VCE/VM Subject Selection

Pathways at MSJ

The term ‘Pathways’ is used to describe the different study and training opportunities individuals take up in pursuit of particular career and employment aspirations.  In Australia, a student’s post-school options include University study, full-time TAFE study, Australian Apprenticeships (now incorporating traineeships) and employment. Other possibilities include short courses, part-time university or TAFE study and distance education.  The program you select in your final years of secondary education is the first step toward creating a pathway that will lead you to future career and employment opportunities.

 

At Mount St. Joseph Girls’ College there are two types of courses offered to students.  Students need to choose one of the following courses:

  1. Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)
  2. Victorian Certificate of Education - Certificate of Vocational Major (VCE-VM)

PATHWAY – VCE

 

Overview

During your last two years at MSJ you usually study a minimum of 22 units. 

 

Of the 22 units at MSJ, you must select:

 

  1. At least four sequential units from the group of English Studies:

English 1 & 2, English 3 & 4, English Language 1 & 2, English Language 3 & 4, Literature 1 & 2, Literature 3 & 4

 

       2. Religion:

 

Religion and Society 1 & 2, Religion and Society 3 & 4, Text and Traditions 1 & 2, Text and Traditions 3 & 4, Religion and Society Unit 2 (full year in Year 11), Text and Traditions Unit 1 (full year in Year 11), Year 12 school-based RE.

 

Year One:

In your first year of VCE at MSJ you would usually choose 12 – 13 units to study in the two semesters. 

 

Year Two:

In your second year you would usually choose 10 VCE units to study in the two semesters.  These units must include at least five sequences of Units 3 and 4, including at least one sequence from the group of English Studies – English 3 & 4, Literature 3 & 4, English Language 3 & 4.

 

Satisfactory completion:

To complete requirements of the VCE you must satisfactorily complete a total of no fewer than 16 units over 2 years.  Satisfactorily completed units must include: 

  1. At least three units from the group of English studies, which must include a 3 and 4 sequence of English, English Language or Literature.

AND

  1. At least three other sequences of Units 3 and 4 studies other than your English study – you may take more than one of the Unit 3 and 4 English studies.
  2. The expectation of the College is that students undertake a minimum of five Unit 3 & 4 sequences at Year 12 level.

 

Further study:  

Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) advises that for the calculation of a student’s Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR), satisfactory completion of both Units 3 and 4 of an English study is also required.

 

Assessment:

The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is a two year certificate, and assessment is spread over Years 11 and 12.  Different methods of assessing students and their attainment of specified learning outcomes will give students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate a range of skills.  The award of satisfactory completion for a unit is based on a decision that the student has demonstrated achievement of the set of learning outcomes specified for the unit.  This decision will be based on the teacher’s assessment of the student’s overall performance on assessment tasks designated for the unit.

 

Units 1 and 2:

The award of ‘Satisfactory Completion’ for a unit is based on a decision that the student has demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for the unit in the Study Design.  The College determines procedures for the assessment of levels of achievement. This is in accordance with the College’s VCE Satisfactory Completion Policy.  Assessment of a student’s level of achievement is by a combination of coursework, extended tasks and examinations.

 

Units 3 and 4:

The award of ‘Satisfactory Completion’ for a unit is based on a decision that the student has demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for the unit in the Study Design.  A student’s level of achievement will be determined by a combination of school assessed coursework, tasks and external examinations.

 

Reporting:

Completion of a Unit will be reported on the Statement of Results issued by the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA) as S (Satisfactory), or N (Not Satisfactory).  The College will also provide written reports on the level of achievement attained by students at the end of Units 1, 2 and 3.