WACE Subject Combinations: How to Choose Your Courses (WA)
A valid WACE combination needs a Year 12 English pair, at least one Year 12 pair from each of List A and List B, and — if you want an ATAR — at least four ATAR courses, chosen so no two of them are an “unacceptable combination”. Here are the actual SCSA and TISC rules, with the bonus courses and university prerequisites that shape a smart WA combination.
The WACE rules your combination must satisfy
To achieve the WACE (SCSA’s graduation requirements), you must complete at least 20 units, including at least ten Year 12 units; four post-Year 10 English units, with at least one Year 12 English pair; and at least one Year 12 pair from List A (arts, languages, social sciences) and one from List B (mathematics, science, technology). A Year 12 course is a pair of units (Units 3 and 4).
You also need the achievement standard — at least 14 C grades or higher across Year 11 and 12, including at least six C grades in Year 12 units — and to demonstrate the literacy and numeracy standard (pre-qualified through Year 9 NAPLAN or via the OLNA; completing English or Maths courses does not satisfy it). From the 2028 cohort, SCSA adds a safety net: a D grade in a Year 12 ATAR pair with an exam/moderated mark around 40 earns a C-grade equivalent for WACE purposes.
Getting an ATAR on top of the WACE
TISC needs at least four scaled scores to calculate an ATAR, and only ATAR courses count — “completing” an ATAR course means sitting its external exam (walk away from the exam and the pair contributes nothing). Your best four scaled scores form your TEA, no more than two mathematics scaled scores can be used, and scaled scores can accumulate over five consecutive years with no course counting twice.
Many students take five ATAR courses so an off day in one doesn’t sink the aggregate — TISC’s own case studies show combinations of four, five and six. That buffer is a school-level convention rather than an SCSA rule, so weigh it against workload. See how the WACE ATAR is calculated for the full TEA method.
Unacceptable course combinations (TISC)
You may study both courses in these pairs, but only the higher of the two scaled scores can count toward your ATAR — so taking both burns a slot in your best four. Note what is not here: Applications + Methods and Methods + Specialist are both acceptable.
| Course | Cannot both count with |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | Integrated Science |
| Physics | Integrated Science |
| Mathematics Applications | Mathematics Specialist |
| English as an Additional Language or Dialect | English |
| English as an Additional Language or Dialect | Literature |
| Chinese: Background Language | Chinese: Second Language |
| Chinese: Background Language | Chinese: First Language |
| Chinese: Second Language | Chinese: First Language |
| French: Background Language | French: Second Language |
| German: Background Language | German: Second Language |
| Hindi: Background Language | Hindi: Second Language |
| Indonesian: Background Language | Indonesian: Second Language |
| Indonesian: Background Language | Indonesian: First Language |
| Indonesian: First Language | Indonesian: Second Language |
| Indonesian: Background Language | Malay: Background Speakers |
| Indonesian: First Language | Malay: Background Speakers |
| Indonesian: Second Language | Malay: Background Speakers |
| Italian: Background Language | Italian: Second Language |
| Japanese: Background Language | Japanese: First Language |
| Japanese: Background Language | Japanese: Second Language |
| Japanese: Second Language | Japanese: First Language |
| Korean: Background Language | Korean: Second Language |
| Punjabi: Background Language | Punjabi: Second Language |
| Tamil: Background Language | Tamil: Second Language |
From TISC’s University Admission requirements for school leavers (identical in the 2027 and 2028 admission guides). Course names as they appear in TISC’s scaling statistics.
The bonus courses
WA adds a 10% bonus to your TEA for your best language other than English (LOTE), Mathematics Methods and Mathematics Specialist — each applies even if the course isn’t in your best four. That makes Methods, Specialist and a language unusually valuable inclusions in a WA combination. A proposal to remove these bonuses was postponed by TISC in March 2026 until further notice, and they’re confirmed for the 2026 and 2027 cohorts. Try the effect yourself in the WACE ATAR calculator.
Prerequisites shape the combination
University prerequisites are the hardest constraint — a scaled score of 50 (or a C grade in the specified course, depending on the university) in named ATAR courses. Verified examples from TISC’s admission requirements: Curtin Medicine requires Chemistry ATAR (plus the UCAT and Casper tests — the maths/biology list is “desirable”, not required); UWA Engineering requires Mathematics Methods plus at least one of Mathematics Specialist, Chemistry or Physics; Curtin Engineering requires Methods plus one of Physics, Chemistry or Engineering Studies.
Two practical notes: schools may set their own entry standards for ATAR courses (TISC and SCSA don’t), and switching down (Methods → Applications) at the end of Year 11 is usually possible while switching up is not — so when in doubt between two levels, start higher. Check what last year’s offers looked like on WA ATAR cutoffs.
Where scaling fits in
After the rules and prerequisites are satisfied, scaling is the tiebreaker — not the driver. Scaling reflects how strong each course’s cohort is, so it rewards being good at the subject, not picking a name off a list. Compare the best- and worst-scaling WACE subjects or the full scaling table for every WA course.
Rules verified from the SCSA WACE requirements and Year 10 Information Handbook 2026, and TISC’s University Admission requirements for the 2027 and 2028 admission years. Requirements evolve between cohorts — SCSA notes the 2028 requirements differ slightly from 2026 — so confirm against SCSA and TISC for your year group.
FAQ
What subjects do I have to take for WACE?
To achieve the WACE you need at least 20 units including ten Year 12 units, four post-Year 10 English units (with a Year 12 English pair), and at least one Year 12 pair from each of List A (arts, languages, social sciences) and List B (mathematics, science, technology) — plus at least 14 C grades (six of them in Year 12) and the OLNA literacy and numeracy standard.
How many ATAR subjects do I need in WA?
You need at least four ATAR courses with scaled scores for TISC to calculate an ATAR, and 'completing' an ATAR course requires sitting its external exam. Your best four scaled scores form your TEA.
Can I take both Mathematics Applications and Mathematics Methods?
Yes — that pair is acceptable, and so is Methods with Specialist. The maths pair you cannot count together is Mathematics Applications with Mathematics Specialist (only the higher scaled score would count), and no more than two mathematics scaled scores can be used in your ATAR.
Do bonus subjects still exist in WA?
Yes. A 10% bonus on your best language (LOTE), Mathematics Methods and Mathematics Specialist scaled scores is added to your TEA — even if the course isn't in your best four. A proposal to remove the bonuses was postponed by TISC in March 2026 until further notice.
Do I need specific subjects for university courses in WA?
Often, yes. For example, Curtin's medicine course requires Chemistry ATAR (plus the UCAT and Casper tests), and UWA engineering requires Mathematics Methods plus at least one of Mathematics Specialist, Chemistry or Physics. Check the prerequisites for every course you're considering before locking in your combination.
Should I pick WACE subjects because they scale well?
Not on scaling alone. Scaling reflects the strength of a course's cohort, so a strong result in a subject you're good at usually beats a weak result in a higher-scaling subject. Check prerequisites first, then pick subjects you can excel in.