The WA Certificate of Education (WACE): A Guide for Business
Students entering Year 11 and Year 12 in Western Australian schools now have access to the most comprehensive range of senior secondary courses and training programs ever offered in Western Australia.
Developed over the past four years and to be fully implemented in 2010, the new Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) helps schools cater for all students and prepares them for further study or the workplace.
Courses are offered in semester-length units at three or four stages (Preliminary or Stage 1 to Stage 3) of increasing levels of difficulty.
Young people planning to undertake vocational education and training can achieve nationally accredited training certificates while still at school. These certificates contribute to the WACE and may help them with further education, training and employment.
Students who study Stage 2 or Stage 3 units in Year 12 must sit the external examinations for these courses, unless exempt.
Students are exempt from sitting examinations if they are completing a significant vocational education and training qualification in their final year of schooling.
Students who study Preliminary or Stage 1 units do not usually sit examinations.
Below is a contents list with links to information in this page. By clicking on the heading it will take you to the section you want.
Courses
Community service
Vocational education and training (VET)
Endorsed programs
Examination arrangements 2009 and beyond
WACE requirements for students graduating in 2009
Courses
There are 52 WACE courses. The syllabus for each course is available at http://www.curriculum.wa.edu.au/internet/Senior_Secondary/Courses. A list of all courses can be downloaded here.
All courses have units structured in three or four stages of increasing difficulty (see Figure 1). Each unit usually takes 55 hours or one semester to complete.
Figure 1: General course structure
Generally, there are two units per stage e.g. units 2A and 2B. Mathematics has additional Stage 1, 2 and 3 units and English has additional Stage 1 and 2 units.
The courses:
- build on content of subjects taught under the previous system
- ensure that WA students are able to study similar courses to those offered in other parts of Australia
- provide multiple pathways to university, training and employment.
Students start with units appropriate to their stage of development:
- University-bound students will typically study a program of Stage 2 and Stage 3 units over two years.
- Other students may take a mixture of Stage 1 and Stage 2 units in years 11 and 12 or all Stage 1 units.
- Students with special needs will typically study Preliminary units and possibly some Stage 1 units.
Many courses have Preliminary units that are suitable for students with special needs.
Community service
All students are encouraged to complete community service over years 10, 11 and 12. Community service helps students develop leadership skills, social responsibility and citizenship.
Community service is recorded on a student’s statement of results.
Vocational education and training (VET)
With an ongoing skills shortage in Western Australia, VET programs are more relevant than ever. VET programs enable students to gain work skills and experience while still at school.
Students can begin their training while still at school. Options include school-based apprenticeships and traineeships and the School Apprenticeship Link program. More information about the School Apprenticeship Link Program is available at www.det.wa.edu.au/apprenticentre/detcms/navigation/category.jsp?categoryID=318063.
Industry specific courses are being developed and are based on training package qualifications. As well as gaining a certificate or units of competence, the course units can also contribute to the WACE. Students also have the option to do examinations.
Endorsed programs
Endorsed programs provide areas of learning not covered by the courses. They range from stand-alone VET studies and workplace learning to units of university study. Endorsed programs can contribute up to 50 per cent of a student’s WACE.
These programs can be delivered by community organisations, universities, training organisations and workplaces.
Assessment and standards
Marks
Teachers award a mark out of 100 for each unit completed. The mark for each Stage 2 or 3 unit completed in Year 12 is sent to the Curriculum Council. The average of marks for each pair of units is combined with the external examination mark to determine the final WACE course score.
Grades
Teachers also award students grades in the range A, B, C, D or E for each course unit.
The standard of achievement required for a grade (A–E) is represented as follows:
A: excellent achievement
B: high achievement
C: satisfactory achievement
D: limited achievement
E: inadequate achievement
Grades must be viewed in the context of the stage in which they have been achieved. For example, an A in a Stage 3 unit and an A in a Stage 1 unit will both acknowledge excellent achievement, but Stage 3 units are at a higher level of difficulty.
VET assessment is based on students demonstrating they are competent in a set of skills, as outlined in industry training packages. Endorsed program assessment is based on the requirements of each program i.e. it may be achievement of honours for music or a bronze medallion for lifesaving.
Examinations
Examination arrangements 2009 and beyond
All Year 12 students who are enrolled in a pair of units at Stage 2 or Stage 3 sit the external examination unless they are completing trade certificates as part of their school program.
These written and practical examinations help to ensure that standards are maintained statewide. They will also give employers confidence that the performance of students is comparable between schools.
Each examination assesses the specific knowledge, skills and understandings described in the syllabus for the units studied.
The number of Year 12 students sitting examinations will increase from about 11,000 in 2007 to 20,000 by 2010.
WACE requirements for students graduating in 2009
To be awarded the WACE students must:
- complete a well-rounded program of at least 20 course units or acceptable alternatives
- achieve an average of a C grade or better across at least 10 course units
- meet the standard for English language competence by completing an English course or passing the Curriculum Council English language competence test.
- complete 20 hours of community service
- sit for WACE examinations, unless exempt.
Reporting
Statement of results
Students who study for the WACE will receive a Curriculum Council statement of results after completing Year 12. An example of this statement is described below.
