OVERVIEW
The V.C.E. contains a range of studies, each study being broken up into four Units. Units 1 & 2 of the studies selected by a student are generally completed during Year 11, and Units 3 & 4 are usually completed during Year 12.
Most students will enrol in 22 Units over two years of V.C.E., 12 Units in their first year and 10 in their second.
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) sets out certain types of units you must include in your two-year program, as well as a number and pattern of units you must satisfactorily complete to get the V.C.E.
To meet the graduation requirements of V.C.E. each student must satisfactorily complete no fewer than 16 units.
These units MUST include:
Three units of English: Any 3 of 4 units for VCE; 3 /4 sequence plus one of 1/2 for ATAR
At least four, unit 3 / 4 sequences.
One sequence must be from the English group.
Students in their first year of V.C.E. can undertake some Unit 3 and 4 studies; however, the student must obtain a recommendation if they had not completed the subject as a Unit 1 and 2 in year 10.
Students select a program for two years that satisfies the various requirements mandated by the Curriculum and Assessment Authority to ensure breadth of study. Whilst the program maps the course of study for a period of two years there is provision for students to change direction or focus during that time; however, it is vital that all students undertake a meaningful course of study which will provide pathways into further study or employment.
Consider where you wish to go after V.C.E. e.g. University, TAFE, Apprenticeship, Employment etc
Students should gather as much information as possible on what is required.
MAIN SOURCES:
Prerequisite subjects required in year 11 & 12 for entry to specific university degrees (see images below)
VTAC Course Search: https://delta.vtac.edu.au/coursesearch/#/search
TAFE Course Directory: https://www.training.com.au/pt/tafe-courses-in-victoria/
Careers Practitioner
Guide to the V.C.E.: https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/curriculum/vce/vce-study-designs/Pages/vce-study-designs.aspx
Other Considerations should include:
Am I interested in this study?
Is it a study containing the right level of difficulty for me?
Do my parents and teachers think it is a wise choice?
It is important to realise that subjects will only run in 2024 if there is sufficient demand from students. The feasibility of a class running is dependent on many variables and constraints: the timetable, the minimum class size and the physical/ human resources available to the College. Many of these issues cannot be dealt with until late in the year when students’ results are known and the program for the rest of the College has been determined. However, we always endeavour to satisfy the choices and requirements of as many students as possible.
Three units of English may be selected from English, EAL and Literature Units 1 to 4.
No more than two units at Units 1 and 2 levels selected from English Units 1 and 2, E
ALL Units 1 and 2, and Literature Units 1 and 2 may count towards the English requirement.
An English sequence will count as a sequence other than English when:
it is additional to a student satisfying three units from the English group, or
the student has satisfied more than one sequence from the English group.
There are no prerequisites for entry to Mathematical Methods Units 1 and 2. However students attempting Mathematical Methods are expected to have a sound background in number, algebra, function and probability. Additionally, students should have successfully completed Advanced Maths in year 10.
Enrolment in Specialist Mathematics Units 1 and 2 requires current enrolment in or successful completion of Mathematical Methods Units 1 and 2.
Enrolment in Specialist Mathematics Units 3 and 4 requires current enrolment in or successful completion of Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4.
Units 3 and 4 are designed to be taken as a sequence. Students must undertake Unit 3 of a study before entering Unit 4 of that study.
In most cases tertiary selection depends on the level of performance grades students achieve in each of their Coursework Assessments and Examinations undertaken as part of their Unit 3 & 4 studies.
The Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank A.T.A.R. each student obtains will clearly identify for the tertiary institutions:
The group that is definitely eligible for entry
The group that is clearly ineligible
The group who may be selected on score and other considerations
A student in category C will be given further consideration after referring to additional information that may include:
Performance in examinations
Performance in pre-requisite studies
School reports
Interview
Folio
Some courses use an index of selection criteria involving V.C.E. performance (i.e., The A.T.A.R., interviews, folios and/or other criteria). The selection process will be handled by the Victorian Tertiary Administration Centre (V.T.A.C.).
General Principles of Reporting, Scoring and Ranking:
All V.C.E. studies are approved for tertiary selection. Before a global score can be calculated for a study, an ‘S’ (Satisfactory Completion) must be obtained for all assessment tasks in both Units 3 & 4 of that study in one year.
An 11 point scale of Grades UG (Ungraded), E to A+ is used to report achievement for each Coursework Component for a unit of study. In addition a normalized global score of each study will also be calculated by the Curriculum and Assessment Authority based on the performance in all assessment components in that study. The maximum points for each study are 50.
All V.C.E. results will be adjusted using a comparative process to ensure that the same degree of difficulty applies in getting similar results in different studies. In all, six global scores may be used and these scores may be adjusted in this comparative process.
For each applicant, a state-wide A.T.A.R. will be created taking into account the applicant’s global score in their studies of English and the best three other global scores plus 10% of the applicant’s next two global scores. An applicant who has undertaken a tertiary study can have that study added to the A.T.A.R. in lieu of the sixth study.
These scores will be used to place an applicant in percentile ranking. The highest rank will be 99.95; an applicant will NOT be able to calculate his/her A.T.A.R. by simply using the V.C.E. results.
At CHES we offer select VCE subjects to government school students across Victoria.. Through an innovative ‘hy-flex’ approach to teaching and learning, students remain enrolled at their chosen government secondary school and undertake a VCE study through CHES, as a part of their overall VCE program. To accommodate as many eligible students as possible, these programs are available through a hybrid and flexible approach, with opportunities to study online, on-site at CHES or a combination of the two. Our programs enable students to accelerate and deepen their learning. Students enrolled in one of our subjects have the opportunity to forge a strong foundation for future university study, expand their knowledge and skills, challenge themselves, build networks with other high-achieving students, and continue building an impressive CV for the future while completing their VCE.
Subjects offered to high-ability senior students:
VCE Algorithmics (Units 3 & 4)
VCE Extended Investigation (Units 3 & 4)
VCE English Language (Units 1 – 4)
VCE Specialist Maths (Units 1 – 4)
See the senior school for more details
There are several ways in which you can gain additional advantage from your V.C.E.
Warrnambool College endeavours to provide all students with the opportunity to maximise their learning potential whilst at the school. All students, where it would improve their educational outcomes, may accelerate their VCE program by studying a Unit 1 and 2 subject in Year 10 and a Unit 3 and 4 sequence in Year 11. This acceleration allows for a more challenging and stimulating program for the students in their senior years. It also allows them to maximise their ATAR score by completing six Units 3 and 4 sequences instead of five.
Some students may be given the opportunity of doing tertiary studies during their final year. These studies are completed in addition to the normal Year 12 program and would therefore involve out-of-hours classes. Successful completion of an approved tertiary study contributes to a student’s A.T.A.R. as a sixth study. A student who successfully completes a tertiary study may gain exemption or credits from the University towards their degree course.
As described in detail in the following section, students may gain credit and/or extra qualifications by undertaking TAFE linked vocational units while also completing their V.C.E.
Students wishing to take up any of these options must consult with Pathways Coordinator and Careers Practitioner to ensure they fully understand the implications.
The list below is by no means complete but is certainly a useful guide to the majority of courses.
Please visit https://public.careertoolsx.com.au/uploads/files/369752/DmYqWmeptTyJ5R0trOUX4pg6jUvvlo3Bo1ypO9Mx.pdf
for more detailed information.