Scotch College

Introduction

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is responsible for the administration of the two year Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).  The VCAA’s objective is to give access to education of the highest quality to all students seeking to undertake studies leading to the VCE. 

The VCE has divided knowledge into broad areas called Key Learning Areas. Within each area there is a range of studies intended to provide comprehensive coverage of the field.  Each study (subject) is divided into half year (semester) Units involving class work and homework.  Units 1 and 2 approximate Year 11 level of difficulty, while Units 3 and 4 approximate Year 12 level of difficulty. 

Each Unit of Study has a course developed around the concept of Unit Outcomes, which must be achieved for Satisfactory Completion of the Unit. Achievement of the Unit Outcomes is based on the Class Teacher’s assessment of the student’s performance on assessment tasks designated for the Unit.  In Units 1 and 2 the instruments for assessment are Outcomes, as specified by Heads of Department, based on guidelines from the Study Design.  In Units 3 and 4, the instruments of assessment are School Assessed Coursework (SACs) and School Assessed Tasks (SATs). 

At Year 11 judgment of satisfactory completion is made internally.  Scotch College will report S (satisfactory completion) or N (non-satisfactory completion) to the VCAA for each Unit.  The VCAA will issue a statement of results to each student at the end of the year.  For all VCE studies a Unit is satisfactorily completed if all Unit Outcomes have been achieved to the satisfaction of the academic department.

To qualify for the VCE, a student must satisfactorily complete at least 16 Units, including at least three Units of English (Literature and English Language Units 3 and 4 may be studied instead of English Units 3 and 4) and at least three sequence pairs of Units 3 and 4 of studies other than English.  However, for a student program to be approved by the VCAA and Scotch College, it will usually consist of at least 20 Units undertaken throughout Years 11 and 12.

Scotch College offers a range of VCE Units.  Boys will be required to plan a coherent two year course before entering Year 11 (see planner) as there will be limited opportunities to change subjects at the end of Year 11 Semester One or at the beginning of Year 12.  Boys are encouraged to consider all Units offered, based on their performance in previous years (as a basis for determining strengths and weaknesses) as well as interests and the post-secondary direction they are likely to take.  Advice should be accepted from Heads of Departments, the relevant Head of House and tutor, and the school’s Course and Careers Services team.

VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) uses VCE results issued by VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) to calculate a student’s ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranking).  VTAC adjusts the study scores for each Units 3 and 4 study to take account of how strong the students are in the study and how difficult it is to achieve the middle ranking in that subject.  The strength of competition in each study is measured by how well the students performed in all their studies.  This process is called scaling.  In addition, each Language is adjusted by adding five to the initial ATAR Subject Score average.  All students of a Language receive a positive adjustment as a consequence of government policy to encourage the study of Languages, but it is not a uniform adjustment.  Scaling should not play a role in determining a course of work; it is important that interest, academic strengths and previous results are used as a basis for designing a course of work.

Year 11

Year 11 boys will study 12 or 14 units (six or seven subjects respectively).  This may include a Units 3 and 4 study or, where appropriate, a VET (Vocational Educational and Training) course.

Entry into a Units 3 and 4 study as a Year 11 student is not automatic.  Analysis of past results indicates that premature enrolment in a Units 3 and 4 study has a detrimental impact on performance in the VCE.  Therefore, only students with a B average (or better) overall, as well as in the relevant subjects, in Year 10, will be allowed to attempt a Units 3 and 4 study in Year 11.  In addition, Year 11 students enrolling in a Units 3 and 4 study may be required to undertake a Bridging course in their chosen Units 3 and 4 study.  These courses are held at the end of the year.

Year 12

All Year 12 boys must enroll in at least five subjects in Year 12, 4 of which are Units 3 and 4 studies.  The fifth study could be another Units 3 and 4, a University Extension/Enhancement course (provided the required criteria for acceptance have been met) or where appropriate a VET subject.

This Guide is intended to provide all Year 10 and Year 11 students with information regarding each VCE subject offered at Scotch College in 2012.  Details of the Rationale, Course Structure and Assessment of Performance can be found for every subject offered.  Please note that there is a VCE planning grid appended to the end of this guide.

Mr R J McLaren

Head of Upper School

rob.mclaren@scotch.vic.edu.au