VCE General Mathematics: complete 2026 guide to Units 3 and 4 and the two exams
A complete 2026 guide to VCE General Mathematics Units 3 and 4 under the VCAA study design. The Unit 3 core (Data analysis, Recursion and financial modelling), the Unit 4 Applications modules (Matrices, Networks and decision mathematics), the two technology-active end-of-year exams, school-assessed coursework, scaling notes, and links to every deep dot-point guide we have for the subject.
VCE General Mathematics is the applied, practical mathematics subject in Victoria and the most widely taken maths study in the state. It builds skills in statistics, financial modelling, matrices and networks, all in real-world contexts, and both end-of-year exams are technology-active. This page is the index: below you find a breakdown of the Unit 3 core and the Unit 4 Applications modules, the two-exam structure, and links to every deep dot-point guide we have for the subject in 2026.
The areas of study
VCE General Mathematics Units 3 and 4 are built from a compulsory core in Unit 3 and a choice of modules in Unit 4. The exact area-of-study weightings should be confirmed against the current VCAA study design.
- Unit 3 core: Data analysis
- Investigating the distribution of a single variable (displays, shape, centre, spread and outliers), and the association between two numerical variables (scatterplots, the correlation coefficient, the coefficient of determination, least-squares regression, residuals, and data transformation). This is the most heavily examined part of the course.
- Unit 3 core: Recursion and financial modelling
- First-order recurrence relations, arithmetic and geometric sequences, and their use in modelling compound interest investments, reducing-balance loans, annuities and perpetuities with a finance solver.
- Unit 4 Applications: Matrices
- Matrix arithmetic, the determinant and inverse of a matrix, solving simultaneous equations, and transition matrices and Markov systems including the steady state and the add-or-remove recurrence model.
- Unit 4 Applications: Networks and decision mathematics
- Graph terminology and counting results, minimum spanning trees and shortest paths, and decision techniques: critical path analysis, maximum flow with minimum cut, and the Hungarian algorithm for allocation.
The core and the two modules are not examined in isolation; each exam draws across all of them.
Exam structure and assessment
VCE General Mathematics is assessed by school-assessed coursework during Year 12 and two end-of-year examinations.
- Examination 1 is the multiple-choice paper. It is technology-active and covers the Unit 3 core and both Unit 4 modules.
- Examination 2 is the written-response (extended-answer) paper. It is also technology-active and covers the same content, rewarding clear working and interpretation in context.
Both exams permit an approved CAS calculator. Confirm the exact duration and mark allocations against the current VCAA examination specifications, as these can change between study-design cycles.
Deep-dive dot-point guides
Unit 3: Data analysis
- Displaying and describing distributions
- Investigating data distributions
- Boxplots and the five-number summary
- The normal distribution and z-scores
- Associations with categorical data
- Correlation and least-squares regression
- Data transformation to linearise
- Time series and trends
- Seasonal indices and deseasonalisation
Unit 3: Recursion and financial modelling
- Sequences and recurrence relations
- Simple and compound interest
- Reducing-balance loans and annuities
- Annuity investments and savings plans
- Perpetuities
Unit 4: Matrices
- Matrix arithmetic and inverses
- Transition matrices and Markov chains
- Leslie matrices and population models
- Communication and dominance matrices
- Permutation and binary matrices
Unit 4: Networks and decision mathematics
- Graphs, trees and shortest path
- Euler and Hamilton paths and circuits
- Minimum spanning trees and Prim's algorithm
- Maximum flow and minimum cut
- The Hungarian algorithm for allocation
- Critical path analysis and flow
How to use this hub
Start with the Data analysis guides, since that core is the most heavily examined and underpins your statistics SAC. Move next to Recursion and financial modelling, getting fluent with the finance solver. Then work through whichever two Unit 4 modules your school teaches: confirm the pair with your teacher first, because you are examined only on those two. Throughout, practise writing interpretations in context with units, because the written-response exam rewards explanation as much as the final number.
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