VCE Special Provision and VTAC equity schemes (formerly SEAS)

Victoria has two separate support systems. They are run by different organisations, do different jobs, and need separate applications.

VCAA Special Provision

VCAA's Special Provision covers school-based assessment and external assessment. Two parts matter most in Year 12.

Special Examination Arrangements

These are for students with a disability, illness or other circumstances that affect their ability to access VCE external assessments. Your school applies through VCAA's Special Provision Online (SPO) system, endorsed by the principal.

Arrangements VCAA lists include:

• rest breaks and extra working time, each typically approved at 10 minutes per hour of exam time;
• a reader or scribe;
• use of a computer with approved assistive technology;
• a separate room or small-group setting;
• clarifiers, Auslan interpreters and alternative formats.

Talk to your school's special provision contact early. The school handles the application and knows the internal deadlines.

Derived Examination Score (DES)

A DES is for students who are ill or affected by other personal circumstances at the time of a VCE external assessment, where the result is unlikely to be a fair indication of their achievement. If approved, VCAA calculates the DES from your moderated school-based assessment scores, GAT component scores, other external assessment scores where relevant, and indicative grades provided by your school.

• You must have completed the course and have a result for at least one other graded assessment in the same study.
• A DES is not available for the GAT and certain externally assessed tasks (for example the Extended Investigation written report).
• The closing date for each exam's DES application is printed at the end of your Student Examination/Assessment Timetable. The student is primarily responsible for applying; the principal makes a recommendation.

Where the GAT fits

The General Achievement Test has two sections: Section A (literacy and numeracy) and Section B (general knowledge and skills). VCAA uses GAT results as part of a final check on external assessment scores, in statistical moderation of school-based assessment where appropriate, to assess literacy and numeracy against the VCE standards, and in DES calculations. It doesn't count directly towards study scores or the ATAR, but a reasonable GAT result matters if you ever need a DES.

VTAC equity schemes (formerly SEAS)

VTAC renamed the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) as equity schemes and scholarships, combining equity consideration and more than 50 scholarships in one application. There is no extra cost beyond your VTAC application fee.

What it can do

• A successful outcome increases your selection rank for courses at participating institutions. Your ATAR stays the same.
• It cannot disadvantage you: it either raises your selection rank or has no effect.
• Each institution applies special consideration differently, so your selection rank can differ between preferences.
• It does not exempt you from prerequisites or other course requirements, and VTAC does not notify you of the outcome.

VTAC does not publish a set number of points per category, so treat any fixed "you'll get X points" claim with caution.

The four categories

You can apply under as many categories as apply to you. Not every institution recognises every item in category 1; VTAC's institution table shows which do.

Eligibility and dates

You must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or hold an eligible humanitarian visa (with some bridging visa exceptions), and have lodged a VTAC course application. Most international Year 12 students are not eligible.

For 2027 entry, equity schemes and scholarships applications opened at 9 am on 3 August 2026 and applications and supporting documentation close at 5 pm on 9 October 2026.

Using both

A student with a chronic illness might have Special Examination Arrangements from VCAA for the exams and also apply to VTAC under the disability or medical condition category because the illness disrupted Year 11 and 12. The applications are separate, but the same medical documentation may help both.

For the ATAR calculation itself, see how the VCE ATAR is calculated.