SACE Stage 2 Italian (continuers)
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ExploreAbout this exam
Italian (continuers) is a Stage 2 subject in the South Australian Certificate of Education, listed by the SACE Board of South Australia among its Stage 2 language offerings alongside Italian (beginners) and other continuers-level languages. It suits students who have already built a substantial foundation in Italian and want to keep studying the language in their final years of school, rather than students starting from scratch. Assessment is split between school assessment and external assessment, following the Board's general framework for Stage 1 and Stage 2 subjects: school assessment is subject to moderation, and external assessment includes written exams and oral exams, with a separate languages special subject allowance for Stage 2. Because the public source material does not publish the specific components, weightings, or duration for this subject, candidates should treat any detailed structure as something to confirm with their school. To prepare, work from your school's learning and assessment plans and performance standards, practise past examination papers, which the Board describes as the most accurate resource for exam preparation, and note that sample exams and exam front covers are being removed from the SACE website. This page is independent study support and is not affiliated with the SACE Board.
What you'll study
About SACE Stage 2 Italian (continuers) preparation
Who is Italian (continuers) designed for?
It is a Stage 2 continuers-level language subject, listed by the SACE Board alongside Italian (beginners). Continuers level assumes prior study of Italian, so it suits students who already have a working foundation in the language and want to continue it in their final stage of school rather than beginners starting fresh.
How is the subject assessed?
The SACE Board groups assessment into school assessment and external assessment. School assessment goes through moderation, and external assessment covers written exams and oral exams. The Board also publishes a languages special subject allowance for Stage 2. The source does not give subject-specific weightings or task counts, so confirm these with your school.
Is there an oral exam?
Yes. Oral examinations appear on the SACE Board site as a distinct exam category, listed separately from written exams, and a languages special subject allowance for Stage 2 is also published. The Board does not state the oral format, length, or weighting on the public page, so check your school's learning and assessment plan for the details that apply to you.
What is the best way to prepare?
The SACE Board states that past examination papers remain available and continue to provide the most accurate resource for exam preparation. Note that sample exams and exam front covers are being removed from the SACE website, so build your practice around past papers plus your school's performance standards and learning and assessment plans.
Can I retake the exam if I do badly?
The public source does not describe a retake or repeat policy for this subject. Rather than rely on guesswork, ask your school's SACE coordinator about options such as repeating the subject or adjusting your pathway, since arrangements depend on your enrolment and individual circumstances.
How long is the course and when are exams held?
Italian (continuers) is a Stage 2 subject, normally taken in the final year of the SACE. The SACE Board publishes exam timetables and separate calendars for South Australia, the Northern Territory and SACE International cycles. The source does not state a duration or exam date for this subject, so consult the current timetable.
What does the exam actually test?
The public source does not publish a component-by-component breakdown for Italian (continuers). In practice, Stage 2 continuers language assessment covers understanding and producing Italian across written and spoken tasks, guided by the subject outline and performance standards. Ask your teacher for the current subject outline rather than relying on secondhand summaries.
Where do I find my results?
From 2025 the SACE Record of Achievement and the SATAC Tertiary Entrance Statement are available digitally only in Students Online. You can also request a copy of your results through the SACE website. Keep your Students Online access details current so you can retrieve results when they are released.
What mistakes should I avoid?
Two common ones: preparing only from memory of older exam formats, and ignoring the performance standards when judging your own writing and speaking. The Board has announced that sample exams and exam front covers will be removed, so use past papers and the standards. Also confirm eligibility rules for continuers level before enrolling.