Hardest VCE subjects in 2026 (and what hard actually means)
Because a study score ranks you against everyone else in that study, the "hardest" VCE studies are the ones where the other students are strongest. By that measure, VTAC's 2025 report puts Latin (scaled mean 45.0), Specialist Mathematics (41.5) and language studies such as French and Chinese Second Language (40.2) at the top, followed by Algorithmics (37.3), Mathematical Methods (34.4) and Chemistry (33.6). Hard only helps your ATAR if you can still reach a good study score.
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Why cohort strength is the right measure
A VCE study score is a rank within the study: VCAA puts every study on a scale with a mean of 30 and standard deviation of 7. So the difficulty that matters is how strong the other students are. VTAC's scaled means measure exactly that: a study's scaled mean reflects how well its students do across all their studies.
Strongest cohorts in 2025
| Study | Scaled mean | Study score 30 scaled to | Study score 40 scaled to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latin | 45.0 | 46 | 53 |
| Specialist Mathematics | 41.5 | 43 | 51 |
| French | 40.2 | 41 | 49 |
| Chinese Second Language | 40.2 | 41 | 49 |
| German | 38.7 | 39 | 48 |
| Japanese Second Language | 37.4 | 38 | 46 |
| Algorithmics (HESS) | 37.3 | 38 | 47 |
| Mathematical Methods | 34.4 | 35 | 46 |
| Chemistry | 33.6 | 34 | 44 |
| English Language | 32.6 | 33 | 43 |
| Physics | 31.7 | 32 | 42 |
Language studies often have small enrolments, and some, such as Chinese Second Language, have eligibility rules about your background in the language. Check with your school.
Hard is not the same as good for your ATAR
In 2025:
- a study score of 25 in Specialist Mathematics scaled to 36;
- a study score of 40 in Biology scaled to 41;
- a study score of 40 in General Mathematics scaled to 38, above a study score of 30 in Mathematical Methods (35).
A strong study score in a study you're good at can beat a middling one in a study with a strong cohort.
Taking the "hardest" studies to game scaling. Scaling adjusts for cohort strength every year. Check prerequisites, then choose studies where you can reach a good study score.
See highest scaling VCE subjects and how the VCE ATAR is calculated. You can test combinations with the VCE ATAR calculator.
Sources & how we know this
- 2025 Scaling Report — Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) (2025)
- VTAC ATAR and Scaling Guide 2026 — Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) (2026)
- What is a study score — Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (2026)
Last updated: 2026-09-23. Rules change. For the official source see VCAA.