Leaving School in Australia - Year 12 State by State

A guide to Year 12 Certificates and Tertiary Entrance Requirements in Australia
Published by the Board of Studies NSW for the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Certification Authorities (ACACA)

Index

• What award does the certification body in each State or Territory issue to students on successful completion of study in Years 11 and 12?

• What must students do to be awarded the senior secondary school leaving credential in each State or Territory?

• Which document(s) lists the subjects/courses studied in Year 11 and/or Year 12?

• What advice is given relating to tertiary selection?

• Who issues this?

What award does the Curriculum Council of Western Australia issue to students on successful completion of study in Years 11 and 12? Students are awarded the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) certifying that the requirements for Secondary Graduation have been achieved. (Click on the image to view full screen version): Top of page

What must students do to be awarded the Western Australian Certificate of Education?

To be eligible for the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) students must achieve Secondary Graduation. To qualify for Secondary Graduation a student must:

• complete at least ten full year (or equivalent) Curriculum Council subjects; (Note 1)

• obtain an average grade of C or better in at least eight full year (or equivalent) Curriculum Council subjects.(Note 2) At least four of these subjects must be at Year 12 level; and

• achieve Curriculum Council English language competence.

(Note 1) Up to 40% of a student’s program of study (ie 4 out of 10 full year subjects) for meeting the subject completion requirement may comprise Vocational Education and Training (VET) subject equivalents.

(Note 2) Up to 25% (ie 2 out of 8 full year subjects) for meeting the C grade or better requirement may comprise VET subject equivalents. The inclusion of the VET subject equivalents for Secondary Graduation applies to stand alone Units of Competency/National Training Modules successfully completed by Year 11 and Year 12 students from 1999.

Students must achieve Curriculum Council English language competence for Secondary Graduation. To achieve English language competence students must receive a grade of C or better in one of the following Year 12 Curriculum Council subjects:

• English

• English as a Second Language

• English Literature

• Senior English

• Vocational English

Alternatively, students who are enrolled in one of the above subjects may sit the Curriculum Council English Language Competence Test. A pass satisfies the English language competence requirement.

Students who complete the equivalent of Year 11 interstate, overseas or through TAFE can have this study recognised for Secondary Graduation (and the issuing of a WACE). Prior learning at Year 11 level also counts towards Secondary Graduation.

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Which document(s) lists the subjects/courses studied in Year 11 and/or Year 12? The Statement of Results document shows a student’s cumulative record of achievement in the subjects/courses studied. An example is provided below (Click on the image to view full screen version): Top of page

What advice is given relating to tertiary selection?

The Tertiary Entrance Rank (please refer to TISC website)

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Who issues this?

The Tertiary Institutions Service Centre.
(Please refer to TISC website)

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