VCE Information Evening
For students entering Year 11 in 2014
Tuesday 20 August 2013
Outline of the Evening
Welcome & Introductions:
Peter Tooke, Deputy Headmaster
1 The Structure and Function of the VCE: Sally Scott, VCE Coordinator
(Curriculum Office)
2. Course Selection Considerations: Frank Thompson, Director of Career
Development (Careers Centre).
3. Making Choices: – Justin McNamara, School Psychologist.
4. Questions – Formal – those that are of interest to all
- Informal or student-specific questions for individual circumstances
Overview of the Process
Opportunity to clarify aspects of the VCE before making
subject choices:
• Handbooks (available in pdf)
• Parent Teacher Student interviews:
Semester 1: May; Semester 2: August 26;
•
•
•
Subject Selection Forms, completed on-line by Monday
September 9 (T 3 Week 9), receipt printed, signed &
returned to Head of House by Friday September 13.
Student consultation with Director of Career
Development
VCE Information Evening – February 2014
VCE Summary
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA)
administers the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)
• 2 Year Certificate
• Subjects/studies are made up of Units numbered 1, 2, 3 or 4.
Unit 1 & 2 studies are normally taken in Year 11 and
Unit 3 & 4 studies are normally taken in Year 12
• Each unit is taken over a Semester
• MGS offers 42 VCE subjects, most of which comprise Units
1, 2, 3 and 4.
VCE Summary
The units fall into two groups:
• English group:
• English
• or EAL ( formerly known as ESL)
• or Literature
• Units from subjects other than from the English group
Satisfactory Completion of VCE (VCAA):
16 units over 2 years which must include:
• 3 Units from the English group with at least one
unit at Unit 3 or Unit 4 level
• 3 more Unit 3/4 sequences
• NB - Satisfactory Completion of both Units 3 & 4
English is required for an Australian Tertiary
Admissions Rank (ATAR)
MGS Academic Programme
An MGS student programme will consist of either:
• 7 or 6 subjects/studies (14 or 12 units) in 2014
and
• 5 subjects/studies (10 units) in 2015
• = either 24 or 22 units over the 2 year course
MGS Academic Programme
In 2014 an MGS programme for a Year 11 student will
therefore consist of either:
• 7 subjects/studies (14 VCE units) - to maximise breadth prior to
choosing 5 to continue with in Year 12, 2015
or
• 6 subjects/studies (12 VCE units) prior to choosing 5 in Year 12, 2015.
Students who take up the option of selecting 6 VCE studies will be
automatically programmed to take a short course titled “Year 11
Development Programme”. This course will consist of 12 lessons to
be led by the Director of Leadership. They may also select the term
study of “Ethics in Leadership”.
The remaining ‘class time’ is dedicated to supervised Study Periods
Modified Courses
Exceptions to be negotiated with:
• Educational Services Department
• Head of House
• VCE Coordinator
Unit 3/4 Studies in Year 11
Many MGS students undertake a study at Unit 3/4 level as
one of their 6 or 7 in Year 11.
• Advantages in studying a Unit 3/4 in Year 11

• Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) is generated with 6
subjects (Primary 4 plus 10% of a 5th and 10% of a sixth study)
• Knowledge of the assessment protocols
• Disadvantages
• No direct ‘building block’ skills and knowledge developed in Units 1 & 2
• Not as many study periods periods as in Year 12
• Some lack academic immaturity to cope with the demands of a 3/4 study
• Year 10 results – minimum of B+ average needed to accelerate
– not appropriate for students who have been on
academic warnings
Application Section is part of the Subject Selection Receipt Form:
Head of Faculty and Head of House signatures are required
Assessment & Satisfactory Completion
Units 1 and 2
• Attendance Requirement of at least 90% of classes.
• Learning Outcomes
• Satisfactory or Not Satisfactory is reported to students,
parents and the VCAA
• Assessment Tasks
• Provide Levels of Achievement
• These are reported to students and parents as grades:
A+ to E. The grade level is based on criteria set by
teachers within school departments.
Assessment & Satisfactory Completion
Units 3 and 4
• Attendance Requirement of at least 90% of classes.
• Learning Outcomes
• Satisfactory or Not satisfactory reported to VCAA
• For Levels of Achievement:
• School Assessed Tasks or Coursework
• Examination/s
• Reported to students and parents as grades: A+ to E.
The grade level based on assessment descriptors
according to VCAA guide. Scores reported to the VCAA.
• Coursework scores are statistically moderated by the VCAA
against exam(s) and, where appropriate, the GAT.
General Achievement Test (GAT)
A 3 hour test undertaken by students enrolled
in one or more Unit 3/4 Study.
Used in:
• Statistical moderation of coursework against exam
performance
• Derived Exam Scores
Special Provisions
Available to students who suffer a significant
impairment or problem
Modification of programs and/or delivery:
School-based assessment (SACs & SATs)
• Rescheduling / extensions/ extra time/ technological aids
derived scores / other aids
Special exam arrangements
• Rest breaks / extra time/ separate supervision /
technological aids / other aids
• Derived Examination Scores for problems immediately
before or during exams; not chronic problems
Applications to the VCE Coordinator, with documentation, asap
Authenticity
School Assessed Tasks (SACs and SATs) must
be completed within fixed time frames and be
verified as being the work of the student.
Extension Studies /
Enhancement Programmes
• Extended Investigation – new Unit 3 /4 subject
offered to extremely able students in Year 11
• University Extension Studies – for extremely
able students these studies can be
undertaken as part of the second year of VCE
For able students concurrent with able
Credit Transfer
Satisfactory Completion of VCE, VET or VCAL
units taken elsewhere within Victoria can be
credited and added to those completed at
MGS.
Application can also be made for studies
completed interstate or overseas as part of the
VCE.
Timeline
• Semester 2 Parent/Teacher/Student interviews,
Monday 26 August 2013 (Week 7)
• Complete online subject choice by Week 9 - 9.00am
Monday 9 Sept 2013 (online selection closes)
• Return printed and signed subject choice receipt to Head
of House for initial approval by Friday 13 Sept 2013
• Number of classes and staff allocation determined on the
basis of those returns
• Career Development Department will check all course
selections
• Changes to subject choices can be made later but
timetabling constraints apply
NEXT SCREEN
Curriculum Office
Chris Bradtke
Director of Teaching and
Learning
Christine Ford
Head of Senior School
Curriculum Administration
Sally Scott
VCE Co-ordinator
Kerry Ryan
Curriculum Office
Secretary
• All explained in the VCE Handbook
• It is important that students speak to their
teachers, Heads of House and Careers Advisors
• Further advice can be gained from the
Curriculum Office:
Mrs Sally Scott
Mrs Christine Ford
Mr Chris Bradtke
Heads of Faculty
•
Creative & Performing Arts Faculty:
Ms Cat Poljski
•
L.O.T.E. Faculty:
Mrs Florence Guthrie
•
English Faculty:
Mr Stephen Dessants
•
Mathematics Faculty:
Mr Bruce Ruthven
•
Health & Physical Education Faculty:
Mr Nathanael Coull
•
Science & Technology Faculty:
Mr Stuart Jamieson
•
Humanities Faculty:
Mr Michael Adcock
•
Social Sciences Faculty:
Ms Leanne Forbes
VCE STUDY CHOICE
FRANK THOMPSON
DIRECTOR OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT
HERMIONE SKADIANG
CAREERS ADVISER
FACTORS IN STUDY
CHOICE
Factors to consider
Personal
Interest
Subject Recommendations
Prerequisite
Studies
Personal Interest
 The
most important factor
 Don’t try to be something you are not
 Build on your strengths
 Choose the things you like - this is where
you will excel
Teachers’ Comments
 Recommendations,
not directions
 Recommendations reflect teachers’
assessment of your ability and interest
 Talk to your teachers - they know your
strengths and weaknesses
Prerequisite Studies
 Should
be considered in conjunction with
other two factors
 Outlined in handout distributed to all
Year 10 students – VICTER 2016
 See also “Choice 2016”
 Plan as broad a course as is practical in
light of interest and abilities
SUBJECT SELECTION
PROCESS
 Monday
September 9 - On-line Study
Selection closes ( print the completed
form and collect necessary signatures).
• October/November - Discuss study
choices with Careers Counsellor in light
of - Career/tertiary course choice
• Subject interest/strengths
• Teacher recommendations - Available Term 4
Subject Selection Process
 Confirm
subject choices or make changes
 Changes
to be approved by parent/guardian and
Head of House (and Head of Department if
adding a Unit 3&4 study)
 Parents/guardians
are invited to discuss
subject choices with Heads of Houses and
Careers Counsellors.
 The needs of the student are the school’s
foremost concern. Changes can be made
for valid reasons.
Vocational Education and
Training (VET)
Students can undertake VET studies through
the Inner Melbourne VET Cluster.
 Students go “off-campus” once a week
 Studies count towards VCE
 Some examples of VET studies:

 Engineering,
Hospitality, Agriculture, Furnishings.
Community Recreation, Community Services.
See VET Handbook and CD. Discuss with Careers.
A WORD ABOUT SCALING
 Different
studies are not “marked up” or
“marked down” by some arbitrary
process.
 A student’s Study Score is determined by
his relative position within the cohort
undertaking the subject (score out of 50
on a normal distribution).
A WORD ABOUT SCALING
 VTAC
scales Study Scores according to
the strength of the cohorts of students
undertaking the study. It is more
difficult to achieve a high “raw” score in
a study which is undertaken by a strong
group of students (and vice versa).
A WORD ABOUT SCALING
 Scaling
(by comparing the relative
strengths of the cohorts taking different
studies) compensates for this situation to
ensure students get the full benefit of
their efforts.
 The consequence of this process is that
the “best” subjects to do are those in
which you do well!!
What subjects should I do in the
VCE?
The answer?
 Subjects
that provide interest
 Subjects that give you passion
 Subjects that make you want to learn!
Self regulation
Rewards
Harm avoidance
Self regulation
Rewards
Harm avoidance
Back to the answer
 Rewards
are the answer
 Choose subjects that give you pleasure,
interest and intrinsic reward
Contact details
 Phone:
9865 7594
 Email: jzmcnamara@mgs.vic.edu.au
Formal & Informal
Questions
Melbourne Grammar School
VCE Information Evening