Secondary School Competency Certificate
 | |
| Abbreviation | SSCC |
|---|---|
| Motto | Showcasing knowledge |
| Established | 2020 |
| Founder | Missa_Solemnis |
| Founded at | Auburn Academy |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Purpose | Education |
| Headquarters | Auburn |
The Secondary School Competency Certificate (SSCC) is a standardised assessment system originally developed by Auburn Academy to measure students' mastery of key concepts at a secondary school level.
History
The original SSCC examinations were formulated throughout 2020 and 2021 by the faculty at Auburn Academy and first administered to Academy students at the end of the 2020–2021 academic year. Although initially designed to be an internal measure of skills mastery, the SSCC programme has since been opened up to other educational institutions, though the development of the curriculum and assessments remains under the auspices of Auburn Academy.
Format
SSCC examinations attempt to subvert the pitfalls of traditional written exams by offering a multi-faceted assessment approach. Students complete a written portion in addition to a project-based assessment and a one-on-one verbal examination. There are no time limits for each part of the exams, but parts must be completed in one sitting. Assessments focus on applications of key concepts and general ideas, emphasising comprehensive conceptual understanding over rote memorisation of facts.
Subjects
Examinations are offered in a wide variety of subjects.
Core subjects
Core subjects are required of all students. A satisfactory score must be achieved in all core subjects to receive the general certification.
- Mathematics I (Algebra, Geometry, Pre-calculus)
- General Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- Computer Science
- English
- World Language
- History and Geography
- Arts (choose one from the list below)
- Visual Art
- Dance
- Theatre
- Musical Theatre
- Filmmaking
- Music Performance
- Musicology
- Photography
- Graphic Design
- Creative Writing
- Health and Physical Education
Additional subjects
Students may elect to sit for additional, more specialised subjects. These are not required for the general certification, but come with individual certifications in the respective area. A second arts or world language subject is also treated as an additional subject.
- Single-variable Calculus
- Multi-variable Calculus
- Linear Algebra
- Statistics
- Engineering
- Astronomy
- Ancient History
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Economics
- Government
Certification and scoring
SSCC examinations are scored from zero through nine. Scores of one or greater warrant receipt of a certification. A zero is a failing score. Each exam may only be taken once for credit.
A student's average core subjects score is used to determine honours: a five or above warrants a certificate with distinction, an eight or above warrants a certificate with high honours, and a nine a certificate with highest honours. Additional subjects are scored individually.