Satisfactorily completing VCE units
To satisfactorily complete a VCE unit, students must demonstrate their achievement of the set of outcomes as specified in the study design. The decision about satisfactory completion of outcomes is based on the teacher’s judgment of the student’s overall performance on a combination of set work (learning activities) and assessment tasks (including school-based assessments) related to the outcomes. Students should be provided with multiple opportunities across the learning program to develop and demonstrate the key knowledge and key skills required for the outcomes for the unit.
The decision to award an S for satisfactorily completing a unit is separate from the assessment of levels of achievement for study score calculation. VCE unit results (S or N) contribute to satisfactory completion of the certificate.
There are no external assessments of VCE VM Unit 3–4 sequences and students enrolled in VCE VM studies do not receive a study score. If a student wants to receive study scores, they can choose from the wide range of VCE studies and scored VCE VET programs that contain both internal and external assessment components.
VCE VM studies do not contribute to the ATAR.
Satisfactory VCE unit result
The student will receive an S (satisfactory) for a unit if the teacher determines that the student has:
- produced work that demonstrates achievement of the outcomes
- submitted work that is clearly their own.
The school is solely responsible for decisions about satisfactory completion of a unit. Results for each unit must be based on a judgment of satisfactory or non-satisfactory achievement of outcomes A teacher’s judgement on whether the student has satisfactorily achieved the outcomes for a study as determined by evidence gained through the assessment of a range of set work (learning activities) and assessment tasks (including school-based assessments) must be consistent for all students who are being assessed for levels of achievement in the study and those who are not.
At the beginning of the academic year, schools must provide students with clear written details of both the VCAA’s rules and the school’s rules and procedures. For all VCE units, schools must specify all set work (learning activities) and assessment (including school-based assessment) that a student must complete to achieve an S for a unit and the conditions under which the work is to be done. See
Integrity of VCE school-based assessments for more information.
Not satisfactory VCE unit result
The student will receive an N (not satisfactory) for the unit when one or more of the following occurs:
- the work does not demonstrate achievement of the outcomes
- the student has failed to meet a school deadline for the school-based assessment task (which can include time granted through an extension for any reason or a special provision or both)
- the work cannot be authenticated, for example, through lack of attendance
- there has been a substantial breach of the VCAA’s rules and the school’s rules and procedures.
Redeeming outcomes – submitting further evidence for satisfactory completion
If, in the teacher’s judgement, work submitted by a student does not meet the required standard for satisfactory completion, the teacher should consider other work relating to outcomes that has been undertaken and submitted by the student for the unit. This work may include class work, homework, additional tasks or discussions with the student that demonstrate their achievement of the outcome. The school may decide to delay the decision about satisfactory completion to allow a student to complete or submit further work.
A student may only submit further evidence or resubmit a school-based assessment for reconsideration, to redeem an N to an S for the outcome. Students may not resubmit to improve a school-based assessment score.
VCE unit result of J
If a student is no longer attending a unit but they have not officially withdrawn by signing a Student exit form, the symbol J will be included on VASS.
The J result can only be used if the student:
- is no longer attending class
- has not submitted work for assessment.
The J result is recorded on the VCAA database but is not reported on the student’s Statement of Results. Units with a J result are made available to the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) and are treated as equivalent to those with an N result.
Lost, stolen or damaged work
If a teacher or student has lost work or had work stolen or damaged, they must make a written statement explaining the circumstances. The statement must be signed, dated and filed at the school. Schools must keep a record, but they are not required to report the loss, theft or damage to the VCAA. The principal, acting on advice from the teacher, and on the basis of records kept, shall determine the unit result for the student.
Care in the use of technology
A student who uses technology to produce work for assessment is responsible for making sure:
- there is an alternative system available for producing assessable work in case of malfunction or unavailability
- hard copies of the work in progress and backup versions are produced regularly.
VCE VM assessment
The same administrative arrangements for satisfactorily completing VCE units apply to students enrolled in the VCE VM. The assessment tasks and activities provided to VCE VM students to demonstrate their achievement of the set of outcomes as specified in the study design must also comply with the
Pillars of Applied Learning, particularly
Assessment practices which promote success. The VM studies are based on an applied learning approach to teaching and assessment, and as such assessment practices in the VCE VM should reflect this applied approach.
VCE VM studies contribute to satisfactorily completing the VCE certificate, and do not include scored assessment of levels of achievement for study score calculation. VCAA rules and instructions about School Assessed Coursework, School Assessed Tasks, scheduling assessment tasks, determining initial school-based assessments, and VCE externally assessed tasks do not apply to VCE VM studies.
However, schools delivering VCE VM studies must observe and apply the VCAA rules and instructions for authentication of school-based assessment, feedback to students [link], school-based assessment audit, and school-based assessment breaches or rules and investigations.