1. VCE - Victorian Certificate of Education
July 23rd 2019

2. Overview VCE Scaling Considerations VCAA Study Design SAC
Subject Selection
Uni Accelerate
Subjects on offer in 2020

3. What is the Victorian Certificate of Education?
Certificate that recognises a student’s successful completion of Secondary Education in Victoria
Recognised around the world and provides pathways to further study at University, Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and employment
VCE is usually completed over 2 years, but may be undertaken over 3 years.
To graduate with the VCE, students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 16 units, although 20 to 24 units is generally the norm
Regardless of how many units are completed, students must satisfactorily complete four units from the English group in order to graduate

4. Choosing VCE Subjects?
It is vital students research the VCE subject areas and choose subjects that best suit their strengths and skills.
Care needs to be taken when selecting subjects because a change in your subjects can be very difficult if not impossible.
Students should be encouraged to carry out plenty of investigation by talking to teachers and the Careers Advisor at their campus

5. Choosing VCE Subjects - Year 12
Students undertake 5 subjects in Year 12 - Unit 3 and 4.
All students complete English, Literature or English Language and must have at least 4 other Unit 3 and 4 sequences.
For students on a pathway that requires an ATAR, calculation is based on Unit 3&4 studies and block credit VET subjects only.

6. Satisfactory Completion of VCE
To satisfactorily complete VCE students must complete 16 VCE units.
Conditions:
English – students must satisfactorily complete 3 units (a student must be enrolled in a unit 3/4 English sequence )
Plus a minimum of 3 other unit 3/4 sequences to a satisfactory level.
At St Peter’s College we expect all students to complete an English and 4 extra subjects.

7. 10% of 5th (and possible 6th)
What is the ATAR?
Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (formerly ENTER and TER)
Not a score, but a ranking system that shows a student’s achievement in relation to other students
The calculation of the ATAR -
next 3 best
English study score
10% of 5th (and possible 6th)
= ATAR

8. Maximising the ATAR?
To maximise the chances of achieving the best possible ATAR score
Complete as many full sequences of subjects as possible – units 1-4
Pick subjects students are good at and enjoy.
Consider studying a Unit 3/4 subject in year 11, if students can cope with the workload. They should consider this if they are planning further study at tertiary level.

9. Scaling scores in VCE
Students should choose studies they like or are good at without worrying about their ATAR.
Scaling is not always well understood and many students believe that to achieve their best possible ATAR they need to choose studies that are scaled up. This is not true and may even work against you.

10. Considerations when selecting subjects
University Prerequisites; use VTAC website
Future career
Your child's interests and what they enjoy
Units studied in Year 11 (to continue or not to continue)
Advice given at the Futures Expo by THE RIGHT PEOPLE

11. Things NOT to Consider when selecting subjects
When your child is selecting their elective subjects, encourage them not to consider the following:
What my friend has chosen
Who the teacher is
Scaling of subjects
“I’ve been told…” by someone who has no clue

12. Who is VCAA?
Independent statutory body directly responsible to the Minister for Education, serving both government and non-government schools
Mission: To provide high quality curriculum, assessment and reporting that promotes individual lifelong learning
Develops courses that enable VCE students to acquire skills and knowledge in a wide range of subjects

13. What is a study design?
Curriculum planning document that outlines the units to be undertaken within a particular subject
Within each unit, the outcomes are specified that are to be taught, which is broken down into Key Knowledge (what you must know) and key skills (what you need to do)
To gain a satisfactory for the outcome and the unit, you must ‘satisfy’ what the outcome is asking of you
Satisfactory grades should be awarded before the SACs are conducted
Study designs can be found on the VCAA website

14. What is a SAC? School Assessed Coursework
Different for each study; this information can be found in the study design
Assesses student understanding of key knowledge and key skills
SACs contribute to your study score, along with the end of year examination

15. VCE Subject Selection
What does a Year 12 VCE Program at St. Peter’s College looks like?
Unit 3/4 English OR Literature
Unit 3/4 ______
For accelerated students: Unit 3/4 ______ OR Uni Accelerate
Unit 2 Religion

16. Uni Accelerate - another option available
Uni Accelerate is a distinctive VCE extension studies program offering high-achieving students university-level learning opportunities, in which students complete two units of a first-year university subject at the same time as your Year 12 studies, one each semester.
Students will obtain the same benefits as studying a fifth or sixth VCE subject, while gaining university credit and reducing the cost of your future degree at the selected University.
When students successfully complete the Accelerate program, they'll achieve between three and five increment points to be added to their ATAR aggregate.
Offered online at:
Monash University
Deakin University
Federation University
Others (Check with Mrs Cardamone)

17. Unit 3/4 Subjects on offer in 2020
Religion and Society
Health and Human Development
Physical Education
Food Studies
Applied Computing
Product Design
Systems Engineering
Art
Studio Art
Visual Communication
Drama
Dance
Media
Literature
VET Sport and Rec
VET Hospitality
VET Engineering
English
English Language
Mathematics - Further, Methods and Specialist
Biology
Physics
Psychology
Chemistry
Legal Studies
History
Geography
Accounting
Business Management
Global Politics
Economics
VET Music
VET Information, Digital Media and Technology

18. What can I do now? Encourage your child to:
Read the student handbook (accessed via the careers page on School Box)
Talk to their subject teachers
Look at the prerequisites on VTAC website
Talk to the Senior Years Curriculum Leader or the Careers & VET Coordinator if they are still unsure
Enter in subject preferences by August 2nd.

19. VCAL at St. Peter’s Cranbourne
Futures - Parent Information

21. THE VCAL PROGRAM - MONDAY, TUESDAY & THURSDAY - WEDNESDAYS / FRIDAY – VET & STRUCTURED WORKPLACE LEARNING (SWL)
Year 10 VCAL (Foundation) RE
Literacy
Numeracy
PDS -Personal Development Skills
WRS - Work Related Skills
Certificate II – Public Safety – Firefighting Operations - Magenta
Year 11 VCAL (Intermediate) RE
Literacy
Numeracy (Numeracy / VCE General Maths)
PDS
WRS
Certificate II – Outdoor Recreation - IVET
Year 12 VCAL (Senior) RE
Literacy
Numeracy (Numeracy / VCE Further Maths )
PDS
WRS
Certificate II – Business - IVET

22. VET COURSES IN VCAL Y11 Certificate II – Outdoor Recreation IVET
Y10 Certificate II – Public Safety – Firefighting Operations Magenta
Y11 Certificate II – Outdoor Recreation IVET
Mountain Biking
Bushwalking
Snorkelling
Orienteering etc
Y12 Certificate II – Business IVET
$20 Boss
Coffee Cart

23. THE SUCCESS OF VCAL

25. VCAL PROJECTS Harmony Day Anzac Day $20 Boss St Agatha's Edible Garden
St Thomas Wicked Garden Beds
SPC Tree Planting/Garden Beds/Shed/Painting Shipping containers
St Thomas Benches
Building Coffee Cart
St Agatha’s Chook Shed
Building Children’s Toys
Catering Project
Phillip Island Penguin Boxes
RU OK? Colour Run
Footy Colours Day
SPC Athletics and Swim Carnival BBQ

26. VCAL STUDENTS Are: Are not: Non motivated students Poor communicators
Introverted
Lack of direction
Are:
Work minded students – have an intended pathway
Hands on / Kinaesthetic learners
Outgoing / Can work as part of a group
Self motivated / proactive
Independent
Good Communicators / possible leadership potential

27. VCAL PREREQUISITES Possibly have a defined Pathway / Interest
Willingness / Understanding of heading into Industry
Prepared to complete a VET course or traineeship

28. Questions?