Starting SACE Stage 2 in 2027: A guide for Year 12
If you finish SACE (or NTCET) Stage 2 in 2027, three things matter most: 70% of each subject is school assessed across the year, SATAC builds your ATAR from a 90-credit university aggregate of scaled scores, and good habits set up early beat a late sprint. This hub links the guides that cover each part. Official 2027 exam and results dates have not been published yet.
The series
- How SACE Stage 2 assessment works: the 70/30 split, moderation, external assessment, exam timing and what's changing for 2027.
- A summer study system before Stage 2: notes by subject outline, a weekly routine and flashcards, over December 2026 and January 2027.
- When to start SACE past exams: where the official papers and subject assessment advice are, and how to use them through the year.
How is the SACE ATAR calculated?
In short, from SATAC's published rules:
- Qualify for the SACE or NTCET (200 credits, including the compulsory requirements) and complete at least 90 credits of Stage 2 Tertiary Admissions Subjects and Recognised Studies, at least 60 of them from 20-credit subjects or valid pairs.
- SATAC turns your results for each assessment type into a raw score and scales it. Scaled scores are out of 20 for a 20-credit subject; skipping the external assessment gives 0.0.
- Your university aggregate (out of 90) is your best three 20-credit subjects plus a 30-credit flexible option.
- SATAC ranks aggregates, adjusts for the participation rate, and produces an ATAR from 0 to 99.95.
- Adjustment points (up to 9) raise your selection rank for eligible courses, not your ATAR.
Full detail and SATAC's 2025 conversion table: how the SACE ATAR is calculated. Try your own numbers in the SACE ATAR calculator, and see choosing SACE subjects with scaling in mind if you're still settling your subjects.
SATAC says there's no accurate way to predict an ATAR in advance and doesn't recommend online predictors. Use a calculator to understand the structure, not to forecast your result.
Key 2027 dates
| What | Status (as at 28 September 2026) |
|---|---|
| 2027 SACE exam timetable | To be announced on the SACE Board's exam timetable page and online calendar. Most Stage 2 written exams are held in November, with oral and some written language exams in October. |
| 2027 results release | To be announced in the SACE Board calendar. Results come out in December. |
| SATAC dates for 2028 entry | To be announced on SATAC's key dates page. |
| Your school's task due dates | From your school at the start of the year: put them straight into the planner. |
Useful next clicks
- Subject hubs: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematical Methods, English and Activating Identities and Futures.
- Daily practice: flashcards and Today.
- Exam strategy: the SACE exams hub.
- In the NT? NTCET explained.
- All SACE explainers: SACE explainers.
Sources & how we know this
- Stage 2 (usually Year 12) — SACE Board of South Australia (2026)
- What is the SACE? — SACE Board of South Australia (2026)
- ATAR — South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) (2026)
- Adjustment factors and selection rank — South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) (2026)
- Key dates (SACE calendars) — SACE Board of South Australia (2026)
- Undergraduate key dates — South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) (2026)
Last updated: 2026-09-28. Rules change. For the official source see SACE Board.