The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is the certificate that the majority of students in Victoria receive on satisfactory completion of their secondary education. The VCE provides diverse pathways to further study or training at university or TAFE and to employment. The VCE is overseen by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA).
A certificate in VCE studies in Victoria:
- shows that the student has finished their secondary education
- is often used to move on to study at university, TAFE or another VET provider
- is recognised internationally.
Subjects
VCAA publishes a detailed VCE currciulum in the form of study designs available here.
At Cranbourne Secondary College students are able to begin studying for their VCE from Year 10. For a more detailed description of how VCE operates at each Year level follow these links
Exams
Our booklet should be read by all students presenting for VCE external assessments. This includes written, aural, electronic/digital, oral and performance examinations and the Extended Investigation oral presentation.
This booklet contains information on:
- Approved materials and equipment
- VCAA rules
- Examination timetables
- Special Provision
The VCE is normally completed over two years, but there is no limit to the number of years you may take to accumulate results towards achieving a Certificate. If you require an ATAR score you must complete the program within 3 years.
To meet the requirements of the VCE, each student must satisfy the following:
- exhibit all learning outcomes in a minimum of 16 Units (achieve an “S”), which must include:
- 3 units of English or English equivalent (ESL, Literature or Language)
- 3 sequences of unit 3 and 4 (year 12) studies other than English
To gain a pass, students must demonstrate an understanding of each stipulated Learning Outcome in the unit by completing designated School Assessed Coursework (SAC) and or School Assessed Task (SAT).
Course theory and practice is provided as part of the ordinary activities in class, however students are expected to commit to substantial homework requirements in order to successfully negotiate courses of study undertaken in each unit. The class teacher is the sole proponent who determines whether a student has demonstrated a Learning Outcome. Students must satisfy set standards in order to pass a unit.
If a student has completed all the coursework requirements for each outcome, however, fails to reach a satisfactory level on a SAC or SAT, they will have an opportunity to re-sit the test or task, or complete another activity as set by the teacher to meet the outcome requirements. Teachers will try to be flexible and negotiate these alternative activities, and try to make them as student-friendly as possible without reducing the difficulty of the task. The mark from the initial SAC or SAT is the one that will stand, as students are only attempting to gain an S for the Outcome in their second effort.
A SAC or SAT can be re- attempted once only for Year 11 students and twice for Year 12 students, although in special circumstances this may be negotiated. Teachers will have notified parents when a student has not completed a SAC or redemption to a satisfactory standard.
No. What you do need is an interest in your child’s school and the desire to work in partnership with others to help shape the school’s future.
- Monday 14th February
- Monday 21st March
- Monday 9th May
- Monday 20th June
- Monday 25th July
- Monday 12th September
- Monday 17th October
- Monday 14th November
- Monday 12th December
Accelerated VCE Program
Students who have been nominated can complete an accelerated program. This involves:
- Year 10 students completing a Unit 1/2 subject
- Year 11 students completing a Unit 3/4 subject
Accelerated programs are only offered to those students who are deemed capable. The benefits of completing an accelerated program is to possibly enhance the ATAR score generated at the end of Year 12.
Student Study Information
Successful students have successful study habits. They may not all score an ATAR of 99, but they do not spend the rest of their life saying “I wish I worked harder”… Similarly, successful students often have a balanced social life to temper their study habits – studying effectively is as much about the balance as about the hours involved.
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Homework is completing outstanding work, and far too many students think that that is all that’s required at VCE level. Not even close! While for many this may be sufficient at junior levels, during VCE you will need to study your work, to keep abreast of each subject and to consolidate your understanding in it. This may involve rereading notes, quizzing with a friend, completing extra questions, summarising and writing class work out in a format you find easier to understand etc. The options for home study are only limited by your imagination.
You should spend approximately 2hrs/week for each Unit 1/2 study, and around 3hrs a week for each Unit 3/4 Unit in homework and home study combined. For most students, this means 10 hours/week in Year 11 and 15 hours/week in Year 12.
It’s an attitude thing – do you want to be your own boss, and take responsibility for yourself? Most students would say yes to that. Then don’t wait to be told what to learn, or how to learn it – look for opportunities in class to absorb all the information in your preferred way, and ignore the others that are into distractions. A teacher’s role is to assist students to learn, not to force them, so use them to help you. Remember – you’re in charge of your learning, so take and keep, control.
Understanding how you learn gives you a better insight into more effective learning. Remember how you learned to ride a bike? You should recognise the following steps. Try to consciously include them into your study program.
- Identifying the need to learn
- Intending to learn
- Gathering resources
- Forming ideas
- Trialling ideas
- Reflecting on outcomes
- Repeating steps (i.e. Practising)
Additionally, people learn in different ways. Some like to use concept maps, others tables, a few colour codes, some like to associate things with other ideas or words they understand, a number of people learn emotionally (through involvement) – try to figure out which is the preferred method for you to learn most effectively, and then use it.
Students will be required to maintain their homework program and in order to ensure that students keep up to date with their school work there will be catch up sessions on various nights for VCE students, this will be communicated via your coordinator. Students will be informed that they have to attend the sessions if they are falling behind in their school work and the study session will be compulsory to attend. Contact will be made with your parents if this is the case.