VCE curriculum
2023 VCE briefings on-demand videos and live webinars
We are offering an online professional development program for members of VCE leadership teams during Term 1, 2023.
The program will give VCE school leaders, both new and experienced, an overview of current VCE matters and the opportunity to increase knowledge and skills that can be shared with their teaching teams. It will be delivered through a series of on-demand videos and live webinars.
The on-demand videos will cover information, skills and resources for leading and implementing the VCE in schools. The live webinars will provide additional support for VCE school leaders and answer your follow-up questions to the on-demand videos.
Follow the links to register for a live session:
The content covered in both live webinars will be similar but will be targeted for the intended audience.
We invite VCE school leaders to provide feedback on areas you would like us to cover in our professional development program. To provide feedback, please complete this
short questionnaire by Friday 3 December.
For more information, email the VCE Curriculum Unit at
vcaa.vce.curriculum@education.vic.gov.au or call (03) 9059 5134.
2023 VCE school-assessed tasks professional learning program
Professional learning for the following VCE studies with school-assessed tasks will be provided next year in Terms 1 and 2:
- Algorithmics (HESS)
- Art Creative Practice
- Art Making and Exhibiting
- Applied Computing: Data Analytics
- Applied Computing: Software Development
- Media
- Product Design and Technology
- Systems Engineering
- Visual Communication Design.
The professional learning program will be a combination of on-demand videos and live webinars. Teachers will gain a clear understanding of the delivery of school-assessed tasks, including authentication, administration and how to apply assessment criteria and descriptors.
Look out for further details and registrations in February 2023.
For more information, email VCE Professional Development at
vcaa.vce.pd@education.vic.gov.au.
Notices to schools
VCE assessment
Use of technology in 2023 VCE Mathematics examinations
Each year the VCAA monitor developments in calculator, software and related technology and annually publish details of technology approved for use in VCE Mathematics examinations for the forthcoming year.
Approved calculators or software may be used in specified mathematics examinations, as applicable. In specified examinations, a scientific calculator may also be used. A scientific calculator does not have graphic, symbolic or programming capability. It does not have extended memory capable of storing text and symbols.
If there are doubts about whether a particular calculator or software is approved, schools should email VCE Examinations at
examinations.vcaa@education.vic.gov.au, preferably at the beginning of the course.
Conditions of use
These are the conditions under which all calculators may be used:
- The calculator must be silent and of the hand-held type, containing its own power source.
- Students will be entirely responsible for ensuring adequate power supply to their calculators and the proper working order of their calculators.
- Students must supply their own spare batteries or ensure calculator batteries are fully charged; any battery failure or other fault that limits the usefulness of a calculator during an examination will not be taken into consideration by the assessors.
- No student may borrow a calculator from another student after entering the examination room.
Other technology
Other technology, such as computers, laptops, tablets and iPads, can be used only with the prior approval of the VCAA.
Use of calculators and software
In 2023, 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. One scientific calculator may also be used for Further Mathematics Examination 1, Further Mathematics Examination 2, Mathematical Methods Examination 2 and Specialist Mathematics Examination 2.
One scientific calculator may be used for the Foundation Mathematics examination.
No calculators or software of any kind are permitted for Mathematical Methods Examination 1 and Specialist Mathematics Examination 1.
Approved CAS calculators
In 2023, the following CAS calculators are approved for use in Further Mathematics Examination 1, Further Mathematics Examination 2, Mathematical Methods Examination 2 and Specialist Mathematics Examination 2:
- Casio – Algebra or ClassPad series
- Hewlett Packard – HP 40/48/49/50 or HP Prime series
- Texas Instruments – TI 89/92/Voyager or TI-Nspire CAS series
The full functions of approved CAS calculators may be used; that is, the memory on these calculators does not require clearing before entering the examination.
Approval for CAS software
In 2023, schools that wish students to use CAS software for any of Further Mathematics Examination 1, Further Mathematics Examination 2, Mathematical Methods Examination 2 and Specialist Mathematics Examination 2 must apply in writing to the VCAA for approval.
For approved schools and for these examinations only, students are permitted to use one of Casio ClassPad Manager, Prime Emulator, Mathematica, Maple, MATLAB or TI-Nspire emulator, with files of that software type stored on a USB, provided they meet VCAA specifications for the conduct of computer-assisted examinations. For more information, email Assessment Operations at
vcaa.assessment.operations@education.vic.gov.au.
Notices to schools