successfully completes, whether part of the current or new SACE, can be counted towards the certificate. Generally, one unit of current SACE studies will be considered equal to 10 credits of new SACE studies and vice versa.

Where can I find more information about subjects offered as part of the new SACE?

Most subjects available in the current SACE will continue to be offered in the new SACE. There may be minor changes to subject content because of the inclusion of new requirements, such as A-E grading in every subject in Stage 1 and 2, and 30 per cent Stage 2 external assessment.

In addition:

• Information and updates about the new SACE will be posted on the future SACE website at www.futuresace.sa.gov.au
• Information about the current SACE will be provided on the SSABSA website at www.ssabsa.sa.edu.au
• A new combined website is expected to be launched in 2009.

Eligibility for University Entrance in 2012 and beyond

The Vice-Chancellors of Flinders University, The University of Adelaide and University of South Australia have agreed that to be eligible for consideration for selection to university a student must:

• achieve the SACE qualification;
• meet any prerequisite subject requirements of the university course;
• obtain a TER.

Calculation of the Tertiary Entrance Rank in 2012 and beyond.
The Vice-Chancellors of Flinders University, The University of Adelaide and University of South Australia have agreed that a student's TER will be derived from the best possible aggregate (from 80 points) of available scores from approved subjects which do not breach counting restrictions or precluded combination rules.

The agreegate will be calculated from a student's scores from three 20 credit Stage 2 subjects (60 points in total), plus the best outcome from either:

• the socre of a fourth 20 credit Stage 2 subject or another recognised subject* (20 points);

or any two of the following

• half the score of a fourth 20 credit Stage 2 subject or another recognised subject* (10 points)
• the score of a 10 credit Stage 2 subject or another recognised subject* (10 points)
• the score of another 10 credit Stage 2 subject or another recognised subject* (10 points)
• the score of the Extended Learning Initiative (ELI) provided that the ELI undertaken by the student includes a common written assessment component (10 points).

*Recognised subjects are those deemed by the SACE Board and the universities to be eligible to be included in the TER Calculation and will either contribute 10 or 20 points. Possible subjects could included university, International Baccalaureate, interstate year 12 subjects or VET qualifications.

- SACE and Tertiary Guidelines