Victorian Certificate of Education – Assessment

2018 VCE School-based Assessment Audit

All schools are audited each year for at least one VCE study, and all VCE studies are subject to the annual School-based Assessment Audit. The notification of Unit 3 requirements for the 2018 School-based Assessment Audit was on Monday 26 February through VASS.

The screen in VASS where schools can access the list of studies selected for audit at their school is School Program > VCE > School-based Assessment Audit (please ensure the search function is filtered to view Unit 3 studies only).

The first stage of the School-based Assessment Audit involves the completion of a study-specific audit questionnaire, which details the planned approach to assessment for Unit 3. On behalf of the school, teachers of the study will need to complete the audit by Monday 19 March 2018.

Further information on the School-based Assessment Audit can be found on the VCE General Advice and Policy webpage on the VCAA website, or by contacting Merry Young on (03) 9032 1735 or school.assessment.vcaa@edumail.vic.gov.au.

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Examination materials: New and revised studies

Examination specifications for written examinations for the following new or revised VCE studies and VCE VET programs that commenced Units 3 and 4 in 2018 have been published on the relevant examination pages of the VCAA website: Australian Politics; Chinese Language, Culture and Society; Global Politics; Health and Human Development; Legal Studies; Media; Outdoor and Environmental Studies; Physical Education; Product Design and Technology; Sociology; Visual Communication Design; and VET Health.

Sample examination materials have been published for Media and Outdoor and Environmental Studies. Sample materials for other studies will be published during Term 1 as they become available for release.

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Use of CAS software in VCE Mathematics examinations

As specified in the 2017 October VCAA Bulletin, either one approved CAS calculator, or one approved CAS software, may be used for Further Mathematics Examination 1, Further Mathematics Examination 2, Mathematical Methods Examination 2 and Specialist Mathematics Examination 2.

Approval for the use of CAS software

Schools that wish students to use CAS software for these examinations must apply in writing to the VCAA for approval.

Students are permitted to use one of the CAS software Casio ClassPad Manager, HP Prime Emulator, Mathematica, Maple, MATLAB or TI-Nspire, and files of that software type stored on a USB. Students may also use a bound reference.

Schools are required to meet VCAA specifications for the conduct of computer-assisted examinations.

Mathematical Methods Examination 2 Computer-based Examination (CBE)

Schools approved as part of this program do not need to apply to the VCAA for approval to use Mathematica as a computational tool for Further Mathematics Examination 1, Further Mathematics Examination 2 and Specialist Mathematics Examination 2.

For further information, please contact VCAA Assessment Operations at vcaa.assessment.operations@edumail.vic.gov.au.

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Training for the conduct and administration of 2018 VCE external assessments

It is a VCAA requirement that all newly appointed chief supervisors attend training prior to starting their roles. School personnel who are responsible for the conduct and administration of VCE external assessments, and are new to this role, should also attend a training session (even if their school has an ongoing, experienced chief supervisor). Training sessions will be held between Monday 7 May and Thursday 10 May 2018 at the VCAA Assessment Centre, Coburg. The closing date for registration is Wednesday 18 April. Please refer to Notice to Schools 10/2018 for full details.

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2018 GAT centres, appointment of supervisors and principal's agreement

VCE providers with students enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3−4 sequence must meet the VCAA requirements for the conduct and administration of VCE external assessments as outlined in the 2018 Agreement to conduct and administer VCE External Assessments form.

Additional documentation and forms relating to the confirmation or establishment of GAT centres and the appointment of supervisors must also be read, completed and returned to the VCAA by Thursday 8 March. Please refer to Notice to Schools 12/2018 for details.

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