SACE Stage 2 English as an Additional Language study guide
SACE Stage 2 English as an Additional Language · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
English as an Additional Language (EAL) is a Stage 2 subject within the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), offered by the SACE Board of South Australia and listed among the Stage 2 subjects on the Board's website. It is designed for students whose first language is not English and who are developing academic English while completing their senior secondary studies. Enrolment is governed by a specific eligibility rule: the Board publishes a policy titled "Eligibility for enrolment - English as an Additional Language" among its enrolment administration documents, so candidates should confirm with their school that they meet the criteria before enrolling. The subject sits within the Board's broader assessment system, which combines school assessment and moderation with external assessment and exams; the Board lists both written exams and oral exams among its exam types, and notes that some subjects use electronic exams. The SACE Stage 2 English as an Additional Language study guide has 3 sections and about 1,034 words.
01Communication: Purpose, Audience and Register
Communication questions ask whether you can shape language for a purpose (to inform, persuade, explain, complain, request), an audience (peer, teacher, employer, official body) and a context (formal written, informal spoken, academic). You need working control of register (formality level), tone (attitude conveyed), conventions (letter, email, report, speech openings and closings) and cohesion (linking words, pronoun reference, paragraphing).
330 words, about 2 min02Comprehension: Reading for Meaning and Inference
Comprehension items check whether you can locate explicit information , identify main idea versus supporting detail, trace argument structure , interpret vocabulary in context , recognise writer's attitude , and draw inferences that the text supports but does not state. You must also distinguish fact from opinion and recognise the function of a sentence within a paragraph (example, concession, rebuttal, conclusion).
348 words, about 2 min03Composition: Structuring and Editing Written Texts
Composition requires you to produce a coherent text with a clear thesis or controlling idea , logical paragraph structure (topic sentence, development, evidence, link), appropriate register , varied sentence structure , accurate grammar and punctuation , and a conclusion that resolves rather than repeats. You must also show lexical range - precise word choice rather than vague general words - and control of cohesion across paragraphs.
356 words, about 2 min