A Parent Asked Me the Other Day: How do VCE Scores Actually Work?

Parents ask me all the time what score their child needs to get into a certain course, and there’s usually a gap between what they think VCE scores mean and what they actually mean. After tutoring for over 2 years, I’ve had this conversation enough times that I figured I’d just write it all down.

Study scores are not percentages.

The first thing to understand is that a study score out of 50 is not a mark out of 50. It’s a rank. A 30 doesn’t mean your child got 60% — it means they performed around the state average, sitting at roughly the 50th percentile compared to every student in Victoria who took that subject.

A score of 40 puts your child in approximately the top 9% of the state. A 45 is in the top 2%. A 50 means they outperformed every single other student in Victoria in that subject, which is why you’ll only ever see a handful of 50s awarded each year.

What SACs actually do

SACs (School Assessed Coursework) are the internal assessments your child does throughout the year — essays, problem sets, oral presentations, and experiments. They contribute between 25–75% of the final study score, depending on the subject.

But here’s the part most parents don’t realise: SAC scores aren’t taken at face value. They’re moderated using the end-of-year external exam. What this means is that if your child’s school performs well on the exam, their SAC scores get adjusted upward. If the school underperforms on the exam, SAC scores can be adjusted downward. The exam is essentially a check on whether the school’s internal marking is consistent with state standards.

This is why a student who does very well in SACs at a school with weaker exam results can end up with a lower study score than expected. This is why I tell my students all the time that their SAC scores are not indicative whatsoever. This is especially true when it comes to English - very often you find that it is never the students who get 8/9 out of 10’s on their SAC’s earn the best study score - it is usually those who score 7 and 8 out of 10’s but who dial in for the end-of-year exam! I’m sure your son or daughter would love to hear this from you ;)

THE SCALING QUESTION!

You’ve probably heard that Maths Methods is “scaled up” and that English is somehow different. Here’s the clearest way I can explain it:

Each subject’s study scores are already standardised — a 35 in Chemistry and a 35 in English both mean the same rank within their respective cohorts. But for the purpose of calculating the ATAR, some subjects receive additional bonuses because the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has determined that students who take harder subjects should be rewarded.

Maths Methods and Specialist Maths typically receive a scaling bonus. This doesn’t mean students who take them automatically get a higher study score — it means their score counts for slightly more when calculating the ATAR aggregate.

English is unique because it’s compulsory — every student must include it (or EAL). It’s not penalised, but because virtually everyone does it, the bonus is minimal.

How the ATAR is calculated

The ATAR comes from your child’s “aggregate score” — a formula that takes:

• Their best 4 study scores (after scaling is applied)

• English or EAL must be included

• Up to 10% of a 6th subject can be added on top

That aggregate is then converted into a percentile that ranks your child against everyone who completed Year 12 in their year — including students who didn’t sit the VCE. This is why an ATAR of 90 means your child performed better than 90% of the entire Year 12 population, not just VCE students.

What this means practically

A student who gets a 35 average across their subjects isn’t going to feel great about it — but contextually, they’ve outperformed the majority of their peers. The difference between a 38 and a 42 study score in a single subject can shift an ATAR by several points, which, at the 85–95 range, is the difference between a first-round offer and missing out.

This is exactly why small improvements in one or two subjects matter more than people realise. A student who lifts their Maths Methods score from a 35 to a 40 doesn’t just improve one subject — they potentially shift their entire ATAR.

And that’s just Math Methods. Whether your child likes it or not English (of any kind) has the greatest impact on your ATAR BY A MILE, yet 90% of students disregard it because it’s subjective, unclear and tedious. Fair enough - I used to feel the same.

This is why those students who have good mentors are put in a vastly stronger position than other students. This is why Tutors Melbourne exists. This is our mission!

So there you have it! If you have questions about your child’s subjects or scores, feel free to reach out. That’s what we’re here for.