Highest scaling VCE subjects for 2026 (VTAC's 2025 scaling report)
In VTAC's 2025 scaling report, the studies with the highest scaled means were Latin (45.0), Specialist Mathematics (41.5), French and Chinese Second Language (40.2 each), and several other languages, followed by Algorithmics (37.3), Mathematical Methods (34.4) and Chemistry (33.6). A study score of 40 scaled to 51 in Specialist Mathematics, 46 in Methods and 44 in Chemistry. Scaling reflects the strength of each study's students, not a bonus for enrolling.
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VTAC's scaling report gives each study's scaled mean and the scaled score (rounded) at study scores of 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50. VTAC notes that aggregates are calculated from scaled scores to two decimal places; the rounded table gives an indication of how scaling adjusts scores.
Highest scaled means in 2025
| Study | Scaled mean | 30 scaled to | 40 scaled to | 50 scaled to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latin | 45.0 | 46 | 53 | 55 |
| Specialist Mathematics | 41.5 | 43 | 51 | 55 |
| French | 40.2 | 41 | 49 | 53 |
| Chinese Second Language | 40.2 | 41 | 49 | 54 |
| German | 38.7 | 39 | 48 | 53 |
| Japanese Second Language | 37.4 | 38 | 46 | 51 |
| Algorithmics (HESS) | 37.3 | 38 | 47 | 51 |
| Mathematical Methods | 34.4 | 35 | 46 | 51 |
| Chemistry | 33.6 | 34 | 44 | 50 |
| Extended Investigation | 32.8 | 33 | 42 | 50 |
| English Language | 32.6 | 33 | 43 | 50 |
| Physics | 31.7 | 32 | 42 | 50 |
| Economics | 31.2 | 31 | 42 | 50 |
| Literature | 31.0 | 31 | 41 | 50 |
| Accounting | 30.8 | 31 | 41 | 50 |
| Biology | 30.5 | 31 | 41 | 50 |
Other languages also scaled highly, including Hebrew (38.5), Hindi (37.0), Italian (36.8), Indonesian Second Language (36.8) and Korean Second Language (36.7). Many language studies have small enrolments, so their scaling can move more from year to year.
Studies that scaled down in 2025
| Study | Scaled mean | 30 scaled to | 40 scaled to |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 28.2 | 28 | 39 |
| General Mathematics | 27.8 | 28 | 38 |
| Physical Education | 27.6 | 27 | 38 |
| Business Management | 27.2 | 27 | 38 |
| Health and Human Development | 26.4 | 26 | 37 |
| Food Studies | 24.1 | 23 | 35 |
| Foundation Mathematics | 21.6 | 20 | 32 |
What this means for your ATAR
- Your study score comes first. A study score of 40 in Biology (scaled to 41) beat a study score of 25 in Specialist Mathematics (scaled to 36) in 2025.
- Mathematics has a special rule. VTAC scales the four mathematics studies against each other as well as against all studies and uses the higher result.
- Scaling is recalculated each year, so treat 2025 figures as a guide.
Choosing a study because it "scales well" when you'd expect a low study score in it. Scaling adjusts for the strength of the cohort; it doesn't rescue a weak result.
For the full calculation, see how the VCE ATAR is calculated.
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)
Last updated: 2026-09-23. Rules change. For the official source see VCAA.