Of Education

How VCE works! (Victorian Certificate Of Education) + ATAR Explained

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• published: 02 Mar 2013
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How VCE works! (Victorian Certificate Of Education) + ATAR Explained When a student completes the VCE their results are produced by the VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority). Each Unit 3/4 sequence completed will be reported on the student's Statement of Results with the following: Unit result (S = Satisfactory pass, N = Not satisfactorily passed) Three graded assessments (letter grades, e.g. B+) One study score (maximum 50) The study scores are raw scores. VCAA sends the student's raw scores to VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) where they are converted into subject scores. Subject scores are scaled scores. The scaled subject scores are then used to calculate the student's ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank). In summary: VCAA is responsible for raw study scores VTAC is responsible for scaled subject scores and the ATAR The easiest way to recognise the difference is: VCE study scores are whole figures and the highest achievable is 50 VTAC subject scores have a decimal point The ATAR has a decimal point and the highest achievable is 99.95 How is the ATAR calculated? How are subjects scaled? The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is calculated by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) from your study scores. For more information on the ATAR, see the 'ABC of Scaling - Scaling and the ATAR: A Simplified Explanation' published by VTAC under their website's Publication and Statistics section. For more information on the following please visit Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) ATAR Scaling (including the current Scaling Report) Primary four Increments Special Entry Access Schemes (SEAS) (including Year 12 Special Consideration) Aggregate scores Tertiary offers (including change of preferences) University places The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is not responsible for any of the above. Back to Top What must I include in my VCE program? To earn your VCE, you must satisfactorily complete at least 16 units. Regardless of how many units you do altogether, you must satisfactorily complete: At least three units from the English group listed below: Foundation English Units 1 and 2 English Units 1 to 4 English as an Additional Language (ESL) Units 3 and 4 English Language Units 1 to 4 Literature Units 1 to 4 At least one of these units must be at Unit 3 or 4 level. However, VTAC advises that for the calculation of the ATAR, students must satisfactorily complete both Unit 3 and Unit 4 of an English sequence. Three sequences of Unit 3 and 4 studies in addition to the sequence chosen from the English group. These sequences can be from VCE studies and/or VCE VET programs. If you intend to apply for tertiary entrance at the end of your VCE, you need to be aware that the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre has additional requirements for the calculation of the ATAR. Talk to your VCE Coordinator or visit Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) for more information. (Note, this link will take you out of the VCAA website to a site not maintained or funded by the VCAA.) Back to Top How many subjects do I have to study each year? The VCAA does not prescribe a minimum number of subjects/units that students have to study each year. You can take as long as you need to complete the VCE. Back to Top What are the attendance requirements for the VCE? All VCE units require 50 hours of class time. You need to attend sufficient class time to complete work. Your school sets minimum class time and attendance rules. You can find more information on the attendance requirements under the 'VCE Unit Requirements' section of the VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook. VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook 2012 - Section 5.10.1 (PDF - 741KB) Back to Top What is a study score? A study score shows how well you have performed in a study at Unit 3 and 4 level, compared to everybody else in Victoria who took that study. Study scores calculated by the VCAA will be used by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) to calculate the ATAR. The maximum study score is 50. Each year, and for every study, the mean study score is set at 30. A score of between 23 and 37 shows that you are in the middle range of students; a score of more than 38 indicates that you are in the top 15%. For studies with large enrolments (1,000 or more): 2% of students will get a score on or above 45 9% of students will get a score on or above 40 26% of students will get a score on or above 35 53% of students will get a score on or above 30 78% of students will get a score on or above 25 93% of students will get a score on or above 20.