VCE General Mathematics: complete 2026 guide to Units 3 and 4 and the two exams

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 what Units 3 and 4 cover under the current study design, the two-exam structure and its mark split, and links to every dot-point guide we have for the subject in 2026.

The areas of study

Under the VCAA Mathematics Study Design (from 2023), General Mathematics Units 3 and 4 have four compulsory areas of study. Unit 3 comprises Data analysis and Recursion and financial modelling; Unit 4 comprises Matrices and Networks and decision mathematics. There is no choice of modules.

Unit 3: Data analysis

Types of data; displaying and describing distributions of categorical and numerical variables, including log (base 10) scales; the five-number summary, boxplots with fences, the mean and standard deviation; the normal model, the 68-95-99.7% rule and standardised z-scores. Associations between two categorical variables (two-way tables and segmented bar charts), between a numerical and a categorical variable (parallel boxplots and dot plots, back-to-back stem plots), and between two numerical variables (scatterplots and Pearson's correlation coefficient). Cause and effect and the difference between observation and experimentation. Least-squares regression, the coefficient of determination, residual analysis, and data transformation (square, log or reciprocal applied to one axis). Time series: trend, seasonality and irregular fluctuations, moving-mean and moving-median smoothing, seasonal indices and forecasting. Data analysis carries 40 percent of the marks on each exam.

Unit 3: Recursion and financial modelling

First-order linear recurrence relations $u_{n+1} = Ru_n + d$; flat rate, unit cost and reducing balance depreciation; simple and compound interest, and nominal against effective interest rates; reducing balance loans with amortisation tables; annuities and perpetuities; and compound interest investments with regular additions (annuity investments), all supported by a finance solver.

Unit 4: Matrices

Matrix types, order, the transpose and matrix arithmetic; the determinant and inverse of a matrix; constructing a matrix from a table or from a rule for the $ij$th element; binary, permutation, communication and dominance matrices; and transition matrices and Leslie matrices in the recurrence $S_{n+1} = TS_n$ or $S_{n+1} = LS_n$, including the equilibrium state and the extended model $S_{n+1} = TS_n + B$ for culling and restocking.

Unit 4: Networks and decision mathematics

Graph terminology, planar graphs and Euler's rule, digraphs and adjacency matrices; walks, trails, paths, Eulerian trails and circuits, Hamiltonian paths and cycles; trees and minimum spanning trees (Prim's algorithm); shortest paths including Dijkstra's algorithm; flow networks and the maximum-flow minimum-cut theorem; matching and allocation with the Hungarian algorithm; and scheduling with critical path analysis, float and crashing.

Exam structure and assessment

VCE General Mathematics is assessed by School-assessed Coursework (Unit 3: 24 percent; Unit 4: 16 percent) and two end-of-year examinations worth 30 percent each.

• Examination 1 is 40 multiple-choice questions worth 1 mark each: 16 on Data analysis, 8 on Recursion and financial modelling, 8 on Matrices and 8 on Networks and decision mathematics.
• Examination 2 is short-answer and extended-answer questions, including multi-stage questions, worth 60 marks: 24 on Data analysis and 12 on each of the other three areas.

Each exam has 15 minutes of reading time and 1 hour 30 minutes of writing time. For both, you may bring an approved CAS calculator, one scientific calculator and one bound reference, and the same formula sheet is provided. These details come from the VCAA General Mathematics examination specifications (from 2023); check the VCAA website each year in case they are updated.

Deep-dive dot-point guides

Unit 3: Data analysis

• Displaying and describing distributions
• Logarithmic (base 10) scales
• Summary statistics: centre and spread
• Boxplots and the five-number summary
• The normal distribution and z-scores
• Associations with categorical data
• Associations between a numerical and a categorical variable
• Correlation and least-squares regression
• Correlation and causation, observation and experimentation
• Residuals and residual analysis
• Data transformation to linearise
• Time series and trends
• Seasonal indices and deseasonalisation

Unit 3: Recursion and financial modelling

• Sequences and recurrence relations
• Depreciation of assets: flat rate, unit cost and reducing balance
• Simple and compound interest
• Reducing balance loans
• Annuities and regular withdrawals
• Perpetuities
• Annuity investments and savings plans

Unit 4: Matrices

• Matrix types, order, the transpose and constructing matrices
• Matrix arithmetic and inverses
• Permutation and binary matrices
• Communication and dominance matrices
• Transition matrices and Markov chains
• Leslie matrices and population models

Unit 4: Networks and decision mathematics

• Graphs, trees and shortest path
• Euler and Hamilton paths and circuits
• Minimum spanning trees and Prim's algorithm
• Shortest paths and Dijkstra'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: that area carries 40 percent of the marks on both exams and underpins your Unit 3 coursework. Move next to Recursion and financial modelling, writing recurrence relations by hand and getting fluent with the finance solver sign conventions. Then work through Matrices and Networks and decision mathematics, which are both compulsory. Throughout, practise writing interpretations in context with units, because Examination 2 rewards explanation as much as the final number, and keep a well-organised bound reference for both exams.