Glossary of Terms

ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank) Derived from assessments in Units 3 and 4 to rank students in order of merit for tertiary selection. Students need to apply for tertiary selection to be ranked.

COURSEWORK ASSESSMENT The assessment of work, done mainly in class time, to establish how students are performing in Units 3 and 4. It must conform to the Study Design. Can be School Assessed Coursework (SAC) or School Assessed Tasks (SAT). 

GENERAL ACHIEVEMENT TEST (GAT) Consists of a test held in June. All students undertaking any studies at Units 3 & 4 level sit the GAT. The GAT result is used for statistical purposes only and the confidential result is reported to students in December.

LEARNING OUTCOMES What students must know, or be able to do, by the time they have finished a unit.

PREREQUISITE A unit or units that students must undertake and pass in order to be eligible for admission to a course.

SCHOOL ASSESSED COURSEWORK (SAC) A task done at school to assess how students are performing in Units 3 and 4. Set and marked by teachers according to VCAA specifications.  SACs are usually completed under examination conditions, will all students undertaking the same task (at the same time in Unit 3 & 4 subjects).

SCHOOL ASSESSED TASK (SAT) A model done in school to assess how students are performing in Units 3 and 4, set and marked by teachers according to Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority specifications. Applies only to Art, Studio Arts, Visual Communication and Design, Food Technology.

SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) Allows selection officers to grant special consideration for entry to tertiary courses. Applications open in August and close in October each year (consultation with the Head of Senior School is critical).

STUDY SCORE The aggregate score (out of 50) for the school assessments and examinations in Unit 3 and 4 sequences. They are used to derive the ATAR.

STUDY DESIGN Describes the units available within the study and prescribes the objectives, areas of study, work requirements and assessment tasks. All are available online from the VCAA.

UNIT A semester length component of a study.

UNITS 1 and 2 Units within a VCE study designed to approximate the Year 11 level of difficulty.

UNITS 3 and 4 Units within a VCE study designed to approximate the Year 12 level of difficulty.

VASS (VCE Administrative Software System) Used by schools to enter VCE enrolments and results onto the VCAA database.

VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) Responsible for curriculum, assessment and certification Years 11 and 12.

VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) The body that administers a joint selection system on behalf of tertiary institutions

VTAC GUIDE A booklet for Year 12 students containing a description of each Victorian University and TAFE diploma course and private provider courses. It provides an indication of ATAR scores for each course and their prerequisites. All students at McKinnon receive the booklet.

VCE Victorian Certificate of Education

VCE Vocational Major  A version of the Victorian Certificate of Education allowing students to complete a more diverse range of subjects. After completing a VCE Vocational Major a student will receive a VCE but not an ATAR 

VET (Vocational Education & Training) A program in which students complete TAFE subjects (modules) as part of their VCE.