How it works: each SACE grade has a number on a 15-point scale, from A+ = 15 down to E- = 1. Multiply each school assessment grade by its weighting, add the external result scaled to its share of 15, and you get the raw score out of 15 that SATAC uses for scaling. This calculator follows SATAC's published method exactly and shows the grade level your results average out to.
SACE grade key facts
- SATAC's scale: A+ 15, A 14, A- 13, B+ 12, B 11, B- 10, C+ 9, C 8, C- 7, D+ 6, D 5, D- 4, E+ 3, E 2, E- 1, N 0.
- In a subject with 70% school assessment, school grades contribute up to 10.5 and the external assessment up to 4.5.
- SATAC uses your assessment type grades, not your overall subject grade, to build the raw score.
- The raw score is then scaled by SATAC to produce the scaled score used in your ATAR.
The SACE grade scale
| Grade | Number | Grade | Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 15 | C | 8 |
| A | 14 | C- | 7 |
| A- | 13 | D+ | 6 |
| B+ | 12 | D | 5 |
| B | 11 | D- | 4 |
| B- | 10 | E+ | 3 |
| C+ | 9 | E | 2 |
| E- / N | 1 / 0 |
Source: SATAC fact sheet, SACE/NTCET for tertiary entry: calculating the raw score for scaling.
Worked example from SATAC
Jane studies Stage 2 Tourism. School assessment is 70% of the subject, split into a Folio (20%), a Practical Activity (25%) and an Investigation (25%). The external examination is 30%.
| Assessment | Weight | Result | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folio | 20% | B (11) | 20% of 11 = 2.20 |
| Practical Activity | 25% | B- (10) | 25% of 10 = 2.50 |
| Investigation | 25% | C (8) | 25% of 8 = 2.00 |
| External examination | 30% | 56 out of 80 | 56 × 4.5 ÷ 80 = 3.15 |
| Raw score | 100% | 9.85 out of 15 |
Press Load SATAC example in the calculator to see the same result. Jane's overall subject grade was B-, but SATAC notes that it plays no part in the raw score: only the assessment type grades and the external result do. A raw score of 9.85 sits closest to 10 on the scale, which is B-.
How the external result is converted
External assessments are marked on different scales: some investigations out of 60, some exams out of 200. SATAC converts every external result to its share of 15. For a 30% external component that share is 4.5, so the formula is your mark × 4.5 ÷ the maximum mark. An investigation result of 43 out of 60 contributes 43 × 4.5 ÷ 60 = 3.225.
Raw score, grade and scaled score: what each one is
| Number | Who produces it | What it is used for |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment type grades (A+ to E-) | Your teacher (school assessment) | Building your subject grade and your raw score |
| Subject grade (A+ to E-) | The SACE Board | Your SACE results and certificate requirements |
| Raw score (out of 15) | SATAC, from your assessment grades and external result | The input to scaling |
| Scaled score (out of 20 or 10) | SATAC, after scaling | Your university aggregate and ATAR |
This tool calculates the raw score. It cannot calculate your scaled score, because scaling compares every subject's students across the state each year. Once you have your scaled scores, use the SACE ATAR calculator to get your aggregate and ATAR. How scaling works is explained on SACE scaling.
About the grade level shown
The calculator shows the grade your weighted results are closest to on the 15-point scale. The SACE Board decides your official subject grade and publishes its own grade calculator for school assessment on its website. Treat the grade level here as a guide, and check your subject outline for the exact assessment types and weightings in your subject.
Common mistakes
- Using weightings that do not add up to 100%. Each Stage 2 subject outline sets the weighting of every assessment type. The calculator warns you if your total is not 100%.
- Entering your overall subject grade. SATAC builds the raw score from each assessment type's grade, not the overall grade.
- Treating the raw score as a scaled score. A raw score of 12 out of 15 is not a scaled score of 16 out of 20. Scaling depends on the subject and the year. See raw vs scaled scores.
- Converting the external result as a percentage of 15. In a 70/30 subject the external result is a share of 4.5, not of 15.
SACE grade calculator FAQ
How is a SACE subject grade calculated?
Your teacher grades each school assessment type against the performance standards. The SACE Board combines those grades by their weightings with your external assessment to produce your final subject grade from A+ to E-.
What number is an A+ in SACE?
15 on SATAC's scale. An A is 14, an A- is 13 and so on down to E- at 1, with N at 0.
What is a raw score in SACE?
A score out of 15 that SATAC builds from your assessment type grades and your external result. It is the input to scaling, which produces your scaled score.
Can I work out my scaled score from my grades?
No. Scaling compares subjects using that year's students, so the same raw score can give different scaled scores in different subjects. SATAC gives a B- in Legal Studies as covering scaled scores from 12.4 to 14.2.
Does this work for Stage 1?
The 15-point idea applies to Stage 2 grades from A+ to E-. Stage 1 uses A to E grades without plus and minus, and has no raw score for scaling.
Is this the official SACE grade calculator?
No. It is independent and follows SATAC's published raw score method. The SACE Board publishes its own school assessment grade calculator for teachers and students.