Starting the NTCET What you need to know

What is the NTCET? SACE stands for Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training Qualification for entry into universities and further training Internationally recognised Gives skills for work, training, and further study

About the NTCET Recognises learning and skills both in and outside school You can combine study and part-time work, a traineeship or a school-based apprenticeship You get credit for academic studies, vocational training, skilled work and community learning

About the NTCET There are two ‘stages’ of the NTCET: Stage 1 is generally started in Year 10 and completed in Year 11 Stage 2 is generally completed in Year 12.

About the NTCET All subjects are graded from A to E at Stage 1 and A+ to E- at Stage 2 The knowledge and skills you learn help build your capabilities for Communication, Citizenship, Learning, Personal Development and Work All subject assessments in Stage 1 are assessed by your teacher

About the NTCET In Stage 2 (Year 12): 70% of your subject assessments (e.g. assignments) will be assessed by your teacher and moderated by the SACE Board 30% of your subject assessments (e.g. investigations) will be assessed by someone outside the school (a SACE Board assessor) School results in Stage 2 subjects are double-checked

About the NTCET You earn credits for completed subjects or courses: you need 200 credits to get your NTCET you need to get a C grade or higher at Stage 1 for compulsory subjects and a C- grade or higher at Stage 2 to get your NTCET most 10-credit subjects are done over a semester most 20-credit subjects are done over two semesters.

NTCET Requirements

(the Stage 2 Research Project is optional in the NT) NTCET Credits (the Stage 2 Research Project is optional in the NT)

Stage 1 Requirements In Stage 1, you must complete this requirement: Personal Learning Plan (10 credits). You must achieve a C grade or higher for this subject to gain the NTCET.

Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 Requirements You must also complete the literacy and numeracy requirements at Stage 1 or Stage 2: literacy – from a range of English subjects or courses (20 credits) numeracy – from a range of mathematics subjects or courses (10 credits). You must achieve a C grade or higher for both requirements.

Stage 2 Requirements In Stage 2, you must complete these requirements: Stage 2 subjects and VET courses (60 more credits). Most students will complete subjects and courses worth more than 70 credits at Stage 2.

Additional choices You can choose from a range of Stage 1 or Stage 2 subjects or courses (90 credits). You must achieve a grade in these subjects or courses to gain the NTCET.

When does NTCET start? Most students will start their NTCET in Year 10 In Year 10, you begin mapping out your future and looking at how to achieve your goals through a subject called the Personal Learning Plan

What is the Personal Learning Plan? A Stage 1 subject A compulsory subject, usually done in Year 10 You need a C grade or higher in the Personal Learning Plan Worth 10 credits

What is the Personal Learning Plan? It helps you: set personal and learning goals and work towards them monitor your progress and change your plans as needed gain skills for future study and employment.

What is the Personal Learning Plan? It helps you: look at different career paths and options choose the right NTCE subjects for your future plans think about courses and activities outside school that help you to achieve your goals.

What is the Research Project? An optional subject for Stage 2 students A chance to do in-depth research and study a topic that interests you You must achieve a C- grade or higher Worth 10 credits Research Project B can be included as part of your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)

Other subjects and courses

Recognised learning NTCET recognises learning both in and outside school, for example: Vocational Education and Training courses (VET) University and TAFE courses community learning (such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or volunteer work).

Vocational Education and Training (VET) If you prefer hands-on learning or work outside the classroom, you can earn NTCET credits for a wide range of activities You can learn on-the-job skills while working towards both the NTCET and a VET qualification VET options are available at both Stage 1 and Stage 2

Assessment

How are my subjects assessed? Subjects are graded A to E at Stage 1 and A+ to E- at Stage 2 You need a C grade or higher at Stage 1 and a C- or higher at Stage 2 in all requirements to earn the NTCET Standards are set for each subject so you know what you need to achieve to earn a particular grade

How are my subjects assessed? At Stage 1, all subjects are assessed by your school School assessment is moderated (double-checked) in mathematics, English and the Personal Learning Plan to confirm a minimum C standard

How are my subjects assessed? At Stage 2, 70% of the assessment of every subject is marked by your teacher and moderated by the SACE Board as contracted by the Northern Territory Board of Studies (NTBOS). At Stage 2, 30% of the assessment of every subject (e.g. investigations) is marked by experts outside the school The SACE Board makes sure the same standards are applied across all schools

Further study

Applying for university To apply for university from 2013 onward, you need to have: completed the NTCET gained 80 Stage 2 credits, including at least 60 credits from Tertiary Admissions Subjects (TAS), and the other 20 credits from either TAS and/or Recognised Studies completed the prerequisites needed for some university courses.

Applying for university To apply for university from 2013 onward, you need to have: gained an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) complied with rules regarding subject combinations and counting restrictions.

International universities entered by NTCET students Including: New York University University of Oxford Yale University National University of Singapore University of Cambridge Princeton University

What is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank? (ATAR) A measure of how your overall achievement in the NTCET compared with other students Used by universities to select school leavers for a place in university courses Ranges from 0 to 99.95 Was formerly called the Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER)

What is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank? (ATAR) From 2012, the ATAR will be calculated: using results from three full-year Tertiary Admissions Subjects (TAS) Plus, results from a fourth full-year Tertiary Admissions Subject or other studies recognised by the SACE Board and universities.

Applying for TAFE For Certificate II level courses you must successfully complete the literacy and numeracy requirements of the NTCET For Certificate III level courses you must achieve the SACE (for higher level courses, you must also obtain a TAFE SA Selection Score) TAFE also recognises a range of other qualifications in the entry and selection process

What is the TAFE SA Selection Score? Used by TAFE SA to select students for entry into courses To obtain a TAFE SA Selection Score, you must: - have completed 60 credits of Stage 2, 40 of which must be from Tertiary Admissions Subjects (TAS) and a maximum of 20 credits from other Recognised Studies - comply with the rules regarding subject combinations

Want to know more about further study? Full details on university and TAFE entry requirements for 2013 onward will be in the Tertiary Entrance 2012, 2013, 2014 booklet The booklet is published by the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC), and given to schools every year

Individual circumstances

Students with a disability The SACE Board offers modified subjects at Stage 1 and Stage 2 for students with identified intellectual disabilities to demonstrate their learning If you are studying a modified subject, you will gain credits towards the NTCET but not a grade for the subject; instead your achievement is recorded as ‘Completed’

Students with a disability Any modified subjects you have done will be listed on your NTCET certificate More information about modified subjects can be found on the NTCET website under Students and Families > Students with Disabilities

Special Provisions Special provisions are available if you are in a situation where an illness, learning difficulty, or unforeseen circumstance has made completing your assessments difficult If you are applying for special provisions you need to provide evidence of your illness, learning difficulty, or unforeseen circumstance More information can be found under Students and Families > Special Provisions

I’m an interstate/overseas/adult student … SACE Board will grant status for equivalent learning in other areas Information about meeting the requirements for interstate, adult and overseas students can be found on the SACE website under Students and Families

Further information

In summary … The NTCET: provides challenging curriculum – both in and outside school helps you achieve your potential provides quality assurance – marking by experts outside the school and double-checking of results at Stage 2 is based on clear and achievable standards.

Achieve magazine Copies of the latest edition of the SACE student magazine, ‘Achieve’, have been given to all Year 9, 10 and 11 students The magazine contains useful information for students about the SACE Parents are encouraged to read the magazine with students to help them consider and discuss their education plans

Want to know more? Visit the SACE website at www.sace.sa.edu.au You can log in to Students Online with your SACE registration and PIN. It helps you plan your SACE, check your progress and access your results Talk to the teachers at your school Read a copy of ‘Achieve’ magazine