The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is a secondary school qualification normally completed over two years in Years 11 & 12.
The VCE curriculum is determined by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). The VCAA provides the guidelines for school-based assessments and administers the external examinations.
The VCE curriculum consists of VCAA approved VCE studies and VCAA approved VCE VET (Vocational Education & Training) studies. A range of non-VCAA approved VET programs can also be studied and count towards the VCE. VET studies provide a practical hands-on course of study.
VCE and VET Units of Study
VCE and VET studies are made up of units. A unit is half a year or one semester. Most studies consist of 4 units eg:
Unit 1 Biology | Unit 1 VET Automotive |
Unit 2 Biology | Unit 2 VET Automotive |
Unit 3 Biology | Unit 3 VET Automotive |
Unit 4 Biology | Unit 4 VET Automotive |
Unit 1&2 studies are generally completed in Year 11 and Unit 3&4 studies in Year 12.
VCE Units 1 & 2 are normally taken as a sequence, but they can be taken as single units i.e. Unit 1 alone or just Unit 2. Units 3 & 4 however must always be taken as a sequence of two units and must be completed in the same year unless Interrupted Studies status has been granted by the VCAA.
Units 1-4 of VET studies must normally be taken as a sequence over two years as assessment in VETstudies is competency-based.
Special features of Glen Waverley Secondary College’s VCE program
The College offers a flexible VCE program to cater for a range of student needs and aspirations.
Satisfactorily completion of the VCE
A student must satisfactorily complete at least 16 units which must include:
Example of a typical two-year VCE course.
In this example, the student has completed 24 units of study with:
Year 10 | VCE Study | Biology 1 & 2 | ||||
Year 11 | English 1 & 2 | Biology 3 & 4 | Maths Methods 1 & 2 | General Maths Advanced 1 & 2 | History 1 & 2 | Economics 1 & 2 |
Year 12 | English 3 & 4 | Global Politics | Maths Methods 3 & 4 | History Revolutions | Economics 3 & 4 |
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