Western Australian Certificate of Education.

WACE Requirements

To qualify for a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), a student must:

Complete at least ten full-year (or equivalent) Curriculum Council subjects
- Up to 40% (four out of 10) of full-year subjects may comprise endorsed programs including stand-alone VET subject equivalents.
- A single course unit will count as a half-subject equivalent.
Achieve an average of at least ‘C’ grade in at least eight full-year (or equivalent) Curriculum Council subjects
- At least four of these subjects must be at Year 12 level.
- Up to 25% (two out of eight) of full-year subjects may comprise stand-alone VET subject equivalents.
- Two course units completed will count as an equivalent of one of the eight subjects based upon a credit system.
- Course units completed during Year 12 can be counted towards the four subjects at Year 12 level.
Achieve Curriculum Council English language competence
- At least an average of Level 4 or better across two units completed in Year 12 in the English course; or a ‘C’ grade or better across two units completed in Year 12 in the English as an Additional Language/Dialect*; or a ‘C’ grade or better in one of the following Year 12 Curriculum Council subjects: English, English as a Second Language, English Literature, Senior English, Vocational English or a pass in the Curriculum Council English language competence test.
* Students must meet the eligibility criteria

A special provisions committee will review situations where a student has not achieved a WACE. Schools will apply to this committee if they perceive a student has been disadvantaged by these transitional WACE requirements. The committee could recommend to the chief executive officer that a WACE be granted.

If schools have any Year 12 students who they believe may not meet the above requirements for secondary graduation due to the introduction of the new courses or endorsed programs please write to Jenny Morup, Manager Certification and Examinations.

The WACE guidelines for 2008 are under review and will be communicated to schools during March.