Victorian Certificate of Education

The Structure of the VCE Curriculum

The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is a senior secondary certificate of education recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is responsible for the curriculum, programs of study and assessment. The VCE Coordinator (Senior Studio Leader) is responsible for liaising with the VCAA, monitoring the implementation of the VCE, overseeing the performance of VCE students (in conjunction with the Deputy Principal - BK) and approving all VCE academic related activities.

All VCE courses are prescribed, administered and regulated by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). Each VCE study (subject) has a minimum of four semester length units (Units 1 - 4). It is intended that Units 1 and 2 be studied in Year 11 and Units 3 and 4 are studied in Year 12, however, at Preshil, it is possible to begin VCE study in earlier years. Unit 3 must always be studied before Unit 4 and the two taken in the same year. The coursework (learning) in each unit of study is structured into a series of Learning Outcomes to be delivered by Preshil VCE teachers and achieved by the student.

The learning outcomes and associated assessment tasks are specified in accredited VCE study designs.

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 & Assessment Authority (VCAA) requirements.

VIEW OUR VCE HANDBOOK HERE

VCE Subjects on Offer

To learn about our VCE subject offerings please visit the subject learning area here.

Virtual Schools Victoria - VSV

Students in Years 11 and 12 enrolled at mainstream Victorian schools can take up to two VCE units per year through Virtual School Victoria when those subjects are not timetabled or offered at their home school. They remain fully enrolled at their home school, which provides onsite supervision, while learning through VSV Online—a hybrid model including self‑paced modules, live virtual classes, and occasional face‑to‑face seminars or excursions. VSV delivers all subjects following the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s VCE standards. Students begin their VCE journey with a Year 11 Orientation. Please speak to the team at Preshil for more information and to learn if this option can work for you.

You can learn more about them here.

Virtual Language School

The Victorian School of Languages (VSL) also offers Distance Education courses, allowing students to complete and submit coursework at their own pace, while receiving regular oral lessons from specialist teachers at the VSL.Distance Education is available only at the Secondary school level.Please Note: Enrolments for school-based students must be processed through the student’s home school. Parents should review the information at the below link and discuss enrolment with their child’s home school.

You can learn more about them here.

Enhance Your VCE With Career Readiness Subjects

Boost your VCE experience by adding VCE VM Work-Related Skills (WRS) and Personal Development Skills (PDS) to your program. These hands-on subjects complement academic study by building practical skills for work and life. WRS helps you explore career options, develop workplace skills, and understand employer expectations. PDS supports your personal growth through goal setting, wellbeing, and community projects. Together, they prepare you for a confident transition into life after school.

You can learn more about them here.

Satisfactory Completion of VCE

Requirements for VCE eligibility Students must satisfactorily complete no fewer than 16 units. These need to be made up of:

4 units of English (or EAL), English Language or Literature.
3 sequences of Units 3 & 4 studies other than one compulsory English study.

The VCE can include components of nationally recognised VET courses. These components can contribute towards the VCE through the following recognition arrangements:

enrolment in a VCAA-approved VCE VET program, or a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SBAT)
enrolment in any other nationally recognised course at Certificate II level or above (block credit recognition).

For satisfactory completion of a unit, a student must demonstrate achievement of each of the outcomes for that unit as specified in the Study Design. This decision will be based on the teacher's judgement of the student's performance on assessment tasks and class work designated for the unit. The key knowledge and skills and the Advice for Teachers included in the Study Design will assist teachers in making this judgement. The judgement of satisfactory completion is a school responsibility. To achieve an outcome the student must:

Produce work that meets the required standard
Submit work on time or under negotiated timelines
Submit work that is clearly his or her own
Observe the VCAA and school rules
The teacher judges that all outcomes are achieved, the student satisfactorily completes the unit.

Note: VCE VM Literacy is only available to students enrolled in an eligible VCE VM program.

Assessment and Reporting

Units 1&2: The School determines the level of achievement for all of the coursework

Units 3&4: The School determines only part of the level of achievement (SAC), with the other portion of the coursework being assessed externally by the VCAA (including examinations).

The requirements for satisfactory completion of each unit can be found in the Study Design of each VCE subject. The Study Design describes the knowledge and skills the student should have by the time he or she completes the unit.
According to the prescribed Study Design, the teacher of each VCE subject, in consultation with the VCE Coordinator (Senior Studio Leader), will determine whether a student’s academic performance, prompt completion and submission of learning tasks, and regular attendance in subject classes will enable him or her to have satisfactorily completed a unit.
The school will design and set specific assessment tasks to assess student achievement against the Learning Outcomes. These will be based on the recommendations provided by the VCAA.

Study Scores

For each student, the VCAA calculates a Study Score for each Units 3 & 4 sequence which has been satisfactorily completed and for which the student has received grades for the various SATs and the examinations. The Study Score is a score on a scale of 0 to 50 showing the student’s achievement relative to that of all other students doing that particular study.

The Study Scores are normalised to a mean of 30 and a standard deviation of 7. Scores of 23 – 37 indicate that the student is in the middle range. A score above 37 is evidence that the student is in the top 15% of students taking this study. For studies with large enrolments (1000 or more) the following table shows the approximate proportion of students who will achieve a Study Score higher than the stated values.

Examinations

External examinations are set and marked by the VCAA for Units 3&4 subjects only. Examinations are held in November with results usually published to students by mid-December. These dates are fixed by the VCAA. Students will be required to observe the rules and regulations set down by the VCAA for the conduct of examinations.
The June GAT and November Examination timetables can be accessed on the VCAA website by following the link below.

http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vce/exams/timetable.aspx

The General Achievement Test - The GAT

The GAT plays an important role in the quality assurance of VCE assessments. It also provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate they have the literacy and numeracy skills expected of students completing studies at senior secondary level. The GAT remains an essential part of the VCE quality assessment process. GAT component scores (from Sections A and B), while not counting directly towards VCE results, play an important role in checking that school-based assessments and external assessments have been accurately assessed.

Section A assesses literacy and numeracy.
Section B assesses mathematics, science, technology, the arts and humanities.

GAT results are also used in the calculation of the Derived Examination Score (DES). All senior secondary students in Victoria, including Vocational Major students, will sit Section A. All students enrolled in one or more VCE Unit 3+4 subjects (including scored VET) will sit Sections A and B.

Student Requirements

Before undertaking any VCE studies, each student must sign an annual agreement to abide by the VCAA regulations.
The form 'VCE Student Personal Details' will be distributed early in the academic year. Students will also be asked to check the list of units they are enrolled in and other details such as eligibility for EAL status.

Special Provisions - What are Special Provisions?

Special Examination Arrangements are adjustments made by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) to support students who experience significant barriers in standard examination conditions due to:

A diagnosed learning disorder, cognitive processing difficulty, or impairment
A medical or physical condition that impacts exam performance
Psychological or emotional conditions affecting exam endurance and concentration

These provisions ensure students have an equitable opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. However, adjustments do not confer an advantage and must be approved by VCAA.Special Provision does not exempt students from meeting the requirements for satisfactory completion against the outcomes for a study. Students who believe they have grounds for special provision must apply to the Head of the Senior Studio (VCE Coordinator) as soon as the need for special provision becomes apparent, as special provision cannot be applied retrospectively.
All applications for special provision must be accompanied by a history of documented evidence, including ongoing educational assessments.

Attendance

VCAA has directed schools to set the minimum class time and attendance rules. At Preshil, an ‘N’ can be given for a unit if a student’s attendance falls below 80%, thus preventing the student from satisfactorily completing the unit. Approved absences (illness, special ‘approved’ consideration etc.) are not included in this figure.
Students are required to verify their absence no more than one week after the absence, with a medical certificate. Decisions to provide an ‘N’ mark based on the lack of attendance, are not subject to appeal to VCAA.
Authorised absences include:

Illnesses and other absences that are covered by a medical certificate.
Those caused by the student’s approved participation in another aspect of Preshil’s educational program (such as music, excursions or camps).
Absences related to the bereavement of a member of the student's immediate family
Attending Specialist medical or dental appointments – please provide a Certificate

Unauthorised absences include:

Absences due to illness, or other reasons but without a medical certificate.
Holidays taken during school time.
Lateness to class - a student who is late to class may be permitted to enter the class at the discretion of the teacher but will be recorded as ‘late’ and this lateness may be counted as an unauthorised absence for the time missed (at teacher discretion).

Failure to attend sufficient classes (regardless of whether they are authorised or unauthorised) may result in a student being unable to meet both the VCAA and Preshil’s attendance requirements, which may result in a failure to meet the unit requirements (in other words, an “N” will be awarded).

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Resources

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