VCE subjects are divided into units, each unit lasting one semester. Most studies offer four units, but students do not necessarily have to take all four units.

There are two levels of units within the VCE:

• Units 1 and 2: These are usually taken in the first year of VCE in Year 11. Most students take both units in a subject, but it is possible in Year 11 to take only one unit of a particular subject (subject to timetabling and specific course constraints).

• Units 3 and 4: These are more advanced and are mostly taken in Year 12. Units 3 and 4 must be studied as a sequence. This means that, if you take Unit 3 of any subject, you must also take Unit 4.

Students at Suzanne Cory High School will normally be expected to complete 22 units in their Year 11 and 12 program. This means:

• 12 units (six subjects) while in Year 11; and

• 10 units (five subjects) while in Year 12.

Some students choose to study a VCE subject outside of the school. Typical reasons for doing an external subject are:

• Studying a family language

• Completing a subject not offered at SCHS, via correspondence

• Completing a university-level Higher Education Study (HES) subject

If you are completing an external course which is recognised by VCAA, then you may choose to study one fewer subject at school, and have an additional block of study periods (down to a minimum of four subjects in school).

• Year 11s may study six subjects at SCHS OR five at school and one externally.

• Year 12s may study five subjects at SCHS OR four at school and one externally.

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) sets the minimum required for a student to graduate with the VCE.

Currently, the minimum required is the satisfactory completion of 16 units. These units must include: 

• Unit 3 and 4 of an English Group subject (English, Literature, English Language, or English as an Additional Language)

• Unit 1 or 2 of an English Group subject (ie. Students must complete a minimum 3 units of English group)

• Three additional sequences of any Unit 3+4 subject. Additional English group subjects may count towards these three subjects.

Procedures for the assessment of levels of achievement in Units 1 and 2 are a matter for each school to decide in line with the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) VCE Study Designs. The award of satisfactory completion for a unit is based on a decision that the student has demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for the unit. This decision will be based on the teacher’s assessment of the student’s performance in the unit. This includes, but is not limited to, student performance in assessment tasks. Students must also abide by all school and VCAA policies, including authentication and attendance policies. The school’s VCE Handbook provides more details about these policies.

In Units 3 and 4, VCAA will supervise the assessment of all students. Students’ level of achievement will be determined by a combination of school-assessed coursework (SACs), school-assessed tasks (SATs) (these are only relevant to a few subjects) and end-of-year examinations, which may be written, oral or performance. Students undertaking a Unit 3/4 sequence will also sit the General Achievement Test (GAT) each year.

To receive a study score, students must achieve two or more graded assessments and receive satisfactory for both Units 3 and 4. The study score is reported on a scale of 0 – 50. This is a measure of how well the student performed in relation to all others who took the study. 

Teachers will provide information about specific assessments and timelines at the beginning of the year in line with the appropriate VCAA Study Design and Assessment Handbooks.