Achieving the SACE
To gain the SACE students complete about two years of full-time study which most students spread over three years. There are two stages to the SACE,
- Stage One, which most students do in Year 11, apart from the Personal Learning Plan, which most students are likely to do in Year 10.
- Stage Two, which most students do in Year 12.
Each subject or course successfully completed earns 'credits' towards the SACE. At least 200 credits are required for students to gain the certificate. Ten credits are equal to one semester, or two terms, of study in a subject, and 20 credits are equal to a full-year subject. Students will receive a grade from A to E (A+ to E- at Stage 2) for each Subject. For Compulsory Subjects, they will need to achieve a C grade or better.
The compulsory subjects are,
- Personal Learning Plan ( 10 credits at Stage 1)
- Literacy-at least 20 credits from a range of english subjects or courses (stage 1).
- Numeracy - at least 10 credits from a range of Mathematics subjects or courses (Stage 1).
- Research Project - an in-depth major project. (10 credits at Stage 2).
- Other Stage 2 subjects totalling at least 60 credits.
The Table below shows how the SACE fits together.
| REQUIREMENTS | CREDITS |
| Year 10 | |
| Personal Learning Plan | 10 |
| Year 11 (Stage 1) | |
| Literacy (from a range of English subjects and courses). | 20 |
| Numeracy (from a range of Mathematics subjects and courses). | 10 |
| Year 11 or 12 (Stages 1 or 2) | |
| Other subjects and courses of the student's choice. | Up to 90 |
| Year 12 (Stage 2) | |
| Research Project | 10 |
| Other Stage 2 subjects and courses* | 60 or more |
| Total | 200 |
| Other subjects and courses |
| Stage 1 compulsory subjects and courses |
| Stage 2 compulsory subjects and courses |
*Most students will complete subjects worth more than 70 credits at stage 2.