The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is the credential awarded to students upon successful completion of secondary schooling in Victoria. It’s typically completed over Years 11 and 12, but many students begin earlier through subject acceleration.
While it may seem overwhelming, we’ll walk you through how the VCE is structured, how you’re assessed, how your final ATAR is calculated, and why scaling exists.
Table Of Contents:
- How Does the VCE Work?
- What’s The Difference Between ATAR And Study Scores?
- Why Does Scaling & Moderation Impact Your Marks?
- How Do You Qualify For The VCE?
- What Is The GAT Exam?
- What Subjects Are Offered In The VCE?
- Conclusion
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How Does The VCE Work?
The VCE is made up of four sequential units:
- Units 1 and 2 (usually completed in Year 11)
- Units 3 and 4 (typically completed in Year 12)
However, some students may accelerate, taking Units 1 and 2 in Year 10 or Units 3 and 4 in Year 11. In some cases, students can even complete Units 3 and 4 without having completed Units 1 and 2 — although this depends on the subject and school policy.
Each subject follows a study design, which outlines the content and Areas of Study. Students demonstrate their understanding through:
- Units 1 and 2: Assessed internally and graded as Satisfactory (S) or Not Satisfactory (N).
- Units 3 and 4: Assessed through School Assessed Coursework (SACs) or School Assessed Tasks (SATs), graded A+ to UG, along with externally assessed final exams.
Final exams only cover content from Units 3 and 4 — but don’t be fooled. Units 1 and 2 content is often assumed knowledge and critical to success.
At the end of Year 12, students receive:
- A Study Score out of 50 for each Unit 3/4 subject.
- An ATAR, which ranks them nationally based on these study scores.
What’s The Difference Between ATAR And Study Scores?
These two marks often get confused, but they serve different purposes:
- The Study Score is a subject-specific score (out of 50) reflecting a student’s performance compared to others taking that subject across the state. A score of 30 is the average.
- The ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is a national percentile rank used for university admissions. It’s presented in increments of 0.05, from 0.00 to 99.95.
The ATAR is a national ranking - every Year 12 student across the country receives an ATAR. Scores are given out in 0.05 increments from 0.05 to 99.95.
An ATAR of 85.50 doesn’t mean you got 85.5% on your exams — it means you ranked in the top 14.5% of all Year 12 students in Australia.
Why Does Scaling & Moderation Impact Your Marks?
You may have heard that VCE marks are scaled or moderated.
Subjects like Maths Methods, Chemistry, and Languages often scale up, while others may scale down. This isn’t about how “hard” a subject is, but rather how students who take that subject perform across all their subjects.
Example: If high-achieving students tend to take Specialist Maths, it will be scaled up so their results reflect the competitive cohort.
At the end of the year, you’ll see both a raw and scaled Study Score.
How Do You Qualify For The VCE?
To qualify for the VCE, students must:
- Complete at least four Unit 3/4 subjects, including one English-based subject (English, English Language, Literature, or English as an Additional Language).
- A maximum of six subjects can contribute to your ATAR. The ATAR is calculated using:
- The best four scaled Study Scores (including English).
- 10% of the fifth and sixth-best scores (if applicable).
If you take more than six subjects, only the best six will count.
What Is The GAT Exam?
Yes — there's also the General Achievement Test (GAT). All students undertaking a Unit 3/4 subject must sit it.
The GAT assesses general knowledge and skills across written communication, maths, science, humanities, and the arts. It consists of:
- Two short essays (30 minutes each)
- A two-hour multiple choice section
While the GAT doesn’t directly contribute to your ATAR or Study Scores, it is used for:
- Cross-checking SAC and exam marks
- Derived Examination Scores (DES) for students who miss final exams due to illness or other serious issues
What Subjects Are Offered In The VCE?
There are over 90 VCE subjects offered, across 9 Key Learning Areas:
- English (4 subjects)
- Mathematics (5 subjects)
- Science (5 subjects)
- Languages (40+ languages)
- Technology
- The Arts (10 subjects, including Music, Performing and Visual Arts)
- Humanities (17 subjects, including History and Politics)
- Business Studies (5 subjects)
- Health and PE (3 subjects)
This broad subject range allows students to tailor their VCE experience to their strengths and career goals.
Conclusion
The VCE and ATAR system can seem complex at first — but once you understand the core structure, scaling system, and assessment methods, it becomes much more manageable.
If you're feeling overwhelmed or just want to stay ahead, KIS Academics tutors are here to help. Our experienced team knows the VCE inside and out and can provide personalised support, exam preparation, and subject-specific guidance.
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FAQs
1. What happens if I take more than six VCE subjects?
- Only your best six subjects will count toward your ATAR calculation. Your ATAR uses your top four scaled study scores (including English) plus 10% of your fifth and sixth best scores.
- Taking extra subjects can provide a safety net, but make sure you can handle the workload without compromising your performance in your strongest subjects.
2. How much does the GAT affect my final ATAR?
The GAT doesn't directly contribute to your ATAR or study scores. However, it's used as a quality control measure to cross-check your SAC (School Assessment Coursework) marks against your exam performance, and can be used to calculate a Derived Examination Score if you miss a final exam due to illness. While it won't boost your ATAR, it's still important to take it seriously as a backup measure.
3. How is the VCE score calculated?
VCE study scores are calculated from three different components:
1. Your Unit 3 SACs (School Assessment Coursework)
2. Unit 4 SACs
3. Your Final Written Exam at the end of Year 12
Note - Your Unit 1 and Unit 2 results will not count towards your VCE score calculation.
