THE VCE FAQ

What is the VCE? The VCE is divided into units and studies. Students usually study from 20 to 24 units (five or six studies) in Years 11 and 12 You can do either Unit 1 or 2 in any study. You need to do both Units 3 and 4 of one study in the same year.

What do I have to do to get my VCE? To get your VCE you must pass 16 units. Three units must be from the English group, including a unit 3-4 sequence English, EAL, Literature & English Language The remaining units come from your choice of VCE studies. Three of these studies must be at Unit 3 and 4 level. All VCE students studying at least one Unit 3 and 4 study take the General Achievement Test (GAT). The GAT is used to work out your general knowledge and skills in written communication, mathematics, science, technology, humanities, the arts and social sciences. You must do the GAT. It doesn’t count towards your VCE results, but it is used to make sure your marks are accurate. It is also used in the event of a DES.

How do I get marks in the VCE? ALL units (1-4) require students to demonstrate the achievement of ALL outcomes for that unit. Students demonstrate this achievement in coursework assessments – SACs (School-Assessed Coursework) or SATs (School-Assessed Tasks) as designated by the subject teacher. All assessments must be completed to a satisfactory standard. Students will be asked to repeat work that is not satisfactory, however, students cannot re-submit work to achieve a higher grade. Exams are used to assess students internally at Year 11 Exams at Unit 3 and 4 level are externally assessed, contribute to your Study Score and are also used to verify your SAC and SAT scores.

Attendance Attendance is expected at Year 11 and 12 Student absence in the senior school is managed somewhat differently due to the fact that attendance is linked to whether or not a student satisfactorily completes a unit of study (Unit 1 – 4) Attendance is expected above 90% - below this will trigger ‘At Risk’ Interviews VCE students with seven ‘Unapproved Absences’ for a subject, per semester, will be assessed with an N – that is, they will not meet the requirements to pass the subject. Staff will send an ‘At Risk’ letter to parent/guardian for students whose absence is of concern. YHSC Attendance Policy 2015

Attendance In the case a student is absent from school for any part of a day on which work is due, or to be completed in class, the student is required to produce evidence of reason for absence; Evidence must be in the form of a medical certificate (a note from a parent/guardian is not acceptable). Upon receipt of the medical certificate, the student will be provided with the opportunity to negotiate a new due date/time to complete the work required. Under such circumstance, the student will receive an assessment of the work which will be reflected in the report/and entered into VASS (Unit 3/4 only). In the case that a medical certificate is not produced, the assessment procedure for a student not submitting work by a due date (as above) shall be followed Resit organised; however, student can sit only to overturn the N-grade to an S. A 0-score will be awarded YHSC Submission of Work Policy 2014

Attendance In the event where absence is not from illness (i.e bereavement) – you must notify your Coordinator as soon as possible. They will notify you of evidence required A family vacation is not a valid reason!

Attendance When absent: Phone call from Home explaining absence Medical Certificate if: Absence longer than 1 day Absence effecting your overall attendance rate (falling below 90%) On the day of a SAC or a SAT due date Medical Certificates will be recorded by Mr Millott or Ms Jordan on a database for your teachers Attendance is a concern! Any truancy or unexplained absences will be followed up from now! Lateness counts towards your absence for every class!

If the work is not satisfactory Should the work submitted on the due date not meet the criteria for satisfactory completion, it may be resubmitted/re-sat. The student will be granted up to one week for this to be re-submitted or re-sat. The teacher will send home an ‘At Risk’ letter through Compass, outlining the resubmission/re-sit date and the reasons why this is occurring. The reported assessment for the task however will be based on the original mark. This will provide the student the opportunity to resubmit/re-sit the task in order to achieve an S for the outcome. The score from the original task remains YHSC Submission of Work Policy 2014

When will I receive an N-grade? A student receives an N-grade for the unit when Work does not demonstrate achievement of the outcomes after additional opportunities A student fails to meet school deadlines, as listed in subsection (if the SAC/SAT is not submitted on the due date) Work cannot be authenticated There has been a substantial breach of rules YHSC Submission of Work Policy DRAFT Amendment 2017

Breaches in School-Based Assessment Students and Staff should refer to the VCE Exams Navigator for detailed rules relating to SACs completed under Test Conditions. Special mention must be made to Conduct of written exams/SACs (including the provision of reading time, leaving exam room and ceasing writing at the end of the time given) Use of bottled water Use of mobile phones, electronic devices watches and other communication devices Use of calculators (including graphics and scientific calculators) Other permissible/non-permissible items (including bound references or ‘notes page) Basic Stationary Items YHSC Submission of Work Policy DRAFT Amendment 2017

Breaches in School-Based Assessment Breaches may also occur when: A student plagiarises work; all work must be of their own, or acknowledge the work of others Student receives undue assistance from another person A student submits the same piece of work for assessment in more than one study A student circulates or publishes work that is being submitted for assessment in a study in the academic year of enrolment A student knowingly assists another student in a breach of rules YHSC Submission of Work Policy DRAFT Amendment 2017

Where are my grades reported? At Units 1 & 2, your scores are submitted and recorded at your end of Year Report. Your grades are recorded in your report and into the VCE (S/N) To successfully move into Year 12, a minimum of 8 successful units must be completed. At Units 3 & 4, all scores and grades are submitted to VCAA for the calculation of your Study Scores and Subsequent ATAR score.

How are Study Scores Calculated The total of your Graded Assessments (GA) are added, and then compared to the rest of the state. Therefore a Study Score is a ‘rank’ in comparison to the rest of the state for that study for that year.

How is the ATAR calculated? The ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank) is a comparison to the rest of the state. It is the calculation of Scaled Study Scores from English Your next best 3 Study Scores 10% of any fifth or sixth subjects you may study You must have at least a Unit 1 or 2 English Pass, and 4 successful Unit 3 and 4 sequences, and 16 units overall, to be awarded the VCE.

For more info YHSC Attendance Policy YHSC Submission of Work Policy Draft Amendment to Submission of Work Policy