VCE terms

ATAR - Australian Tertiary Admission Rank

A student’s ATAR is determined by VTAC using the student’s scaled study scores. The ATAR is a percentile which ranks students for the purpose of tertiary selection.

Authentication

The process of ensuring that work submitted by students for assessment is genuinely their own. Teachers monitor the completion of students’ work.

CHES - Centre for Higher Education Studies

Introduced for high-achieving and high-abilitys senior secondary students at Victoria’s government schools.

DES - Derived Exam Score

An estimated score for a particular exam which may be used under Special Provision.

EAL - English as an Additional Language

For VCE students who have studied less than seven years in English instruction. Students must meet VCCA criteria to enrol as an EAL student, previously known as ESL (English as a Second Language).

GAT - General Achievement Test

All students undertaking a Unit 3 & 4 sequence must sit this test. GATs are used by VCAA to monitor school assessments and for the determination of a DES and may be used to assist with selection into tertiary courses.

HES - Higher Education Studies

Part of CHES, students can study first year undergraduate subjects.

Learning Outcomes

What a student must know or be able to do by the time she has finished the Unit.

Part-time Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Students who receive training as part of their casual employment and receive credit towards their VCE.

School Assessment Tasks (SATs)

Tasks done in class time to assess performance in Art, Media, Studio Arts Visual Design, Food Technology and Design and Technology studies.

‘S’ or ‘N’

‘S’ for satisfactory (pass) or ‘N’ not satisfactory (not passed).

School Assessed Coursework (SACs)

Work done, mainly in class time, to assess performance in Units 3 & 4. Set and marked by teachers according to VCAA (Victorian Curriculum & Assessment Authority) specifications.

School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAT) 

Students undertake training and employment with an employer which is an integral part of the school learning program and study timetable.

Semester

One half of the academic year. A unit of study lasts for one semester.

Sequence

A sequence is a Unit 3 followed by Unit 4. One of the requirements for passing the VCE is the successful completion of four Unit 3 & 4 sequences.

Student Program

This is the total package of VCE and VET studies normally taken over two years.

Study/Studies

Subject(s) English, Biology, Further Maths etc.

TAFE - Technical and Further Education

TAFE Institutes offer post-secondary courses.

Unit

Each VCE study is divided into 4 units. Each unit lasts one semester. Units 1 & 2 are normally at Year 11 level, and Units 3 & 4 are normally at Year 12 level.

VCAA - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority

The accrediting and authorising body responsible for overseeing the VCE.

VCE

Victorian Certificate of Education.

VET

Vocational Education and Training. 

VM

Vocational Major is the replacement for the Intermediate and Senior VCAL.

VCE/VET

This refers to the expanding range of nationally recognised vocational studies now integrated within the VCE.

VTAC - Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre

The body responsible for the administration of the application.