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Extended Investigation

Accreditation period 2019-2024

The accreditation period for Extended Investigation has been extended until 31 December 2024.

VCE Extended Investigation contains Units 3 and 4 only.​

Study Design

VCE Extended Investigation Study Design (pdf - 209.75kb) (Updated January 2020)

Details on areas of study, outcomes and assessment for Extended Investigation Units 3-4: 2019-2024.

Extended Investigation study design amendments (February 2020)

School-based Assessment

View VCE Extended Investigation School-based Assessment report.

Unit​ 3: School-based Assessment criteria and performance descriptors​​​​​​

Unit 3 Outcome 1: Written Rationale

Unit 3 Outcome 2: Written Research Plan

Unit 3 Outcome 2: ​Oral report
​​Provides performance-level descriptors for teachers to assess the performance of students against the prescribed assessment criteria​

External Assessment

View the VCE Extended Investigation external assessment webpage for

  • Critical Thinking Test specifications, past tests and reports
  • Externally assessed task (EAT) - oral presentation and written report specifications, assessment criteria and performance-level descriptors, and reports

Support material

Advice for teachers
Learning activities and assessment advice for teachers.

Glossary of command terms
This glossary provides a list of terms commonly used across the Victorian Curriculum F–10, VCE study designs and VCE examinations and to help students better understand the requirements of command terms in the context of their discipline.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in the VCE
On-demand video recordings, presented with the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI) and the Department of Education (DE) Koorie Outcomes Division, for VCE teachers and leaders as part of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in the VCE webinar program held in 2023.

Thinking critically
Resource material.

Authentication

Authentication (March 2023)
Provides information about the management of authentication in the study​.

Externally-assessed Task Authentication Form
This form may be used alongside the Extended Investigation Journal to provide a summary record of the monitoring of student work for authentication purposes.

Student and teacher declaration
This declaration must be completed by the student and supervising teacher and submitted to the VCAA as a separate file to the Written Report.

Information for prospective providers

2024 Statement of school readiness
All schools delivering VCE Extended Investigation for the first time in 2024 are required to complete the statement of school readiness.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
These frequently asked questions address a range of matters of interest to new and prospective providers.

Top Talks
Top Talks is part of the VCAA Season of Excellence and showcases exceptional oral presentations from VCE Extended Investigation students. This page lists topics of past presenters, describes the selection process and includes a seven minute documentary with interviews with Top Talk students, the Chief Assessor-Oral Presentation and the Extended Investigation program manager at the time of filming.

Consultation

Consultation on the VCE Extended Investigation Study Design is now closed.

The review panel will consider all responses to the consultation draft before a final draft of the study design is prepared.

The final draft of the study design will be considered by the Board of the VCAA. Any updates on the progress of the review will be published in the VCAA Bulletin.

Curriculum Manager

Alex Louie
Curriculum Manager - VCE Philosophy, VCE Extended Investigation
email: Alex.Louie@education.vic.gov.au

Curriculum Managers lead, manage and support the production, review and development of senior secondary curriculum and assessment materials. They also provide policy advice and implementation support for Foundation to Year 12 curriculum and assessment.