SACE International (South Australian Certificate of Education / previously known as SAM) Information Sheet
SACE International
SACE International is an internationally recognised pre-university program.SACE International is administered by the SACE Board of South Australia, an independent, statutory authority of the South Australian Government. The SACE Board is responsible for curriculum development and accreditation, assessment, reporting, and certifi cation for the fi nal years of upper secondary education. Students receive the South Australian Certifi cate of Education (SACE) on successful completion of the program.
SACE International (formerly known as the South Australian Matriculation (SAM) program) has been available to colleges in Malaysia since 1982 and to colleges in China since 2005. A total of 35,000 students have successfully completed the SACE International program and have enrolled in universities around the world.
The Advantages of the SACE International Program
The SACE International program offers:- an opportunity for students to study in their own country
- proven learning techniques tailored to preparing for a university course
- a balanced choice of subjects leading to a variety of university undergraduate degree programs
- a combination of school assessment and external examination
- an opportunity for students to improve their prospects of university entrance by repeating subjects without penalty.
An Australian Certificate of Education
The SACE Board delivers the SACE, a qualifi cation that is recognised within the Australian Qualifi cations Framework.The SACE Board services all secondary schools in South Australia, and offers curriculum and assessment services to students in Australia’s Northern Territory and in selected colleges in Malaysia and China.
Students who successfully complete the SACE International program are awarded the SACE and are also issued with a Record of Achievement. This provides a comprehensive statement of all subjects studied.
The SACE is used by universities around the world to select students for undergraduate degree courses.
SACE International Program Curriculum
SACE International students study five subjects. The SACE International subjects are specifi cally designed for students intending to go on to undergraduate degree courses.SACE International Assessment
Each subject has a school assessment and an external assessment component. Together, these prepare students for rigorous academic study in university settings.School assessment makes an important contribution to students’ fi nal results. It enables students to develop the independent learning skills necessary for successful university study.
The school assessment results are quality assured and moderated by the SACE Board.
External assessments, including examinations, are developed by panels under the leadership of a Chief Assessor appointed by the SACE Board.
The SACE Board supervises the examinations, either directly or using experienced and specially trained agents. Students sit the examinations according to the same examination timetable used in South Australia.
Most examinations use a variety of modes of assessment, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, and extended-response or essay questions.
Examinations are marked by assessors appointed by the SACE Board.
Each student’s fi nal score for each subject is determined by a combination of the results of the school assessment and external assessment components.
Quality Assurance of the SACE International Program
An extensive accreditation process is used when colleges apply to deliver the SACE International program.When granting accreditation for a college to deliver the SACE International program, the SACE Board:
- assesses the standards of the college, including its reputation as an educational institution, number of students, curriculum and assessment methodology, academic results over a period of time, and geographical location
- inspects the college’s resources and facilities, and assesses whether it is able to provide secure environments for the purposes of conducting examinations
- examines the teachers’ qualifications
- ensures that the college has approval from its local education authorities to conduct an international educational program.
- ensures that the curriculum and assessment requirements of the subjects are followed
- ensures that the procedures for the authentication and verification of student work are followed
- ensures that the processing of students’ results follows established policies
- provides teacher training and professional development for SACE International teachers on an annual basis
- issues the same qualification — the SACE — to successful SACE International students as is awarded to South Australian students.