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Understanding Australian Education
Understanding Australian Education | Body
Senior Secondary Certificates of Education
SACE (South Australian Certificate of Education) is the official Senior Secondary Certificate of Education in South Australia. It is recognised by universities across Australia and worldwide, offering a pathway to further studies.
A Senior Secondary Certificate of Education is awarded to students in Australian high schools who successfully complete the program requirements. This program typically spans two years (Australian Year 11 and Year 12) and is designed for students aged 16 to 18. It is equivalent to the International Baccalaureate (IB), GCE A-Levels in the UK and Advanced Placement (AP) in North America.
Each Australian State and Territory offers its own version of the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE), based on a national standard but featuring unique curricula and assessments. Despite these differences, all programs hold equal value and are linked by the ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank).
Did you know: In addition to South Australia, the SACE is delivered in the Northern Territory, where it is called the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training.
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a score between 0.00 and 99.95 that ranks a student's overall performance relative to their peers. For example, an ATAR of 80.00 means the student is in the top 20 per cent of their age group. Universities use the ATAR to select students for courses, often considering other criteria like personal statements, portfolios, interviews or tests.
To meet ATAR requirements for university entrance, students must complete the SACE with at least 90 credits from five Stage 2 subjects.
A complete Australian school education spans 13 years and includes with English being the official language of instruction:
- Foundation: also called preschool, preparatory school, or kindergarten is for children aged 3-5 years of age
- Primary school: is from grades 1-6 and is compulsory
- Secondary school: or high school is from grades 7-10 and is compulsory
- Senior secondary school: or senior secondary college is from grades 11-12
There are different types of schools in Australia, including:
- Government (public) and non-government (private or independent) schools
- Faith-based schools (e.g. Catholic or Islamic schools)
- Schools that cater for students with special needs
- Schools that cater for different age groups and study levels (e.g. primary schools and high schools)
- Schools that are based on educational philosophies (e.g., Montessori and Steiner schools)
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) plays a central role in the development and implementation of the Australian Curriculum across all states and territories. ACARA's primary function is to create a rigorous and nationally consistent curriculum from Foundation (Kindergarten) to Year 12. While ACARA develops the curriculum, each state and territory is responsible for its implementation, assessment, and certification including developing their own teaching and learning resources.
Students can also study the Australian curriculum in other countries at accredited Australian international schools. These schools have teachers who are trained and qualified and follow the same academic standards as those in Australia.
Australia offers both higher education (universities) and vocational education and training (VET). There are 43 universities across the country. Admission to universities is based on the completion of Year 12 and an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), without the need for entrance exams (except for certain courses like law or medicine).
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national tertiary (post-secondary) education system that has 10 different levels. It encompasses qualifications from schools, vocational education and training (VET), and higher education, providing a structured system for recognising skills and knowledge. The AQF ensures national recognition and consistency of qualifications across different sectors and levels.
