Starting VCE Year 12 in 2027: the essential guide
If you're in Year 11 now, your VCE Year 12 is Units 3 and 4 in 2027. VCAA assesses your studies and issues study scores; VTAC scales them and calculates your ATAR. The GAT is on 17 June 2027, written exams run from 26 October to 17 November 2027, and results are out on Thursday 9 December 2027. This series covers how assessment works, a summer study plan and when to start past exams.
The series
- How Units 3 and 4 assessment works. SACs, SATs, exams, weightings, moderation and the GAT.
- A summer study system before Year 12. Organising notes, a weekly routine and self-testing, with rest built in.
- When to start past exams. VCAA's past exams and reports, and a timeline for using them.
How is the VCE ATAR calculated?
VTAC's ATAR and Scaling Guide 2027 is the one that applies to you.
- Qualify for an ATAR: satisfactorily complete the VCE and get study scores in at least four permissible Unit 3 and 4 studies, including one from the English group.
- Scaling: VTAC scales every study score so studies can be compared fairly. Scaled study scores run from 0.00 to 55.00.
- Aggregate: your scaled score in one English-group study, plus your next three best permissible scaled scores (the "primary four"), plus 10% of up to two more.
- Limits: at most two results from the same study area grouping in the primary four, and three in the whole aggregate.
- ATAR: aggregates are ranked against the Year 12 age group and reported from 0.00 to 99.95 in steps of 0.05.
The full walk-through, with VTAC's latest scaling figures, is in how the VCE ATAR is calculated. To test scenarios, use the VCE ATAR calculator. For what a study score measures, see how VCE study scores work.
English is always in your primary four, so it carries as much weight as your best study. Don't let it slide while you chase a study that scales well.
Key 2027 dates
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Wed 27 Jan 2027 | Term 1 starts for government schools (student-free day) |
| Thu 17 June 2027 | GAT |
| Mon 4 Oct to Sun 31 Oct 2027 | Performance and Languages oral exams |
| Tue 26 Oct to Wed 17 Nov 2027 | Written exams |
| Thu 9 Dec 2027 | Final results available |
To be announced: the day-by-day 2027 written exam timetable (VCAA key dates pages), your SAC dates (your school), and VTAC's application, change of preference and offer dates for 2028 entry (vtac.edu.au/dates).
More for Year 12
Sources & how we know this
- Future examination periods (2027) — Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (2026)
- 2026 important administrative dates (includes early 2027) — Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (2026)
- VTAC ATAR and Scaling Guide 2027 — Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) (2026)
- Where to now? 2027: Victorian Certificate of Education — Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (2026)
Last updated: 2026-09-28. Rules change. For the official source see VCAA.