How does the WACE in Perth work?

In Perth, Western Australia, the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) is the certificate that marks the culmination of senior secondary education. The WACE assessment process is multifaceted, encompassing both internal and external examinations to evaluate student achievement across various subjects.

Internal exams are conducted by the schools themselves as part of the ongoing assessment throughout Years 11 and 12. These exams, along with various assignments and practical assessments, contribute to the school-based assessment component of a student's final score in each course. The purpose of these internal assessments is to monitor progress, provide feedback, and prepare students for the comprehensive external exams.

The external exams, held at the end of Year 12, are standardised tests administered by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA). These exams aim to provide an equitable measure of student achievement across different schools and are critical in the determination of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). The results from both internal assessments and external exams are used in combination to calculate final course scores.

The ATAR itself is a numerical value ranging between 0.00 and 99.95, indicating a student's ranking relative to their peers upon completion of their secondary education. The calculation of the ATAR takes into account the best four ATAR course scores, plus 10% of the scaled scores from any additional ATAR courses or endorsed programs that a student may have completed. This ranking is crucial for students seeking admission to university, as it is widely used across Australian institutions to select applicants for undergraduate programs.

If you would like to learn more about this, read our WACE guide here.