Curriculum Advice Senior Secondary Pathways

The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and Victorian Certificate of Education - Vocational Major (VCE-VM) are senior secondary qualifications that are generally completed over two years. They are conducted under the rules and regulations of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). Students at Mater Christi College may choose either the VCE or the VCE-VM pathway in Years 11 and 12.

About the VCE pathway

The VCE is the qualification that most students in Victoria receive on satisfactory completion of their secondary education.

Future pathways in the VCE

The VCE provides diverse pathways to further study or training at university or TAFE or to employment. Students who meet the minimum requirements for the VCE will receive an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank). Their ATAR will be used by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) to assign university offers based on student preferences submitted during Year 12.

Assessment in the VCE

In each VCE study, schools determine the School Assessed Coursework (SAC) tasks that students will complete. These are set in accordance with VCAA requirements and the learning outcomes specified in the designated Study Design for each subject.

A student’s Study Score is a rank that is calculated from the sum of grades for each SAC, School-Assessed Task (SAT), externally assessed tasks and/or external VCAA examinations that students complete in their Unit 3 and 4 studies. The Study Score is used to calculate a student’s ATAR. Click here to obtain further information about the calculation of study scores and the ATAR.

About the VCE-VM pathway

The VCE Vocational Major (VM) is a vocational and applied learning program within the VCE designed to be completed over a minimum of two years. The VCE-VM gives students greater choice and flexibility to pursue their strengths and interests and develop the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in further education, work and life.

The purpose of the VCE-VM is to provide students with the best opportunity to achieve their personal goals and aspirations in a rapidly changing world by: equipping them with the skills, knowledge, values and capabilities to be active and informed citizens, lifelong learners and confident and creative individuals, and empowering them to make informed decisions about the next stages of their lives through real life workplace experience.

Future pathways in the VCE-VM

The VCE-VM provides a senior secondary school pathway for students who wish to access apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, university (through alternative entry programs or non-ATAR pathways) or employment.