How VCE Units 3 and 4 assessment works (For Year 12 in 2027)
Every VCE Unit 3 and 4 study combines school-based assessment (School-assessed Coursework, plus School-assessed Tasks in some studies) with external assessment, usually an end-of-year exam. The weighting is set by each study's study design, so it differs: English is 25% Unit 3 SACs, 25% Unit 4 SACs and 50% exam. VCAA moderates your school's SAC scores against its exam results. In 2027 the GAT is on Thursday 17 June and written exams run from Tuesday 26 October to Wednesday 17 November.
The pieces of Year 12 assessment
- School-assessed Coursework (SACs)
- Tasks set by your school from the options in the study design, done mainly in class time, within a set timeframe. Your teacher marks them.
- School-assessed Tasks (SATs)
- Longer projects that produce a product, artwork or model, marked by your teacher against VCAA criteria and subject to external review. VCAA lists SATs in Algorithmics (HESS), Art Creative Practice, Art Making and Exhibiting, Applied Computing (Data Analytics and Software Development), Media, Product Design and Technology, Systems Engineering and Visual Communication Design.
- External assessment
- Usually written exams in October and November. Some studies also have performance exams, Languages orals or externally assessed tasks.
More detail, including how to prepare, is in SACs and SATs explained.
How much does each part count?
It depends on the study. Some examples from current VCAA study designs:
| Study | Unit 3 SACs | Unit 4 SACs | Exam(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 25% | 25% | 50% |
| Chemistry | 20% | 30% | 50% |
| Mathematical Methods | 20% | 20% | Exam 1 20%, Exam 2 40% |
| General Mathematics | 24% | 16% | Two exams, 30% each |
Check the study design for each of your studies (or your school's assessment outline) rather than assuming a general rule. The VCE subject hubs link each study's syllabus and exam pages.
What is statistical moderation?
VCAA compares the level and spread of your school's SAC scores in a study with the same students' external exam scores, then adjusts the school's scores if needed. VCAA says moderation doesn't change the relative performance of students within the moderation group, which is your school's whole cohort in that study, not your individual class. In some studies VCAA also uses GAT scores if they give a better match, but the exam always has the major influence.
That's why your rank in SACs matters more than the raw marks. Harsh or generous marking across your school's cohort is evened out; where you rank within that cohort is what carries through.
Where does the GAT fit?
The General Achievement Test is sat by students in a VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3 and 4 sequence. It reports whether you meet the Victorian literacy and numeracy standards, and VCAA uses it for quality checks: moderation in some studies, checking exam scores, and calculating a Derived Examination Score if you're granted one. The GAT doesn't count in your ATAR.
Key 2027 VCAA dates
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Thu 17 June 2027 | General Achievement Test (GAT) |
| Wed 28 July 2027 | Extended Investigation Critical Thinking Test |
| Mon 4 Oct to Sun 31 Oct 2027 | Performance and Languages oral exams, Extended Investigation oral presentations |
| Tue 12 Oct 2027 | Languages (CCAFL) written exams and the Auslan exam |
| Tue 26 Oct to Wed 17 Nov 2027 | Written examinations |
| Thu 9 Dec 2027 | Final results available |
The detailed 2027 exam timetable, SAC due dates at your school, and VTAC's 2027 to 2028 application dates are to be announced. VCAA publishes the timetable on its key dates pages; your school sets SAC dates.
What do you need for a study score and an ATAR?
- Study score: complete Units 3 and 4 of the study as a sequence in the same year, and complete the graded assessments (VCAA says at least two).
- VCE: at least 16 units, including 3 from the English group (with a Unit 3 and 4 sequence) and at least 3 other Unit 3 and 4 sequences.
- ATAR: qualify for the VCE and get study scores in at least four permissible studies, including one English-group study. VCE Vocational Major studies don't receive study scores.
Your ATAR then comes from your scaled English-group score, your next three best, and 10% of up to two more. See how the VCE ATAR is calculated.
Is anything changing for 2027?
We haven't found any cohort-wide change to VCE assessment rules for students finishing in 2027. Study designs are reaccredited on their own schedules, so confirm the accreditation period for each of your studies on its VCAA study design page before you start Unit 3. VTAC's ATAR and Scaling Guide 2027 is the one that applies to you.
Put every SAC date on one calendar the week you get your assessment outlines. The planner is built for this.
Where to go next
Sources & how we know this
- Assessment of VCE units 3 and 4 — Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (2026)
- Score aggregation (VCE administrative handbook) — Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (2026)
- Future examination periods (2027) — Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (2026)
- GAT overview — Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (2026)
- Where to now? 2027: Victorian Certificate of Education — Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (2026)
- VCE English and EAL Study Design — Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (2024)
- VCE Mathematics Study Design — Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (2023)
- VCE Chemistry Study Design — Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (2023)
- VTAC ATAR and Scaling Guide 2027 — Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) (2026)
Last updated: 2026-09-28. Rules change. For the official source see VCAA.