Year 10  >  VCE Acceleration

 Year 10 IB and VCE Application Form

VCE students can include six subjects (the maximum permitted) in the calculation of their ATAR Score without having to study six subjects in Year 12. VCE students may also qualify for University Extension Study in some subjects if, in Year 11, they achieve a study score of around 41 in a relevant VCE Unit 3-4 sequence and excellent results in all their other subjects.^

There are potential advantages to be gained by completing a VCE subject in Year 11:

• To have exposure to the VCE program in Year 10
• To reduce the workload in Year 12
• To provide a path of extension and challenge

Particularly able students who meet specific selection criteria can achieve this by studying a Unit 1-2 subject in Year 10 and the Unit 3-4 of that subject in Year 11.

In some subjects it is also possible to study a Unit 3-4 in Year 11 without having studied the subject at Unit 1-2 level.

Students wishing to apply to study a Unit 1-2 when they are in Year 10 are required to submit an application that shows they meet the following criteria:

• Have achieved results of an 'A' standard in all semester one subjects
• Demonstrate they are well organised and motivated to succeed
• Demonstrate strengths in the subject area of the proposed Unit 1-2 subject

Students who accelerate a subject must complete five subjects in Year 12. Application to study a VCE subject must be submitted, along with a completed Subject Selection Planning Sheet, to the Deputy Head of Middle School (Mrs McCafferty) by 8.30 am on Monday 6 August 2012. Forms are available from the VCE Acceleration/IB Anticipation page.

Year 9 students may apply to study the following VCE Unit 1-2 subjects:

Accounting	French	Legal Studies
Biology	Geography	Mathematical Methods CAS#
Business Management	German	Philosophy
Chemistry	History: 20th Century	Physical Education
Chinese	Indonesian	Physics
Chinese (*SL)	Indonesian (*SL)	Psychology
Design and Technology	Information Technology	Theatre Studies
Economics	International Studies and Politics

*SL - Second Language

#- Only available to students who have successfully completed Year 9 Accelerated Mathematics.

Although it is possible to accelerate study in the VCE there are a number of reasons why it is not in the best interests of all students to undertake accelerated study.

In particular, a student will be disadvantaged if they experience difficulty studying an accelerated unit or concentrate on that subject, thereby undermining their overall program and preparation for study of Unit 3-4 subjects in Year 12. In this situation students would have been better advised to consolidate their preparation in all subjects in order to gain an extra mark or two in each of their Unit 3-4 studies in Year 12, rather than chasing three or four marks in the form of a 10% score from one Unit 3-4 subject.

Calculation of the ATAR Score

Study Scores are calculated out of 50. The ATAR Score is calculated by ranking students according to the sum of their scaled Study Score for English (English as a Second Language, English Language or English Literature), their next best three permissible scaled Study Scores and 10% of the scaled Study Score of up to two more subjects.

^University Enhancement Study is an attractive option for some students because it is usually delivered after school one afternoon a week, may give students credit toward a university degree, and can contribute toward a student's aggregate when calculating the ATAR Score.

Note: Some tertiary courses specify certain subjects which must be studied included in the 'primary four' scores used to calculate a student's ATAR. Students who undertake accelerated subjects in Year 10 are well prepared for their subject should they later choose to study an IB course.