However, although students might only be required to take the minimum of 3 subjects for A-Levels, it does not mean they have got it easy. A-Levels covers the subject that students have chosen in-depth, which means you are not merely covering the subject’s surface. Their exams are challenging as they always test the students’ understanding of the particular topic. A-Levels are usually taken by students who have decided to take up challenging and competitive degrees such as Medicine or Engineering.
The A-Level program is structured into two levels; the first part being Advanced Subsidiary (AS Level) and the second part known as A2.
- Advanced Subsidiary (AS Level): This is where students will usually learn the introduction of the subjects they’ve chosen or could be known as the foundation of A-Levels.
- A2: The second half of the program, where students will be covering more in-depth of the subjects they’ve chosen.
On the other hand, under SACE/AUSMAT, there are two different certification programs that students can enrol into SACE/AUSMAT. Students must take 5 subjects, although 5 subjects might seem a lot they would not be going too in-depth on each subject. SACE/AUSMAT provides more flexibility to explore a broader range of subjects as students will pick subjects from different streams. However, although SACE and AUSMAT are Australian pre-university programs, they have their differences when it comes to the grading system.
The main differences between SACE and AUSMAT are:
South Australian Certification of Education (SACE)
- Governed by the South Australian government
- The course would be graded on a 70% coursework and 30% examination
Western Australian Certificate of Education (AUSMAT)
- Governed by the Western Australian government
- The course would be graded on 50% coursework and 50% examination
However, both programs would need students to have prerequisite subjects before choosing their subjects, especially if they’re looking to enrol under the science stream.
Conclusion: If you prefer to study more in-depth for your pre-university subjects, A-Levels would be a great choice but if you like studying more subjects without dwelling into too deep, SACE/AUSMAT it is.