Scotch College

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR)

The overall ranking on a scale of zero to 99.95 that a student receives based on his/her study scores. The ATAR is calculated by VTAC and used by universities and TAFE institutes to select students for courses.

Derived Examination Score

Provision available for students who are ill or affected by other personal circumstances at the time of an examination; and whose result is unlikely to be a fair or accurate indication of their learning or achievement. If a student misses an examination due to severe illness he may apply to VCAA for a Derived Examination Score (DES). A DES can be used in place of the student's actual examination score.

General Achievement Test (GAT)

A test of knowledge and skills in writing, mathematics, science and technology, humanities and social sciences and the arts. All students enrolled in one or more sequences of Units 3 and 4 must sit the General Achievement Test (GAT) as part of the June examination period.

Satisfactory Completion of VCE

To qualify for the award of the VCE, students must satisfactorily complete at least 16 Units of study including at least three Units of the common study of English, English Language or Literature and three sequences of Units 3 and 4 studies in addition to English, English Language or Literature.

School Assessed Coursework

A school-based assessment that is reported as a grade for either a VCE Units 3 and 4 sequence or Unit 3 and Unit 4 individually. School-assessed Coursework consists of a set of assessment tasks that assess the student's level of achievement of VCE Units 3 and 4 outcomes.

School Assessed Task

A school-based assessment for a VCE Units 3 and 4 sequence set by the VCAA and assessed by teachers in accordance with publishes criteria. School's assessments of tasks are subject to a review by a panel appointed by the VCAA.

Semester

One half of an academic year (not necessarily two terms). VCE units are designed to be completed in one semester.

Sequence of Units

Most studies have been developed as a sequence of four Units with one Unit being designed to be taken in each semester over two years. Students will have access to studies at three points, namely at the beginning of the first, second and third semester level Units. Units 3 and 4 must be taken as a sequential pair.

Special Provision

Arrangements that are made to allow students who are experiencing significant hardship to achieve the learning outcomes and demonstrate their learning and achievement. There are three types of Special Provision; alternative arrangements to school-based assessment requirements, special examination arrangements for external examinations or derived examination scores.

Statistical Moderation

The process used to ensure that schools' assessments are comparable throughout the state. It involves adjusting each school's School-assessed Coursework scores for each study to match the level and spread of the external reference scores for the students in that school enrolled in that study.

Study Design

A study design for each VCE study is published by the VCAA. It specifies the content for the study and how students' work is to be assessed.

Study Score

A score from zero to 50 which shows how a student performed in a VCE study, relative to all other Victorian students enrolled in that same study in a result year. In order to qualify for a Study Score, a student must have satisfactorily completed both Units 3 and 4 in that study. The state mean (average) study score for each study is 30. Approximately eight per cent of the state will achieve a study score of 40 and above in each subject.

Unit

The components of a VCE study that are a semester in duration. There are usually four units in a VCE study, numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4. Units 1 and 2 approximate Year 11 level of difficulty. Units 1 and 2 level Units may be undertaken singularly or as a sequence. Units 3 and 4 approximate Year 12 level of difficulty. Units 3 and 4 in each study are designed to be taken as a sequence.

Unit Outcomes

Outcomes are the basis for satisfactory completion of VCE Units. Each VCE Unit includes a set of two to four Outcomes. These Outcomes must be achieved for satisfactory completion of the Unit. Achievement of the Outcomes is based on the teacher's assessment of the student's performance on assessment tasks designated for the Unit. Satisfactory completion of a Unit is determined by a school in accordance with the VCAA's requirements.

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA)

The Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA) is responsible for curriculum, assessment and certification of Year 11 and Year 12 levels in Victoria. The VCAA is a statutory authority within the Ministry of Education.

Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC)

Acts on behalf of universities, TAFEs and other providers facilitating and coordinating the joint selection system. VTAC calculates and distributes the ATAR.

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Vocational Education and Training (VET) in the VCE program combines general VCE studies with vocational training and experience in the workplace. Schools are able to offer senior secondary students programs selected from the range of industry areas approved by the VCAA.