The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is a senior secondary certificate of education and is designed to be completed over a minimum of two years. It includes general education curriculum components (VCE studies) and programs from Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications. Each VCE study is designed to provide a two-year program. Studies at Unit 1 and Unit 2 level are nationally and internationally benchmarked to a Year 11 standard, with studies at Unit 3 and Unit 4 level benchmarked to a Year 12 standard. In many studies, there are multiple options for students to choose from, such as mathematics and history. Units 1 and 2 can be completed as single units and Units 3 and 4 in each study are designed to be undertaken as a sequence.
Each VCE unit involves 50 hours of scheduled classroom instruction normally over the duration of a semester. In addition, it is expected that students will undertake up to 50 hours of self-directed learning for each unit.
Satisfactory completion of a VCE unit is based on successful completion of outcomes. Each VCE unit comprises a set of two to four outcomes. Satisfactory completion of units is determined by the school, in accordance with Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) requirements. The learning outcomes and associated assessment tasks are specified in accredited VCE study designs.
Levels of achievement for Units 1 and 2 are determined by schools and are not reported to the VCAA. Levels of achievement for Unit 3 and 4 sequences are assessed using School-based Assessment and external assessments (including examinations). Each VCE study has three graded assessment components: either one School-based Assessment and two external assessments, or two School- based Assessments and one external assessment. Each of the three graded assessment components contributes to a study score. Scored VCE VET studies have only two graded assessment components, comprising one School-based Assessment and one external examination. Graded assessments are reported on an 11-point scale ranging from grade A+ to E, or as UG (Ungraded).
The minimum requirement is satisfactory completion of 16 units, which must include:
Three units from the English group, with at least one sequence at Unit 3 and 4 level.
At least three sequences of Unit 3 and 4 studies other than English, which may include any number of English sequences once the English requirement has been met.
At Sunshine College, students undertake the following:
In year 11, 6 subjects, which must include at least one study from the English group of units (English, Literature or EAL).
In year 12, 5 subjects, which must include at least one study from the English group of units (English, Literature, or EAL).
The VCE may include an unlimited number of units of Vocational Education and Training (VET). A School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SBAT) also provides the opportunity for two or more units to go towards the VCE.
With approval, Year 11 students may undertake Units 3 and 4.