SACE Stage 2 Subjects
Comprehensive SACE Stage 2 Subjects at Marden Senior College
At Marden Senior College, our SACE Stage 2 subjects provide an extensive curriculum for Year 12 students. Our offerings include diverse courses in Arts & Technologies, Business & Innovation, Health, PE & Cross Disciplinary, English, Mathematics, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Science. Check out our 2026 Curriculum Guide and Semester 2 subject flyer for course information. With a wide array of subjects, students can pursue their interests and prepare for future success.
(Courses run subject to enrolment numbers)
More Choice Means More Life Opportunities For You.
At Marden Senior College, we offer a diverse range of SACE subjects across various disciplines, catering to the interests and career aspirations of our students. Each subject area is designed to provide comprehensive education and skill development, ensuring students are well-prepared for their future endeavours. Discover the possibilities within each field:
Arts & Technologies
Creative Arts
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students develop and present creative art products in the 2D and 3D areas of painting, drawing, soft sculpture, assemblage, mixed media and printmaking. This course may be studied with an art, craft or design focus. Assessment tasks are designed to provide choice within directed learning sessions. Students will be provided with opportunities to specialise within and across arts disciplines.
Creative Arts is highly desirable for tertiary studies in Design, Architecture, Art History, Visual Arts, Creative Arts, Media and Photography.
Practical work produced is suitable for inclusion in portfolios required for interviews and tertiary entrance.
Assessment
School based
50% – Product
20% – Inquiry
External
30% – Practical Skills
Further Information
This course assumes that the student has some knowledge of the Visual Arts. Students are expected to operate as ‘practising artists, crafts-persons or designers’ negotiating their direction of study and selecting appropriate discipline/s with the teacher. Students work individually on specific skills, processes and techniques facilitated by the teacher.
Integrated Learning
Stage 1 and 2
Full year or Semester
10 or 20 credit
Course Overview
This course will expose students to career pathways and provide them with skills and knowledge to enter the fast-growing industry of Cyber Security. With much of the content based on micro-credentials and online courses provided free by industry, students can choose to specialise in Networking, Coding or Cyber Security Generalist streams within the class.
This subject can be undertaken at Stage 1 as a 10 credit A and/or second semester B option, or at Stage 2 as a 20 credit full year option.
Suggested micro-credentials include; CISCO Network Essentials, Programming Essentials in Python and Cyber Security Essentials.
Students will also get to participate in Hack the Box, Cyber Security Capture the flag competition and visits to the new Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre and Cyber Range.
Assessment
School based
40% – Practical Inquiry
30% – Connections
External
30% – Personal Endevour
Further Information
No prerequisite knowledge is required, however curiosity and an interest in how IT systems can be both protected and compromised is desirable. This is one of the fastest growing employment areas in Australia and globally.
Stage 1 and 2
Full year or Semester
10 or 20 credit
Course Overview
In this course students create digital graphics and art for industrial and entrepreneurial purposes. Some examples include different types of concept art, illustrations and designs. Students will develop and apply practical skills in working with industry standard digital art tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator in conjunction with hardware such as Wacom Cintiq and Intuos, scanners, digital cameras and large format printers.
Assessment Stage 1
School based
20% – Skills and applications tasks
30% – Folio tasks
50% – Product
Assessment Stage 2
School based
50% – Specialised skills tasks
20% – Design Process and Product
External
30% – Resources Study
Further Information
No prerequisite knowledge or skills are required, however an appreciation of digital art is desirable.
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
In this subject students will be able to develop and extend their digital photography skills. Students will learn fundamental uses of natural light and industry standard studio equipment, as well as develop Photoshop and Lightroom skills in the creation of high quality digital images suitable for a range of purposes.
Assessment
School based
20% – Specialised skills tasks
50% – Design Process and Product
External
30% – Resources Study
Further Information
Previous study in Photography is not essential, however it will be an advantage. This course would provide excellent material for portfolio entry tertiary courses.
Integrated Learning
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students develop their skills in upcycling garments, jewellery and accessory making in this practical hands-on subject. Students will have the opportunity to work collaboratively towards a class group exhibition or event, and participate in the end of year art show.
This course is 20 credits at Stage 2 in Integrated Learning. You will have the opportunity to develop your own ideas and interests, as well as participate in instructor led activities.
Assessment
School based
40% – Practical Inquiry
30% – Connections
External
30% – Personal Endeavour
Business & Innovation
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and understandings to engage in designing, sustaining, and transforming business in the modern world. Students ‘learn through doing’ using design thinking and assumption-based planning processes to anticipate, find, and solve problems. Students will be required to pitch ideas and work collaboratively. A wide range of project management tools will be utilised to create business intelligence for informed decision-making to improve/transform businesses.
Assessment
School based
40% – Business Skills
30% – Business Model
External
30% – Business Plan and Pitch
Health, PE & Cross Disciplinary
Stage 2
Semester
10 credit
Course Overview
AIF is a compulsory SACE subject that requires students to take greater ownership and agency over their learning as they select, test and explore relevant strategies and perspectives in the pursuit of a Learning Goal of their choice. This subject supports students to be more proactive and reflective in their learning and to develop and use a broad set of transferable learning strategies. Students follow their own unique interests and ways of thinking to progress their understanding and learning.
Assessment
School based
30% – Portfolio
40% – Progress Checks
External
30% – Appraisal
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students will explore a range of issues that impact on child development from conception to eight years of age including social, cultural, economic, environmental, political and legal influences. Through several practical activities including a group task, students will be able to create practicals to be used with children of their choice and develop knowledge about issues related to the growth, health and wellbeing of children.
Assessment
School based
50% – Practical Activity
20% – Group Activity
External
30% – Investigation
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students will explore a range of health issues and how they impact on personal and community health and wellbeing. Students will also learn how health promotion strategies can address these issues. They will have the opportunity to get involved in personal and social actions related to the health issues being investigated.
Assessment
School based
40% – Initiative
30% – Folio
External
30% – Inquiry
Further Information
Pathways include health care (nursing, aged care and medicine), health science and health promotion.
Non-TAS*
Stage 2
Semester
20 credit
Course Overview
This course supports students to explore and develop skills in an industry of personal interest, such as hospitality, retail, trades, or creative arts. Assessment tasks are the same for all but tailored to individual strengths and experiences. Students engage in hands-on, practical learning connected to real-world workplace expectations and complete a project related to their industry of choice.
Assessment
School based
50% – Portfolio of Work Skills
20% – Reflection
External
30% – Industry Project
Further information
*This subject does not count towards ATAR.
Integrated Learning
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students participate in a range of learning experiences connected with Wellbeing and Psychology. They will explore how they learn and use peer and self-assessment to explore core Health and Wellbeing and Psychology concepts. Students will be included in decisions and planning for activities and events connected with Wellbeing and Psychology.
Assessment
School based
40% – Practical Inquiry
30% – Connections
External
30% – Personal Endeavour
Integrated Learning
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students will participate in a range of sport and recreation activities. They will explore how they learn and use peer and self assessment to improve sporting skills. Students will gain knowledge in event management by planning and participating in events.
Assessment
School based
40% – Practical Inquiry
30% – Connections
External
30% – Personal Endeavour
Stage 2
Full year
20 credits
Course Overview
Whether students have a job, a volunteer position, want to do work placement, or are an elite athlete or dancer; this subject allows them to use their involvement to explore current issues. Students learn about the evolving workforce and their rights at work, while further developing skills that will help prepare them for future workplace choices.
Students may be an elite athlete, dancer, referee or coach. Students must complete 50–60 hours of work in a 20 credit course and 25–30 hours in a 10 credit course.
Assessment
School based
25% – Folio
25% – Performance
20% – Reflection
External
30% – Investigation – practical or issue
Further Information
This subject can contribute towards an ATAR. It enables workers or elite athletes/dancers to gain academic credit for their endeavours.
English
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students respond to a range of texts that instruct, engage, challenge, inform, and connect readers. They consider information, ideas, and perspectives represented in the texts. Students also create their own texts through procedural, imaginative, analytical, or persuasive writing, appropriate to their chosen context. Students will explore their own interests outside of the class texts through a language study.
Assessment
School based
30% – Responding to Texts
40% – Creating Texts
External
30% – Language Study
Further Information
Students who complete Stage 2 Essential English at a C- or above, can meet the 20 credit Literacy requirements for SACE completion.
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students analyse the interrelationship of author, text, and audience, with an emphasis on how language and stylistic features shape ideas and perspectives in a range of texts. They consider perspectives in texts and how creators of texts influence audiences. Students will respond and create in written/oral or multimedia presentations.
Assessment
School based
30% – Responding to Texts
40% – Creating Texts
External
30% – Comparative Analysis
Further Information
Stage 1 English is a prerequisite for Stage 2 English. Students who have taken Stage 1 Essential English must get approval from the English Coordinator before enrolling.
Mathematics
Stage 2
Full year
20 credits
Course Overview
Students will apply mathematics to diverse settings, including everyday calculations, financial management, business applications, measurement, geometry and statistics in social contexts. They will be prepared to enter a range of practical trades and vocations such as automotive, building and construction, electrical, hairdressing, hospitality, nursing, community services and plumbing.
Assessment
School based
40% – Investigations Folios
30% – Skills and Applications Tasks
External
30% – Examination
Stage 2
Full year
20 credits
Course Overview
General Mathematics explores many practical applications of mathematics in a wide variety of contexts such as statistics, project management and finance. Students will approach new challenges by investigating, modelling, reasoning, visualising and problem solving with the goal of communicating their solutions to others. Students use their mathematical skills and knowledge to make informed judgements and decisions.
Assessment
School based
40% – 5 Skills and Applications Tasks (Tests)
30% – 1 Investigation Folio
External
30% – Examination
Stage 2
Full year
20 credits
Course Overview
Mathematical Methods develops an increasingly complex and sophisticated understanding of calculus and statistics. Students draw upon these concepts and use mathematics as a powerful tool to describe, model and investigate phenomena in the world around us, such as motion and population growth. It provides the foundation for further study in mathematics, engineering, economics, computer science, and the sciences.
Assessment
School based
50% – 6 Skills and Applications Tasks (Tests)
20% – Investigation Report
External
30% – Examination
Stage 2
Full year
20 credits
Course Overview
Specialist Mathematics deepens students’ mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding, and provides opportunities to develop keen skills in using rigorous mathematical arguments and models. The advanced concepts studied in this course are translated to applications within many technical fields such as astronomy, engineering, video game design, telecommunications and electronics. Specialist Mathematics is designed to be studied in conjunction with Mathematical Methods.
Assessment
School based
50% – 6 Skills and Applications Tasks (Tests)
20% – Investigation Report
External
30% – Examination
Humanities & Social Sciences
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
In the study of Ancient Studies at Stage 2 students explore the organisation of Republican Rome’s social structure and the role it plays in the daily life of Ancient Romans with regard to class, family, gender roles, education, employment, slavery, leisure, sport and entertainment. Students analyse significant events in the Punic and Civil Wars and study the military tactics of leaders such as Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, Gaius Marius, Spartacus, Julius Caesar, Marc Antony and Augustus Caesar. Students study the changes to Rome’s political system from 60BCE to 27BCE and the transition from Republic to Empire as well as the role and influence of the Roman Senate and political institutions through history as well as on contemporary political systems. Students produce a variety of research based tasks through written, audio and visual means.
Assessment
School based
50% – Skills and Applications
20% – Connections
External
30% – Inquiry
Further Information
There are no prerequisites for Stage 2 Ancient Studies.
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students explore the influence of Media in Australian and global contexts. They investigate media topics and create media products which may include advertising, film and journalism. Students develop research and analysis skills and can work individually or in groups.
Assessment
School based
30% – Folio
40% – Product
External
30% – Investigation
Further Information
There are no prerequisites for Stage 2 Media Studies.
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students study the following historical periods: Germany (1918–48) focusing on World War I and the aftermath of defeat, the liberal experiment, Hitler and the road to dictatorship and the Nazi state in peace and in war; the Changing World Order during The Cold War focusing on the origins of the superpower rivalry, Berlin and the Iron Curtain; the nature of the Cold War including the Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Arms Race, Vietnam, Afghanistan and finally the collapse of the USSR. They will analyse a variety of sources, written, visual and audio and produce written analysis as well as take an external exam.
Assessment
School based
50% – Historical Skills
20% – Historical Study
External
30% – Examination
Further Information
This subject has an exam.
There are no prerequisites for Stage 2 Modern History.
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students study power at all levels of society and how past Australian and global events have shaped the world today. Students will analyse the Australian political system and investigate and debate Federal, State and Local political issues. The global political system will be studied with a focus on existential threats including nuclear weapons, climate change, war, pandemics, cyber-attacks and terrorism and the emergence of China as a power challenging for the role of global hegemon. Students produce a variety of research based tasks through written, audio and visual means.
Assessment
School based
50% – Folio
20% – Source Analysis
30% – Investigation
External
30% – Examination
Further Information
There are no prerequisites for Stage 2 Politics, Power and People.
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students look at the world from the perspectives of women. They will also explore the history of the women’s movement. They examine the diversity of women’s experiences and their relationships to others while promoting an inclusive and just society. Students identify complex and contradictory ideas that exist about femininity and masculinity, and how being a woman or a man may influence an individual’s experiences and expectations. Students will analyse adverts, artworks and fairytales as well as undertaking an issues analysis on a topic of their choice.
Assessment
School based
20% – Text Analysis
20% – Essay
30% – Folio
External
30% – Issues Analysis
Further Information
There are no prerequisites for Stage 2 Women’s Studies.
Science
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Eligibility
Students are strongly advised to have studied a full year of Stage 1 Biology before undertaking this course.
Course Overview
In this course students will learn about what living things are made of, while exploring what cells are and some of the processes that make them work. Students will learn how our bodies maintain a constant internal environment and how we have evolved to operate that way.
Students deconstruct problems and use scientific methods to design investigations and critically evaluate the results they obtain. They work and communicate with others on group tasks. Students explore the bi-directional relationship between science and society.
Assessment
School based
30% – Investigation Folio
40% – Skills and Applications Tasks
External
30% – Examination
Further Information
This subject provides a useful introduction to tertiary science courses.
Students are provided with an electronic text and workbook (paid for in subject fees). A Study Guide for Biology is also recommended but not an essential learning aid.
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Eligibility
Students must have completed a full year of Stage 1 Chemistry to be eligible to study this course.
Course Overview
This course builds on Stage 1 Chemistry. Students will learn about the chemistry of the atmosphere, the oceans, climate change and pollution. Students will explore methods of chemical analysis and learn how to manage chemical processes to make them successful. They will finish the year by learning how we use, manage and conserve natural and synthetic resources.
Assessment
School based
30% – Investigation Folio
40% – Skills and Applications Tasks
External
30% – Examination
Further Information
Students are advised to purchase the Essentials SACE Stage 2 Chemistry workbook.
Integrated Learning
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
This course runs face to face on Fridays 8:50am – 12:50pm or Wednesday evenings 4:30pm – 7:30pm.
Eligibility
Please note students need to have achieved A band grades in SACE Science, Maths and English subjects or I.B. equivalent to be considered for this course.
Course Overview
This course is designed for Year 12 or 13 students applying for medicine and/or dentistry at university. Students in this course will build skills and knowledge required for entry into these disciplines, such as UCAT skills like verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning, and situational judgement, as well as ethical and moral problem-solving. A big focus early in the year is establishing a volunteering role and in term 3, interview skills. Numbers are limited so a selection criteria will apply.
Assessment
School based
40% – Practical Inquiry
30% – Connections
External
30% – Personal Endeavour
Further Information
This subject will be completed on the Integrated Learning Subject Outline.
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students will develop knowledge of the fundamentals of human nutrition that can be applied to diet, lifestyle and health. They will explore how food selection and nutrition affects the consumer and also develop knowledge on sustainable food systems.
Assessment
School based
30% – Skills and Application Tasks
40% – Investigation Folio
External
30% – Examination
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students will apply physics to describe how the natural world works through applied mathematical formulas. They will explore the fundamental forces of the universe and how they interact with matter, looking at everything from galaxies and planets to atoms and quarks and everything in between.
Assessment
School based
40% – Skills and Application Tasks
30% – Investigation Folio
External
30% – Examination
Stage 2
Full year
20 credit
Course Overview
Students will develop knowledge of ethical considerations that can be applied to medical, psychological and clinical settings. They will explore social psychology, mental health disorders, psychological treatments, psychobiology of the individual, psychological health and wellbeing, organisational psychology and the psychology of learning.
Assessment
School based
40% – Skills and Application Tasks
30% – Investigation Folio
External
30% – Examination
Further Information
This subject has an electronic exam – all tests and exams during the year will be completed on a computer.