Return To Study

Students Returning To Study – VCE
Assessment in the VCE
Further information

Students Returning To Study – VCE

About the VCE
Students who have some prior VCE units
Adult VCE
Eligibility for the VCE
Students with credit for studies prior to VCE
Students who discontinued their VCE study during the preceding year
Students who wish to repeat VCE units
Entry requirements
Completion of VCE
Time involved

About the VCE

The VCE is a senior secondary certificate of education which contains general curriculum components (VCE studies) and programs from Vocational Education and Training qualifications (VCE VET).

Students who have some prior VCE units

If you have completed some VCE units and want to do more in order to satisfy the requirements of the VCE you have the option of:

completing the minimum requirements that apply to school students (16 units which include three units from the English group and three Units 3 and 4 sequences in studies other than English)
enrolling as an adult and completing eight units.

Adult VCE

You must meet two criteria to be enrolled as an adult. You must:

not have undertaken full-time secondary schooling for the full year preceding the first year of enrolment as an adult and
be at least 18 years of age on 1 January in the year of enrolment.

Eligibility for the VCE

To satisfy requirements for the award of the VCE, students returning to study (adult students) must satisfactorily complete at least eight units including:

two units from the English group at any level (i.e. from Units 1, 2, 3 or 4), and
three Units 3 and 4 sequences in studies other than English.

For tertiary entrance the English units must be at the Units 3 and 4 level.

VCE VET programs can count towards satisfactory completion of the VCE.

Students with credit for studies prior to VCE

Students wishing to attain their VCE using HSC, TOP or T12 results must accumulate satisfactory results for eight VCE units, including two units from the English group, provided that all eight units are taken at Units 3 and 4 (Year 12) level.

Students who discontinued their VCE study during the preceding year

It is not necessary to repeat Unit 3 of VCE studies (provided they were satisfactorily completed) but it is advisable to do so if you plan to take the end-of-year examinations. It is necessary to repeat Unit 3 of VCE studies to gain study scores.

Students who wish to repeat VCE units

There is no limit to the number of VCE units you may study. Nor is there a penalty for repeating units. Repeating a study at the Units 3 and 4 level is a way of improving your study score and enhancing your chances of getting into a course.

Entry requirements

While there are no formal entry requirements for studying the VCE as an adult, it is advisable to contact an Adult Community Education (ACE) provider, a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institution or the Centre for Adult Education (CAE) about minimum educational requirements. For some studies, it may be advisable to complete Units 1 and 2 prior to enrolling in Units 3 and 4.

Completion of VCE

The VCE does not have to be completed in one year by adult students. Units can be spread over a number of years but Units 3 and 4 of one subject must be completed in one calendar year to gain a study score.

Time involved

Most VCE studies require attendance at a class of between three and four hours per week. This may be in one session or spread over two sessions per week. Students are also expected to study outside class.

Graduation in the VCE depends on the satisfactory completion of the units which make up the VCE studies. The decision about satisfactory completion will be based on your ability to demonstrate the outcomes.

These outcomes are specified in the study design for each VCE study. They describe the knowledge and skills you should be able to demonstrate by the time you have completed a unit.

There are two types of graded assessment in the VCE – school-based assessment and examinations.

School assessment

There are two kinds of school-based assessment. The first is called School-assessed Coursework in which students complete the assessment tasks specified in the study design. These tasks must be done mainly in class time and include essays, reports and case studies.

A few studies in the visual arts and technology areas have the second type of assessment which is a School-assessed Task. This task is the same for every student enrolled in a study and the specifications are set by the VCAA.

		> Home > VCE > VCE for Adults > Return To Study: A guide to VCE, VCAL and VET for adults Print version
		Return To Study Students Returning To Study – VCE Assessment in the VCE Further information Students Returning To Study – VCE About the VCE Students who have some prior VCE units Adult VCE Eligibility for the VCE Students with credit for studies prior to VCE Students who discontinued their VCE study during the preceding year Students who wish to repeat VCE units Entry requirements Completion of VCE Time involved Back to Top About the VCE The VCE is a senior secondary certificate of education which contains general curriculum components (VCE studies) and programs from Vocational Education and Training qualifications (VCE VET). Back to Top Students who have some prior VCE units If you have completed some VCE units and want to do more in order to satisfy the requirements of the VCE you have the option of: completing the minimum requirements that apply to school students (16 units which include three units from the English group and three Units 3 and 4 sequences in studies other than English) enrolling as an adult and completing eight units. Back to Top Adult VCE You must meet two criteria to be enrolled as an adult. You must: not have undertaken full-time secondary schooling for the full year preceding the first year of enrolment as an adult and be at least 18 years of age on 1 January in the year of enrolment. Back to Top Eligibility for the VCE To satisfy requirements for the award of the VCE, students returning to study (adult students) must satisfactorily complete at least eight units including: two units from the English group at any level (i.e. from Units 1, 2, 3 or 4), and three Units 3 and 4 sequences in studies other than English. For tertiary entrance the English units must be at the Units 3 and 4 level. VCE VET programs can count towards satisfactory completion of the VCE. Back to Top Students with credit for studies prior to VCE Students wishing to attain their VCE using HSC, TOP or T12 results must accumulate satisfactory results for eight VCE units, including two units from the English group, provided that all eight units are taken at Units 3 and 4 (Year 12) level. Back to Top Students who discontinued their VCE study during the preceding year It is not necessary to repeat Unit 3 of VCE studies (provided they were satisfactorily completed) but it is advisable to do so if you plan to take the end-of-year examinations. It is necessary to repeat Unit 3 of VCE studies to gain study scores. Back to Top Students who wish to repeat VCE units There is no limit to the number of VCE units you may study. Nor is there a penalty for repeating units. Repeating a study at the Units 3 and 4 level is a way of improving your study score and enhancing your chances of getting into a course. Back to Top Entry requirements While there are no formal entry requirements for studying the VCE as an adult, it is advisable to contact an Adult Community Education (ACE) provider, a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institution or the Centre for Adult Education (CAE) about minimum educational requirements. For some studies, it may be advisable to complete Units 1 and 2 prior to enrolling in Units 3 and 4. Back to Top Completion of VCE The VCE does not have to be completed in one year by adult students. Units can be spread over a number of years but Units 3 and 4 of one subject must be completed in one calendar year to gain a study score. Back to Top Time involved Most VCE studies require attendance at a class of between three and four hours per week. This may be in one session or spread over two sessions per week. Students are also expected to study outside class. Assessment in the VCE School assessment External examinations Study scores The General Achievement Test (GAT) Graduation in the VCE depends on the satisfactory completion of the units which make up the VCE studies. The decision about satisfactory completion will be based on your ability to demonstrate the outcomes. These outcomes are specified in the study design for each VCE study. They describe the knowledge and skills you should be able to demonstrate by the time you have completed a unit. There are two types of graded assessment in the VCE – school-based assessment and examinations. Back to Top School assessment There are two kinds of school-based assessment. The first is called School-assessed Coursework in which students complete the assessment tasks specified in the study design. These tasks must be done mainly in class time and include essays, reports and case studies. A few studies in the visual arts and technology areas have the second type of assessment which is a School-assessed Task. This task is the same for every student enrolled in a study and the specifications are set by the VCAA. Back to Top External examinations External examinations are set and marked by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Most are held in October/November, but a small number of studies also have examinations in June. Back to Top Study scores A student who satisfactorily completes Units 3 and 4 of a VCE subject and the graded assessment requirement is eligible for a study score. The study score is used if you apply for tertiary entrance. Back to Top The General Achievement Test (GAT) The GAT is an essential part of the VCE. It provides the basis of a quality assurance check on the marking of examinations. Any student who is enrolled in a VCE or VCE VET Units 3 and 4 sequence is expected to sit the GAT. Further information See the VCE section of this site for more information.
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