Changes to the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE)
If you are going into Year 11 next year (2020), you will have an additional option to achieve your WACE. This additional option will allow you to complete five General courses when you are in Year 12 (or a combination of General and up to three ATAR courses) to achieve your WACE, if you choose not to undertake four ATAR courses or a Certificate II or higher VET qualification.
If you are going into Year 11 next year (2020), you will have an additional option to achieve your WACE. This additional option will allow you to complete five General courses when you are in Year 12 (or a combination of General and up to three ATAR courses) to achieve your WACE, if you choose not to undertake four ATAR courses or a Certificate II or higher VET qualification.
The current ATAR and VET pathways will remain unchanged – you can still achieve your WACE by studying four ATAR courses in Year 12 or completing a Certificate II or higher VET qualification in combination with ATAR, General or Foundation courses (in addition to the other WACE requirements).
If you are currently a Year 11 or Year 12 student, you are still required to study four or more ATAR courses, or complete a Certificate II or higher in combination with ATAR, General or Foundation courses to meet WACE requirements. The new WACE pathway option is only being introduced for students who are going into Year 11 in 2020 and the years following.
Further information about the WACE changes is available on the Authority’s website: https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/the-wace/wace-requirements
Choosing pathways
For an idea of course and VET combinations with the new WACE changes, please see the case studies below.
Igor – Physiotherapy
Igor is interested in going to university to study Physiotherapy. He has researched the prerequisites (essential WACE subjects) that the local university requires for admission into the Bachelor of Physiotherapy to assist him with selecting his WACE courses. Igor is also interested in becoming a Swimming Teacher, so he can find casual employment while he is undertaking his degree at university.
Igor selects five ATAR subjects and enrols in the AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety Endorsed Program. This combination will ensure Igor is WACE eligible and, with achievement of a competitive ATAR score, he is on the right path to gaining admission into the Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the university he prefers.
Lynn – Electrician
Lynn has excelled at maths her whole life, and is keen to get a job in a trade industry. She has decided she would like to go to TAFE after finishing Year 12 to become an Electrician.
To get a head start on her learning, Lynn has arranged to do a Certificate II School-based Traineeship over Years 11 and 12. She also chooses three General courses plus an ATAR Maths course, as she is aware the course at TAFE is very competitive. This combination will ensure Lynn is WACE eligible, and will make her a competitive applicant for TAFE.
Tim – Banking
Tim would like to get a job straight after he finishes Year 12. He completed some workplace learning at his local bank while he was in Year 10 and is now interested in pursuing a career in banking as a customer adviser.
Tim continues his workplace learning at the bank over Years 11 and 12 and selects five General courses. This combination will ensure Tim is WACE eligible, and together with his workplace learning, will provide him with good skills and experience to apply for entry-level jobs in the banking industry.
Jenny – Food blogger
Jenny has a passion for food and would like to turn her hobby of food blogging into a career. Jenny is deciding between going to TAFE after Year 12 to get more formal practical experience by doing a Patisserie course, or going to university to focus on her photography with a Bachelor of Design.
As she is undecided about which path she will take after school, Jenny chooses to undertake four ATAR courses and one General course. To complement her secondary education program, Jenny is also looking at enrolling in the Community Arts Performance Endorsed Program. In addition to being WACE eligible, this combination of courses means that Jenny receives an ATAR score for guaranteed entry into university, as well as providing a pathway for entry into TAFE.
More information
It is important that you research the specific entry requirements for University or TAFE courses to assist in WACE course or VET qualification selections in Years 11 and 12. Talk with your parents and teachers as well about the pathway you think will work best for you.
The minimum requirements for a student to receive a WACE can be found at: https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/the-wace/wace-requirements
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