VCE Information

VCE study can be particularly daunting. All the rules and requirements as well as the huge range of subjects can scare and confuse you.
It doesn't have to be that way. On this page you will find information and links to more information about VCE rules and requirements as well as lots of helpful subject specific material.

VCE Study Requirements:

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority requires that you must study a range of subjects that fit the following pattern:

You must complete at least 16 units.

Regardless of how many units you do altogether, the following applies:

# To satisfactory complete the VCE a student must have a    satisfactory result (S) for a minimum of 16 units. This must    include: # at least three units from the English Group, two of which must    be a Unit 3-4 sequence. The English Group includes English,    English as an Additional Language, English Language and    Literature. # an additional three Unit 3-4 sequences of studies other than    English, which may include any number of English sequences    once the English requirement has been met.

If you intend to apply for tertiary entrance at the end of your VCE, you need to be aware that the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre has additional requirements for the calculation of the ATAR.

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR):

The ATAR is a ranking given to VCE students who apply for one. It is calculated by the Universities and is used to rank students for the purpose of offering them a place in University courses.
It is simply a number between 0 and 99.95 and ranks you relative to the other students who sat for the VCE in the same year as you.
You only need a ATAR if you are intending to go to university once you leave school.

What is a study score?

A study score shows how well you have performed in a study at Unit 3 and 4 level, compared to everybody else in Victoria who took that study. Study scores calculated by the VCAA will be used by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) to calculate the ATAR.

The maximum study score is 50. Each year, and for every study, the mean study score is set at 30. A score of between 23 and 37 shows that you are in the middle range of students; a score of more than 38 indicates that you are in the top 15%.

For studies with large enrolments (1,000 or more):

• 2% of students will get a score on or above 45
• 9% of students will get a score on or above 40
• 26% of students will get a score on or above 35
• 53% of students will get a score on or above 30
• 78% of students will get a score on or above 25
• 93% of students will get a score on or above 20.

How can I earn a study score?

At Unit 3 and 4 level, there are three Graded Assessments for each study, consisting of School-assessed Coursework (SACs), School-assessed Tasks (SATs) and examinations.

VCE VET subjects that have scored assessment have two Graded Assessments.

The Graded Assessments are different for each study and contribute towards the study score in different ways. If you complete at least two Graded Assessments, and have satisfactorily completed both unit 3 and 4, you will be awarded a study score.