Completing the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) can give you an ATAR score, offering a direct pathway to university.

The VCE can take you in many different directions after school and is a great choice if you prefer learning in a classroom environment and know you might want to go to university right after school.

The VCE offers a broad range of study options. You can choose a variety of studies that let you explore your interests and pursue your goals. 

Where the VCE can take you

The VCE will prepare you for: 

  • university
  • an apprenticeship or traineeship
  • further education and training
  • going straight into the workforce.

How is VCE structured?

For most students, VCE is completed over two years. 

The VCE course is made up of studies (subjects) and units, some of which must be studied as a sequence.  

A study is usually made up of four units (one unit per semester). Students typically study Units 1 and 2 in their first year (Year 11), and Units 3 and 4 in their second year (Year 12). 

You should talk to your teachers or your school’s careers counsellor about how to structure your VCE to best suit you. 

Your VCE subject options

The VCE includes more than 90 subjects to choose from. However, each school determines which VCE subjects they offer, and not all schools offer all studies. Check with your school about what subjects they offer. 

Most VCE subjects (or ‘studies’) are made up of 4 units, which students study over 2 years (one unit per semester): 

  • Units 1 and 2 are usually studied in year 11. They can be studied as single units and don’t need to be studied in a certain order. 
  • Units 3 and 4 are usually studied in year 12. They must be studied in a certain order (called a sequence) within the same year. 

Each unit has ‘outcomes’ that describe what students are expected to know and be able to do. Students need to demonstrate the outcomes satisfactorily to complete the unit. 

Most students do their VCE over 2 years, completing between 20 and 24 units. But you can take longer than two years to finish VCE if you need to. Some schools also offer VCE units from year 10 so it’s important to talk to your school to consider your options. 

Students should think about what they want to do in the future when choosing their VCE studies. Talk to your teachers or school’s careers counsellor about how to build your VCE. 

What if my school doesn’t offer the subject I want?

Each school picks which VCE subjects to teach. If you want to do a subject your school doesn’t offer, you could do it through:

Talk to your teachers or year level co-ordinator about this option.

You could also transfer to a school that offers the subjects you want. This is a big decision. Discuss it with your parents or guardians and teachers before deciding.

General Achievement Test (GAT)

All VCE students are expected to sit all or a section of the General Achievement Test (GAT).

The GAT measures a student’s knowledge and skills against a standard. The standard will indicate whether students have demonstrated the skills typically expected of someone completing their secondary schooling – giving another indication of their readiness to move onto further education, training or employment.

The GAT is structured into Section A and Section B, with a range of question difficulties:

  • Section A: Literacy and numeracy skills
  • Section B: General knowledge and skills 

It is important for students enrolled in one or more VCE (or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequence) to sit Sections A and B of the GAT, and for students enrolled in one or more VCE VM Unit 3–4 sequence to sit Section A. But a student may be deemed eligible for an exemption from the GAT if they meet certain criteria.

While the GAT is important, it does not directly count towards a student’s final VCE results. GAT results are used to check that VCE external assessments and school-based assessments have been accurately and fairly assessed.

What is the ATAR?

The ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is calculated by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). Universities and TAFEs use it when accepting students into their courses.

The ATAR isn't a score out of 100 – it's a ranking. It shows your achievement in relation to other students. For example:

  • A 65 ATAR means you did better than 65% of all other students that year.
  • A 50 ATAR means you did better than 50% of all other students that year.
  • A 74 ATAR means you did better than 74% or all other students that year.

VTAC calculates your ATAR and sends it to all the institutions whose courses you've put down as preferences.

To find out more about applying for tertiary study, visit our VTAC application page. For more about how the ATAR is used for selection, and how the ATAR is calculated, visit VTAC's Year 12 and ATAR pages.

How do I achieve marks in the VCE?

Units 1 and 2 (usually Year 11) are marked by your school. Your teachers will set a range of assessments to see how you are progressing. The assessments have deadlines and you will need to plan and submit your work on time. Deadlines can only be extended in special circumstances. 

For Units 1 and 2 you will receive either S (Satisfactory), or N (Non-Satisfactory). Your school may give you a grade for each unit, but only the S counts towards your VCE. 

For Units 3 and 4 (usually Year 12) you will have grades calculated from A+ to E, UG (Ungraded), or NA (Not Assessed) for your assessment tasks, as well as an S or N. 

There are three graded assessments for each VCE study at Unit 3 and 4 level. All VCE VET programs with scored assessment have two graded assessments. 

Depending on the study, these may be school-based assessments and/or external assessments. 

  • School-based assessments are set by your teacher and include school-assessed Coursework (SAC) that is completed at school, and school-assessed Tasks (SAT) that are completed at school and home. These are marked at your school. The VCAA checks the marks to make sure that all schools in Victoria are marking to the same standard. You can read about the rules for marking/assessment on the VCAA website, or you can ask your teachers. 
  • External assessments are set and marked by the VCAA. They are the same for all students taking the same VCE study. Usually this will be an examination – whether written, oral, performance or in an electronic format. 

Your external assessments are marked by assessors who are experts in their area of study. All VCE studies are marked to the same standard and there are multiple checks to make sure that marking is fair. 

Exams are held each year in October and November. You will receive plenty of notice about the exact dates of your exams from your school. 

For more information on VCE assessment including exams, rules, results and the role and assessment of the General Achievement Test (GAT) visit the VCAA’s VCE Assessment. 

Getting your VCE results

Your VCE study scores, ATAR and VTAC Scaled Study Scores will be made available via the Results and ATAR website. There is also a Results and ATAR app. All VCE students will receive a statement of VCE study scores from the VCAA. However, you may need to apply for courses through VTAC and have paid their VTAC processing fees to be sent an ATAR statement in the mail.

What happens if you don’t pass VCE?

Technically you can’t 'fail' VCE. The two things people usually mean when they talk about failing VCE are: 

  1. not completing enough subjects
  2. ending up with an ATAR lower than you hoped.

There are ways to deal with each of these situations.

1. If you didn’t complete enough VCE subjects

To complete VCE, you need to complete a minimum of 16 subjects (units) across Year 11 and 12, which includes three units from the English group, two of which must be a Unit 3 and 4 sequence.

If you don’t complete enough subjects to finish VCE, you won’t get an ATAR. But, if you enrolled in at least one Unit 3 and one Unit 4 subject, you will be able to see your results online through the VCE Results and ATAR service in December. You will also receive a Statement of Results in December.

If this happens to you, you can always finish VCE – and get an ATAR – by going back to school to do more subjects. Whether you do this at your existing school, or enrol in a new school, is up to you.

For more information about completing enough subjects, talk to your school careers advisor.

2. If you didn’t get the ATAR you needed

If you don’t get an ATAR high enough to get into the course you wanted, you can always get advice from your school.

On the day VCE results come out, most schools provide an opportunity to discuss your options. This might include a review of your course preferences.

For more information about changing your preferences, visit VTAC's changing your course preferences page.

Getting advice about VCE results

If you need advice you can contact the Post Results and ATAR Service (PRAS). PRAS staff are trained to answer questions about VCE results and tertiary admissions.

PRAS operates for a limited time each November, usually the three days after VCE results come out. 

Making an appeal

If you think there’s something wrong with your results the best thing to do is speak with your school about it. Schools may be able appeal a VCAA decision on your behalf.

For more information about appealing VCE results, visit the VCAA website.

Links

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) - VCE
The VCAA has a wide range of information about VCE, including subjects, exam timetables and study resources.

Study options in Year 11 and 12
The Victorian Government provides information about the VCE including help with homework and what happens after school finishes.