Redeeming SACs
There is no opportunity for students to improve SAC grades. Students maybe provided with an opportunity to complete a subsequent task (other than the original task) to show their understanding on the outcome however their original mark stands.

To give students every reasonable chance to achieve a satisfactory result, the school may delay making a final decision about whether a unit has been successfully completed. This means that, in some cases, and where supporting documentation is provided to the YLC, students can be given extra time or further opportunities to demonstrate that they meet the required standard.

Redeeming an N result for Outcomes
If a student does not demonstrate a satisfactory understanding of the key knowledge and skills, or does not complete work by the set date, they will be given the opportunity to do so for each Outcome. The task should differ from the original task. If a student is still unable to demonstrate a satisfactory understanding of the key knowledge and skills or has not submitted work by any revised due date, a final redemption opportunity may be provided. Students and parents will be informed if the process of redeeming outcomes is necessary for an individual student via a compass chronicle VCE Non-Completion of a Unit Warning.

If a final redemption opportunity is provided and a student is still unable to demonstrate a satisfactory understanding of the key knowledge and skills, or has not completed any final redemption opportunities, a result of ‘N’ (Not Satisfactory) will be received. This will result in an overall unit result of ‘N’


An N (Not Satisfactory) or J (No Result) means the unit is not successfully completed and no credit is awarded. This can affect a student’s ability to meet the minimum requirements for the VCE and, for Unit 3–4 sequences, may impact their eligibility for an ATAR. Students may need to repeat the unit or adjust their program to ensure they can still complete their VCE.

If students are at risk of receiving an ‘N’  pre-emptive discussions are held with the student and their parents/guardians. They are assessed routinely throughout the semester on a variety of tasks, which can be re-taken to demonstrate competence.

Getting your results -The VCAA and VTAC offer three options for accessing VCE results and the ATAR: internet, mail, and app. This information is shared with students closer to the time in the VCAA navigator. If you would like to find out more please use the link to the VCAA here.

A study score can be a maximum of 50 in a study at Unit 3 and 4 level. The mean study score is set at 30. To find out how to attain the study score and how it is calculated use the link to the VCAA here.

ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. The ATAR is an overall percentile ranking that reflects a student’s comparative performance amongst the relevant year level in a given year. The ATAR allows tertiary institutions to compare students who have completed different combinations of VCE studies. It is calculated by VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) solely for use by institutions.

The ATAR is reported as a rank between 0.00 and 99.95 with increments of 0.05. An ATAR of 75.00 means that a student has achieved a VCE result that places them in the top 25% of the Year 12 group. 

VTAC calculates an ATAR for all students who have qualified for an ATAR. However, only those who apply through VTAC for tertiary courses receive an ATAR statement. An ATAR will be calculated by VTAC for applicants when they first qualify for an ATAR. If you undertake further study in a later year and are awarded at least one study score or complete a non-scored VET sequence that entitles you to an additional VET increment, a new ATAR will be calculated. Ranking for courses will be based on the highest ATAR achieved. You will receive an official statement containing your ATAR from VTAC at the same time that you receive study scores from the VCAA if you have applied for tertiary entry through VTAC.

VTAC uses VCE results issued by VCAA. Subject to the restrictions outlined in VICTER (Victorian Tertiary Entrance Requirements), the ATAR is developed from an aggregate produced by adding:

  • ATAR subject score in English, English Language, Literature or EAL
  • the next best three ATAR subject scores (permissible); and
  • 10% of the fifth and sixth permissible ATAR subject scores that are available.

In calculating VCE study scores, the VCAA does not determine any measure of overall performance in the VCE, but rather the performance of each student in each individual subject. In order to facilitate selection, institutions require an overall measure of the performance of students undertaking the VCE.

Before the scores of different VCE studies can be added together for the ATAR, they need to be scaled to take into account the different ability levels of the students taking different studies. This ensures that the ATAR provides a fair comparison for all students regardless of the combination of studies they take. The scaled score is called the ATAR subject score.

See the VCAA FAQ "How is the ATAR calculated? How are subjects scaled?" and The ATAR profile explained for more details.

Only one of the following combinations can be used in the best six (that is, in the calculation of the ATAR):

  • English/English as an Additional Language (EAL)
  • Chinese (FL)/Chinese (SL)/Chinese (SL Advanced)
  • Indonesian (FL)/Indonesian (SL) 
  • Japanese (FL)/Japanese (SL) 
  • Korean (FL)/Korean (SL)
  • Mathematical Methods/Mathematical Methods (CAS).

In each of the study areas of English, Mathematics, History, Languages and Music:

  • at most two results can contribute to the primary four
  • at most three results can contribute to the ATAR, whether they are VCE results, Higher Education study results, or VET results.

The subjects included in these study areas are those listed in the VICTER guide. 


Note: Art Making and Exhibiting: Visual Arts and Art Making and Exhibiting: Photography are the same course. Students can choose only one of these subjects.