🏡 How VCE works and how to prepare for it

What is the VCE?

The VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) is a two-year program that consists of four units, typically taken in Years 11 and 12. However, some students may choose to accelerate their studies and complete the units in a shorter time frame, such as taking Units 1 and 2 in Year 10 and Units 3 and 4 in Year 11, or even completing a Unit 3 and 4 subject in Year 10. This is is because many students consider taking on a Year 12 Unit earlier as a way to lighten the load during their actual final year of high school, though this will be highly dependant on the student.

It is also possible to take Units 3 and 4 without having completed Units 1 and 2, although the material from these earlier units is often assumed knowledge for the final exams, which only test learning from Units 3 and 4.

At the end of the VCE, students receive a Study Score out of 50 for each Units 3 and 4 subject, as well as an overall ATAR score (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank). The Study Score is based on performance on exams and other assessments, and the ATAR is a ranking (not a score) of the student's scores compared to those of other students. Both the Study Score and the ATAR are used to evaluate the student's overall performance in the VCE.

How is your ATAR calculated?

The ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is a ranking system used to evaluate the performance of Year 12 students in Australia. Every student in the country receives an ATAR score, which is given in increments of 0.05, ranging from 0.05 to 99.95. It is important to note that the ATAR is not a percentage grade reflecting the student's performance on exams. Instead, it is a ranking system, with a higher ATAR indicating a higher ranking compared to other students.

For example, an ATAR of 85.50 means that the student is in the top 14.5% of the country, while an ATAR of 99.95 means that the student is in the top 0.05%. It is not possible to score a 100 ATAR, as this would require ranking better than everyone else in the country, including oneself. Here's a quick guide, if you want more information or to brush up more on how the ATAR works.

In contrast to the ATAR, the Study Score is an internal mark used only for students of the VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education). Students in other states receive other internal marks based on their own systems, such as the WACE (Western Australian Certificate of Education) or the QCE (Queensland Certificate of Education). The Study Scores of VCE students are used to calculate their ATAR, allowing for comparison on a national scale.

What Subjects do I need to do?

In the VCE program, all students must take at least one English-based subject, such as English, English Language, Literature, or English as an Additional Language. In addition to this required subject, students have the freedom to choose the remaining subjects they wish to take as part of their VCE program. A minimum of four subjects, including the English-based one, must be completed.

The ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is calculated based on the student's performance in a maximum of six subjects. Four of these subjects contribute 100% to the ATAR, while the remaining two subjects contribute 10% each, if applicable. If the student has taken more than six subjects, only the six highest-scoring subjects will be considered for the ATAR calculation, and the rest will be disregarded.

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The VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) system can be confusing and overwhelming for new students and their families. If you need help with VCE studies or have specific subject-related questions, KIS Academics tutors are knowledgeable about their subjects and can assist with understanding curriculum requirements. To get a better understanding of how the VCE works and how each subject affects your final ATAR score, you can refer to the resources listed below.