What do the different VCE terms mean?

HAVING trouble making sense of the VCE lingo? Here is a quick-reference guide to the most commonly used VCE jargon.

VCE pretty much has it’s own syntax.

You almost need a dictionary to help you understand what tertiary providers and higher education institutions are on about half of the time.

And let’s not get started on VTAC’s dialect.

But it doesn’t have to be so complex.

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Here’s our quick reference guide to the most commonly used VCE jargon.

VCE JARGON: DECODED

Translating the VCE guidebooks.

MAJOR STUDIES

The main areas of study covered in a course. A course might have only one major study area, or it might have more than one that you can choose from. For example, a Bachelor of Arts might have a wide range of major studies available such as history, languages, journalism, photography and sociology.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships are awarded to students on a range of criteria to help them meet the costs of study. Some scholarships are awarded on merit (i.e. academic or other achievement) but others are based on educational disadvantage or other criteria.

SPECIAL ENTRY ACCESS SCHEME

SEAS is a way for VTAC applicants to apply for special consideration in conjunction with their course application. Some institutions also offer special consideration outside of the VTAC process.

MINIMUM TERTIARY ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Generally, if you successfully complete your VCE you will meet minimum tertiary entrance requirements for all courses. Most VET courses have no minimum tertiary requirements, however, in order to progress through each qualification level you may need to meet specific requirements. Visit the VTAC website for further information.

INSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the minimum tertiary entrance requirements some institutions have specific institutional requirements. These might include meeting English language, numeracy or minimum age requirements. Institutional requirements can be found under institutional listings on the VTAC website.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Selection criteria include prerequisites and selection requirements. Prerequisites are studies that must be successfully completed before you can be considered for a course. Selection requirements are additional compulsory requirements that must be completed by applicants; for example, interviews, tests, auditions or the completion of additional forms.

ATAR

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank is an overall percentile ranking reflecting your year 12 achievement compared with all others in the relevant age group.

Your ATAR is developed from an aggregate of your VCE study scores after scaling. To be eligible for an ATAR, you need a minimum of four permissible scorable studies and to have successfully completed the VCE.

PRIMARY FOUR

These are four studies that are counted first in the calculation of the ATAR. The primary four is made up of the VTAC Scaled Study Score in one of English, English (EAL), Literature or English Language, and is added to the next three highest permissible scaled scores.

INCREMENTS

An increment is 10 per cent of any fifth or sixth permissible scaled score that is available. Increments are added to the primary four during the calculation of the ATAR. Where multiple combinations exist, the highest permissible combination is used.

AGGREGATE

The total produced by adding the primary four to a maximum of two available (and permissible) increments. A maximum of six studies can contribute to the ATAR. Any additional studies are visible on your application.

APPROVED HIGHER EDUCATION STUDIES

The VCAA provides very capable students with the opportunity to undertake some approved higher education study as part of the VCE. These studies are recognised as higher education studies contributing to completion of the VCE. If you are undertaking such a study, it may count as an increment (fifth or sixth) study provided all conditions are met.

STUDY GROUPINGS

Study groupings list related subjects under a common heading. There are restrictions on how many studies from one study grouping can be used in the ATAR calculation. English and Mathematics are the most well known. For a complete list, refer to the study groupings fact sheet available in the publications section of the VTAC website.

VCE STUDY SCORE

This is a score from 0—50, determined by the VCAA, which shows how you performed in a study relative to all other students doing that same study. It is based on your results in school assessments and examinations.

(VCE) VET STUDIES

VET programs with Unit 3 and 4 sequences can contribute to the ATAR in two ways:

1. VET sequences with scored assessment are counted the same as any VCE study (in the primary four or as an increment). If a scored assessment is available and you decide not to take it, no increment will be available.

2. VET studies with no scored assessment recognised by the VCAA may be counted as fifth and/or sixth contributions to the ATAR. The increment will be 10 per cent of the average of the primary four VTAC scaled study scores.

VET AND FURTHER EDUCATION STUDIES

These are unscored VET programs recognised but not approved by the VCAA as VCE VET studies. VFE studies are subject to the restrictions outlined elsewhere in this supplement.

VICTORIAN CERTIFICATE OF APPLIED LEARNING (VCAL)

Like the VCE, VCAL is a recognised senior secondary qualification. VCAL is another pathway to tertiary study.

Students who undertake VCAL are generally focused on training at TAFE, apprenticeships or getting a job after completing year 12.

VTAC SCALED STUDY SCORE

A score from 0.00 to 55.00, determined by VTAC, which shows how you performed in each study, relative to all students doing all studies. It is based on the study score, but also uses the performance of the entire cohort compared to other studies.

Information from Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre.vtac.edu.au