© VCAA 2012

VCAA BULLETINVCE, VCAL and VET

Regulations and information about curriculum and assessment for the VCE, VCAL and VET

Principal VCE/VCAL/VET Coordinators VCE/VCAL/VET Teachers

Victorian Certificate of Education Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning Vocational Education and Training

V I C T O R I A N C U R R I C U L U M A N D A S S E S S M E N T A U T H O R I T Y

This publication is also available online at

www.vcaa.vic.edu.au

No. 95 April 2012ISSN 1448-2363

Supplements1. VCE 2012 Drama Solo performance examination

and Theatre Studies Monologue performance examination

CONTENTSDATES

Important administrative dates 2

CEO’S COLUMNJohn Firth discusses Amendments to VCE Study Designs for Sciences and Accounting and the Australian Curriculum 3

VCEGENERAL ADVICEStudent Records and Results 4Australian Curriculum 6VCE Review and Implementation 7Examinations 8

STUDY ADVICEEnglish/ESL 11Latin 11Music Style and Composition 11

Season of Excellence 18

VCE VETGENERAL ADVICE 12VCE VET Information Technology 12VCE VET Interactive Digital Media 12VCE VET Music 12VCE VET State Reviewers 12

VCALVCAL UPDATE 13New VCAL Information Sheets 13VCAL Achievement Awards 13Personal Development Skills (PDS) quality assurance template exemplar 13Changes to the VCAL Eligibility Report 13

NOTICESVCE Leadership Awards 142012 Victorian Training Awards 14Plain English Speaking Award 14The Age VCE and Careers Expo 14

INDEXFebruary 2011 to February 2012 15

DISTRIBUTIONNotices and publications 17

Margaret Schofield Memorial Scholarship winners

Winning a music scholarship is a fitting reward for a student who has followed their passion

for years. Musical instruments and lessons outside school can be costly and these expenses don’t end if the student continues their musical study at university.

Joshua Hooke and Emily Sheppard are two lucky young people who have just been offered a Margaret Schofield Memorial Scholarship. They completed their VCE last year with very high marks in their music studies.

Joshua grew up in Wonthaggi where he learned to play the piano, trombone and percussion. This broad range of instruments stood him in good stead for joining several local bands. He also studied with award-winning conductor Benjamin Northey who is currently Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Joshua was successful in his application for a place in the University of Melbourne’s Bachelor of Music program. His scholarship will go towards the fees for his first year of study. As a student from regional Victoria, Joshua will also be paying for accommodation in Melbourne so, as he says, ‘Winning this scholarship has been a really great help.’

Emily has been playing the violin since she was five and attended the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School from Year 7. Emily considers herself lucky to have been taught by some high-profile musicians, such as world renowned strings player Adam Chalabi, during her time there. Emily is now studying at the Australian National Academy of Music where Chalabi is a tutor.

The scholarship was set up by the trustees of Margaret Schofield – a performer, a teacher, an accompanist and a mentor for music students for almost 60 years. In 1988 she was awarded the

Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to music and the community. Her memory l ives on in these scholarships, which are coordinated by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority each year.

Government school students who study VCE Music as a soloist in Year 12 can apply for a scholarship. Applications for 2013 scholarships close on 31 October this year.

For more information, visit: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/excellenceawards/schofield_award.aspx

Trustees Andrew and Fiona Cochrane with scholarship winners Emily Sheppard and Joshua Hooke

Joshua Hooke and Emily Sheppard

DATES

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 2

Important administrative datesFull details of dates appear in Supplement 1 to the November 2011 VCAA Bulletin VCE, VCAL and VET No. 93.

V = VASS critical date

2012

Monday 16 April Start of Term 2.

Monday 30 April

V

ENROLMENT 2

This data should contain 2012 VCE, VCAL and VET enrolment data that is known and available to schools.

After this date, VASS will not allow schools to:

• enter or withdraw enrolments for VCE Units 3 and 4 sequences

• enter or withdraw enrolments in units of competency/modules for VCE VET scored Units 3 and 4 sequences

• register IB students

• enter returning Interrupted Studies students.

Partnership details must be entered on VASS for VCE Unit 3 and VCE Units 3 and 4 coursework.

First-round invoices for full-fee-paying overseas students sent to schools.

Tuesday 1 May School Coursework Audit Notification (SCAN) identifying student coursework required for VCE Unit 3 and Unit 4 received in schools.

Week beginning Monday 7 May

During this week the following reports will be available through VASS:

• GAT and June examination centre reports and Student Assessment Timetables

• Special Examination Arrangements Advice Slips and Summary Report.

Friday 8 June

V

SIEG 1

Indicative Grades for June examinations are due.

After this date VASS will not allow the entry of Indicative Grades for June examinations.

Tuesday 12 June to Thursday 14 June

June written examinations: Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 June.

GAT: Thursday 14 June.

Monday 18 June VCE Unit 3 School-assessed Coursework audit material due at VCAA.

Friday 22 June Applications for exemption from the GAT due at VCAA.

Friday 29 June End of Term 2.

Final day for schools to flag students eligible for a VCAL Certificate at mid-year by running VCAL Mid-year Reporting function on VASS.

Monday 16 July Start of Term 3.

CEO’s COLUMN

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 3

Amendments to VCE Study Designs for Sciences and Accounting and the Australian CurriculumSince the announcement in December 2011 that VCE mid-year examinations would be discontinued in 2013, the VCAA has worked closely with science teachers and their associations on the scope and duration of the exams and options for weighting of the assessment components. The proposed changes to Accounting were minimal and strongly supported in the online surveys.

Options for the weighting of external examinations and school-assessed coursework, the length of exams and proposed content changes for the subjects were posted online at the end of January for consultation. The online surveys received a high level of response. The Science Curriculum Manager, Maria James, spoke at each of the major science subject group meetings, which occurred in February. She distributed copies of a further survey and received substantial additional feedback. We are very appreciative of the quantity and quality of the responses we received. The feedback was the key determinant of the decisions taken by the Board in finalising the changes to the study designs.

The clear majority feedback from teachers of the four largest Science subjects was that the exam needed to be of 2½ hours duration to adequately assess the key content and that this warranted a 60 per cent weighting. Each of these exams includes a considerable variety of questions and question types, e.g. multiple choice, short answer and extended response. This means that each paper is actually a collection of assessments, which spreads the ‘risk’ associated with an incorrect response.

Environmental Science and Accounting will each have two-hour exams with 50 per cent weighting. Accounting will share the same exam time and weighting as all other business subjects. Teachers of both of these subjects strongly supported this position in the online survey. Students of each of the six subjects will receive three grades in total for each subject, two for school-assessed coursework and one for the examination.

The VCAA plans to publish the amended study designs on the VCAA website in Term 2, 2012, and develop sample examination papers and run professional development with teachers in Term 3.

CEO’s columnThe VCAA Board signalled an intention to review mid-

year exams three years ago when the original timeline for the Australian Curriculum was introduced. The delay in the development of the Australian Curriculum would have meant deferring this review for up to another five years, which the Board considered to be inappropriate.

The current timeline for the Australian Curriculum is as follows:

April–July 2012 Consultation on draft courses in English, Maths, Science and History.

August–November 2012 Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) collates feedback, prepares revisions, consults key stakeholders, prepares final drafts.

December 2012 ACARA Board recommends to Ministers final courses for approval.

February–June 2013 VCAA adopts the approved Australian Curriculum and prepares revised VCE study designs.

July–October 2013 VCAA consults with Victorian education community on revised VCE study designs. Note: This will provide the opportunity to further review the assessment arrangements for these studies.

November 2013 VCAA recommends revised VCE studies to the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) for accreditation.

2014 Schools prepare for implementation of new VCE studies using the Australian Curriculum.

2015 Units 1 and 2 implemented.2016 Units 3 and 4 implemented.This assumes the Australian Curriculum will most likely

involve a significant amount of resequencing that will require a staggered implementation. If it does not, the final two steps could be brought together and all of the new study designs would commence in 2015. That judgment cannot be made until the VCE studies are being developed in 2013.

The VCAA will be engaging teachers and other key stakeholders in the development of the VCE studies that will be adopting the Australian Curriculum content. Notification of these consultations will be conveyed through the VCAA Bulletin.

John FirthChief Executive OfficerApril 2012

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 4

VCE GENERAL

ADVICEStudent Records and Results

Victorian Student Number (VSN)

The Victorian Student Register (VSR) contains identity information for each Victorian student. Currently there are

more than 1 789 095 students’ details on this central database. The VCAA relies upon the many school data entry officers

who take the time to enter their students’ data correctly. This accuracy is critical to the operation of the register

when students move between schools and on to subsequent education providers.

Inaccurate data entry causes the VSR student identification and matching process to fail, resulting in an ‘exception’. Exceptions for government school students delay their access to the Ultranet.

Unfortunately, we have identified over 20 000 ‘exceptions’ in Term 1 this year. Most of these were generated by providers. Our VSN operations team will now work to resolve them.

We therefore urge your data entry officer to ensure that they follow the correct procedures for enrolling students onto the Student Management System (SMS) – for example, CASES21, SAS2000, Synergetic – and adhere to standard data quality rules.

It is essential that data entry officers fully understand the parameters when enrolling students onto the SMS.

The VCAA wishes to significantly decrease the number of ‘avoidable’ exceptions in future. We ask data entry officers to help us achieve this by ensuring that students are flagged correctly on student management systems when they are first enrolled.

Some examples student management systems are listed in the following sections.

CASES21 & SAS2000If your school uses CASES21 or SAS2000, there are three options to use for the VSN field.• Enter the actual VSN, if known• N for ‘New’• U for ‘Unknown’

Only students new to Victoria (from interstate, overseas or prep) should be flagged as ‘New’. Every other student must have their VSN entered, or be flagged as ‘Unknown’ and the VSR will match the student based on name and date of birth. Some exceptions will still be raised owing to data entry errors such as spelling differences and changes to dates of birth.

‘Unknown’ means the student does already have a VSN but it is not known at this stage (it has not been passed on to you by the previous school). The VSR will match the student to the VSN based on their first name, surname and date of birth. If any of these details are different, the enrolment transaction will be sent to exception.

Only those students new to the Victorian system, such as interstate, overseas or prep students, should be flagged as ‘New’.

SynergeticIf your school uses Synergetic, there are two options to use for the VSN field.• New• Unknown

Only students new to Victoria (from interstate, overseas or prep) should be flagged as ‘New’. Every other student must be flagged as ‘unknown’ and the system will match the student based on name and date of birth. Some exceptions will still be raised owing to data entry errors such as spelling differences and changes to dates of birth.• ‘Unknown’ means the student does already have a VSN but

it isn’t known at this stage (it has not been passed on to you by the previous school). The VSR will match the student to the VSR based on their first name, middle name, surname and date of birth. If any of these details are different, the enrolment transaction will be sent to exception.

• Only those students new to the Victorian system, such as interstate, overseas or prep students, should be flagged as ‘New’.

TASSThe TASS system is set to default to ‘enrolled before – yes’. The drop-down menu must be used to change the enrolment status to ‘no’ for preps and those students new to Victorian schooling, i.e. students transferring from interstate or overseas.

‘Enrolled before – No’Only those students who are ‘new’ to Victoria, such as overseas students, interstate students and preps, and starting school for the first time in this state should be flagged as ‘enrolled before – No’ and the VSN field should be left blank.

‘Enrolled before – Yes’Every other student who has been at a Victorian school must be flagged as ‘enrolled before – YES’ and the VSN entered, if it is known. If the previous school hasn’t passed the VSN onto your school, the VSN field can be left blank and the VSR will automatically match the student with their VSN, (provided the personal details match what the previous school entered).

If your school is using other student management systems, such as Maze, Delta-Link or SchoolPRO, please contact your software representative and ask them for a manual or guide to the correct enrolling procedures.

The VSN Operations team are working to ensure that exceptions are cleared as quickly as possible. If you have any questions regarding exceptions, please contact the VSN Operations Team:Hotline: 1800 822 635Email: victorian.student.register@edumail.vic.gov.auFax: (03) 9651 0218

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 5

VCE GENERAL

ADVICE

UpdatesVCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook 2012

Page 87Under Media (ME03), the weighting for GA 1 (Units 3 and 4 Coursework) has been changed from 20 to 18 and the weighting for GA 2 (School-assessed Task) has been changed from 35 to 37.

Page 103Under ‘Visual Communication and Design Examination’, ‘circle and ellipse templates’ has been added to the list of approved material.

Page 168The Summary Schedule of Fees and Charges has been updated to reflect the increase in the 2012 rates that took effect on Monday 12 March.

Important Administrative Dates 2012

Page 3The final day for students to lodge, with a late fee, applications for Statements of Marks for 2011 examinations was amended from Friday 2 March to Friday 9 March.

Under Monday 5 March, the statement ‘All forms relating to a service for which a fee applies republished stating the new approved 2012 fees and charges’ has been added.

Under Monday 12 March, the statement ‘2012 fees and charges increase to new approved rates from this date’ has been added.

Page 4 Under Wednesday 20 June, the following statement has been removed: ‘SIAR 1 scores for VCE Studio Arts School-assessed Task 1. After this date VASS will not allow SIAR 1 results to be entered.’

Page 5Under Monday 16 July, the statement ‘SIAR 1 School-assessed Tasks that are required for review available through VASS’ has been removed.

Under Monday 23 July, the statement ‘Review of School-assessed Task by visitation in Studio Arts begins’ has been removed.

The statement in bold under Monday 30 July has been revised. It now reads ‘SIAR 2 scores for VCE Unit 3 School-assessed Coursework and VCE Studio Arts School-assessed Task 1.’

The reference to Studio Arts SAT 1 grades in the statement in bold under Monday 6 August has been removed. It now reads ‘June examination results available to schools through VASS’.

Page 6Under Friday 21 September, the following statement has been added to the dot points headed ‘Final day for students to lodge requests’: ‘for certified copies of 2011 results and full replacement sets (statement of results/GAT statement) for 2011 results’.

Page 7Under Monday 22 October, the statement ‘SIAR 3 School-assessed Tasks that are required for review available through VASS’ has been removed.

\Under Monday 29 October, the statement ‘Review by visitation of School-assessed Tasks begins’ has been removed.

Under Friday 2 November, the statement ‘Final day for principals to lodge score amendments for VCE School-assessed Tasks from SIAR 1’ has been removed.

Page 103Under Visual Communication and Design Examination, ‘circle and ellipse templates’ has been added to the list of approved material.

Page 138The following paragraph has been added immediately before the final paragraph under Section 11.5.2: ‘Evidence from school-based personnel must be supported by external independent professional evidence.’

Note: These changes also apply to the 2012 VCAA Calendar for Secondary Schools and VCE and VCAL Providers. Providers are reminded that the online version of Important Administrative Dates 2012 remains the definitive and most current source of information about important administrative dates.

Changes to VCAA fees and charges for 2012VASS Administrators and VCE and VCAL Coordinators are reminded that VCAA fees and charges increased effective Monday 12 March 2012, as advised in Notice to Schools 21/2012.

Summary Schedule of Fees and Charges The new approved fees and charges differ from those previously published in the Summary Schedule of Fees and Charges on page 168 of the VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook 2012.

The Summary Schedule of Fees and Charges in the online version of the handbook has been updated. If they have not done so already, VCE and VCAL coordinators are asked to:• take note of the new 2012 Summary Schedule of Fees and

Charges and inform all relevant staff of the changes• insert at page 168 of each print copy of the VCE and VCAL

Administrative Handbook 2012 a copy of the revised Summary Schedule of Fees and Charges. (The revised summary can be found on page 168 of the online version of the handbook.)

FormsAll VCAA forms relating to a service for which a fee applies have been republished stating the new approved fees and charges.

Any form relating to a service for which a fee applies that is submitted to the VCAA must now be accompanied by the new approved 2012 fee for that service.

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 6

VCE GENERAL

ADVICE

If they have not done so already, VASS administrators and VCE and VCAL coordinators are asked to: • print and disseminate the updated VASS-based forms

to relevant staff, campuses and external organisations delivering to students enrolled at their school

• destroy all copies of 2012 forms that include superseded fees and charges.

The following forms have been republished with the new updated 2012 fees and charges:• Application for Statement of Marks & Inspection of

Examination Scripts• Application for Replacement Results Or Certificate• Application for Statement of Equivalent Qualification• Application for Late VCE and VCAL Enrolment

Amendments 2012• Application for Late VET Enrolment Amendments 2012• Application to Sit Examinations Interstate or Overseas• Notification of Late Amendments to 2011 Units Of

Competency/Modules• Notification of Late Amendments to 2011 VCE and VCAL

Units• Notification of Late Amendments to VCE and VCAL Units

Prior to 2011• VASS Critical Dates – Extension of Time.

Changes to Important Administrative Dates 2012 and VASSProviders are reminded that because SATs will now be statistically moderated, a number of minor changes have been made to administrative practices relating to the seven studies for which a SAT forms part of the graded assessment, as advised in Notice to Schools 7/2012:• Scores for Studio Arts SAT 1 are now due as part of the

SIAR 2 reporting cycle on Monday 30 July.• Studio Arts SAT 1 will not be reported in August but will

be part of the end of year reporting process.• For studies that have SATs as part of their assessment

VASS will now record school assessment scores against each criterion.

Please refer to the errata on page 5 for details of the alterations that have been made to Important Administrative Dates 2012 associated with these changes.

Australian Curriculum

Health and Physical Education

The VCAA would like to offer HPE educators and other HPE education stakeholders the opportunity to contribute

to the development of Victoria’s response to the Draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education

paper, which can be accessed from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) website: www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/hpe.html. The document will provide the direction for the development of the HPE Australian Curriculum and the forums hosted by the VCAA will provide an opportunity for you to have your say about the draft HPE paper.

The VCAA will be hosting:• three face-to-face consultation forums (at Coburg,

Dandenong and Ballarat)• two online forums (one primary and one secondary)

delivered via Collaborate.

Consultation forums will be held in Term 2, 2012.Details about the consultation forums are available on the

VCAA website at: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/foundation10/curriculum/consultation.aspx

TechnologiesInformation and Communications Technology (ICT) educators, ICT subject association representatives and other education stakeholders are invited to contribute to the development of Victoria’s response to the Draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Technologies for primary and secondary curriculum (F–12).

You can have your say about the digital technologies content of this paper by participating in one of two programs – a face-to-face consultation forum or one of two online forums delivered via Collaborate.

The draft paper is available from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) website: www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/technologies.html

The face-to-face forum will be held on Monday 23 April 2012 from 4.30 pm – 7.00 pm at Melbourne High School in South Yarra. Video-conferencing facilities will also be available − details are provided on the registration form. Registrations are essential, and can be made online: www.vitta.org.au/events/event/ict-in-the-australian-curriculum-2

There will be two online forums:• the secondary years online forum (Collaborate) will be held

on Monday 21 May from 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm• the primary years online forum (Collaborate) will be held

on Thursday 24 May from 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm.

Registrations are essential, and can be made online: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/natcurric/registrations.aspxInformation about the consultation process is available from

the VCAA website: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/foundation10/curriculum/consultation.aspx

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 7

VCE GENERAL

ADVICEVCE Review and Implementation

VCE Studies – Implementation briefings

Implementation briefings for the newly accredited studies of Systems Engineering and Visual Communication Design

will be held during May and June.The Implementation briefings will consist of:

• information sessions that outline changes to the study design

• activities that target key changes to the study• updates on the Assessment Handbook and the School-

assessed Task.

There is no cost associated with attending this workshop. No casual relief teacher (CRT) reimbursement will be available.

Each workshop will be registered with the Victorian Institute of Teachers (VIT) and can be accredited as a professional development activity.

Systems EngineeringDate Location Time

Tuesday 22 May Strathmore 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Tuesday 29 May Glen Waverley 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Tuesday 5 June Ballarat 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Thursday 7 June Newborough 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Visual Communication DesignDate Location Time

Tuesday 1 May Box Hill 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Thursday 3 May Essendon 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Monday 7 May Bendigo 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Wednesday 9 May East St Kilda 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Thursday 10 May Ballarat 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Tuesday 15 May Wangaratta 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm

Thursday 17 May Geelong 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Monday 21 May Altona 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Wednesday 30 May Sale 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

To register for Systems Engineering visit:www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vce/studies/systemseng/sysengform.aspxTo register for Visual Communication Design visit:www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/visualcomm/vcdform.html

For information about the Implementation briefings contact:Robyn DouglassVCE Implementation ManagerVictorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA)Tel: (03) 9651 4369Email: douglass.robyn.f@edumail.vic.gov.au

Online publication of revised Study Designs for implementation in 2013As advised in the VCAA Bulletin VCE, VCAL and VET December 2011, from 2012 onwards new and revised VCE study designs will only be published electronically on the VCAA website, on the individual study pages.

The revised study designs for VCE Systems Engineering and Visual Communication Design are available online in the year prior to their implementation from the VCE future study designs page: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vce/studies/futuresd.aspx. Schools are advised that these online publications are being made available to assist teachers with preparation for the implementation of revised studies in 2013 and should not be used in 2012.

Updates and amendments to study designs will still be published in the VCAA Bulletin VCE, VCAL and VET and on individual study pages.

School-assessed Coursework2011 VCE School-assessed Coursework reportsVCE School-assessed Coursework (SAC) reports have been published on the following VCE study pages: Agricultural and Horticultural Studies, Food and Technology, Information Technology, Legal Studies, Music, Physical Education, Psychology and Religion and Society (Unit 3 only).

SAC reports are written following the Unit 3 and Unit 4 audit in the first year of implementation of a study design. The reports are based on findings from the coursework audit and VCAA statistical data and cover themes, topics, key knowledge and skills, outcomes and assessment relevant to the revised studies.

The reports are published on individual VCE study pages and can be accessed from the following index page: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vce/studies/index.aspx

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 8

VCE GENERAL

ADVICEExaminations

Examination resources

A number of revised studies will be examined for the first time in 2012. Examinations specifications and sample

examination materials for the following revised VCE and VCE VET studies are available from the VCAA website:• Accounting Examination 1 and 2• Australian Politics• English Language• Global Politics• Industry and Enterprise• Media• Outdoor and Environmental Studies• Product Design and Technology• Sociology• VET Integrated Technologies• VET Laboratory Skills• VET Music (Technical Production).

Teachers and students should be aware of any changes to the examination format or content as outlined in the examination specification. Sample examination questions or sample examinations have also been provided as appropriate.

All of the 2011 written examinations are now available online. Assessment Reports for 2011 are being progressively uploaded to the VCAA’s website.

Any queries about examination requirements should be directed to the VCE Examinations Unit on (03) 9225 2349 or email: examinations.vcaa@edumail.vic.gov.au

VCE English: Online AssessmentIn 2012 the VCAA will introduce online marking of the VCE English examination.

There will be no change to the format of the examination question book and students will continue to provide written responses using pen and paper; however students will use a single answer book rather than three script books.

Revised examination instructions and a sample answer book will be published on the VCAA website during Term 2. Schools will be notified when this material is available.

Online marking presents a significant opportunity for English teachers who haven’t been able to attend the VCAA’s Assessment Centre in Coburg to participate in marking VCE English examinations.

While assessor briefing and training will still be conducted in Melbourne, assessors are able to view student responses and enter scores from their home computer, via a secure website.

Applications to assess the VCE English examination can be lodged at www.ssms.vic.edu.au. The closing date for applications is 30 April 2012.

Further details about the requirements for assessing will be provided to applicants.

Other examinations marked online are the GAT, Agricultural and Horticultural Studies, Chemistry, English as a Second Language, Environmental Science, History: Revolutions, Outdoor and Environmental Studies, Physics and Psychology examinations.

2012 VCE June examinations: Assessor trainingThis information is for teachers who have applied to assess the 2012 June VCE written examinations and for principals and daily organisers of their home school.

Only those people who have applied and subsequently been appointed by the VCAA to be assessors or emergencies can attend these training meetings. Assessors will be notified of the training venues on confirmation of appointment.

Applicants should be aware that the GAT, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology are all marked online. Accounting and Biology assessors will still be given student scripts, but will use on-screen marking sheets this year.

The dates of training meetings for assessors appointed to mark June examinations are outlined as follows:• Sunday 17 June – Accounting, Biology, Environmental

Science• Saturday 23 June – Chemistry, Physics• Sunday 24 June – Psychology• Saturday 16 June to Monday 18 June – GAT (assessors

choose one of these days).

2012 VCE Performance examinations: Assessor trainingTraining meetings for assessors of 2012 VCE Dance, VCE Music Performance, VCE Music Investigation, VCE VET Dance, VCE VET Music, VCE Drama and VCE Theatre Studies Monologue performance examinations will take place on the dates shown below.

Assessors are reminded that attendance at the training meetings is a prerequisite for assessing. Assessors will be notified of training meeting venues at the time of appointment.

Suitably qualified people are encouraged to lodge an expression of interest at www.ssms.vic.edu.au.

The dates of assessor training meetings for performance examinations are outlined as follows.

VCE VET MusicThursday 13 September 5.00 pm – 8.30 pm

VCE Music Performance (group assessors)Friday 17 August 10.00 am – 4.00 pm OR Sunday 19 August 10.00 am – 4.00 pm

VCE Music Performance (solo assessors)New assessors briefing: Tuesday 24 July 5.30 pm – 8.30 pmAll assessors: Friday 24 August 9.00 am – 4.00 pm OR Sunday 26 August 10.00 am – 5.00 pm

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 9

VCE GENERAL

ADVICE

VCE Music Investigation (group and solo assessors)Friday 7 September 9.00 am – 4.00 pm OR Sunday 9 September 10.00 am – 5.00 pm

VCE DanceSunday 16 September 9.45 am – 4.00 pm

VCE VET DanceSaturday 1 September 9.00 am – 1.30 pm

VCE DramaSaturday 25 August 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

VCE Theatre Studies MonologueSunday 26 August 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

For further information about being an assessor for these studies please contact Glenn Martin on (03) 9225 2212.

2012 Languages Oral examinations: Assessor trainingAssessors for the 2012 Languages oral examinations are required to attend a compulsory full-day training meeting as a prerequisite for assessing. Only those who receive notification of their appointment as an assessor or an emergency assessor prior to the dates below are eligible to attend training meetings.

Suitably qualified people who would like to become Language assessors in 2012 are invited to apply online at www.ssms.vic.edu.au.

For assistance, contact the SSMS Help Desk on (03) 9225 2305 or email assessment.administration.vcaa@edumail.vic.gov.au.

All assessors will receive detailed information about the training meetings (including times and venues) with their letters of appointment.• Wednesday 3 October – Auslan• Friday 5 October – Albanian, Arabic, Armenian,

Bosnian, Croatian, Dutch, Filipino, Hindi, Hungarian, Khmer, Macedonian, Maltese, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Sinhala, Swedish, Tamil, Turkish, Ukrainian.

• Saturday 6 October – Indonesian Second Language, Italian, Japanese Second Language, Vietnamese, Spanish, German, Greek, Japanese First Language, Korean First Language, Chinese Second Language, Chinese Second Language Advanced.

• Sunday 7 October – Chinese First Language, Indonesian First Language, Korean Second Language, French, Yiddish, Hebrew.

Assessor training meetings: information for schoolsThe VCAA provides principals in schools with information about the appointment of staff from their schools, the dates of assessor training meetings and the availability of casual relief teacher (CRT) payments to secure the release of staff. In requesting that the school agree to the release, the principal can acknowledge the professional development benefits as well as the commitment required to do the work in very tight timelines.

If an offer of appointment is made by the VCAA, school-based staff undertaking these VCAA activities in school hours are advised to ensure that their release has been approved and confirmed with their school. Teachers should be aware that the VCAA may need to contact their school for administrative or audit purposes.

Where release is required from school duties to attend training meetings, a CRT payment is made available to the home school (as given by the assessor in their application registered on the online application website SSMS) to gain the release of the teacher from their duties and to cover the absence.

Where release is not required from school duties a payment for attendance at the training meeting is made available to the assessor.

Enquiries can be directed to Marlwood Ryder on (03) 9225 2302 or email: ryder.marlwood.f@edumail.vic.gov.au.

Languages written examinations – Section 3: word rangesEach VCE Language study design specifies a word range for Section 3 of the written examination. This word range is a guide to the appropriate length of response for the suggested time. When student responses to this section are assessed, the whole response will be considered against the criteria.

Physics written examination – question numberingTeachers of VCE Physics should note that the numbering of questions in Section A of these examinations will change in 2012. Questions will continue to be grouped according to the information to which they relate, but they will now be presented in multiple parts, for example, Question 1a, Question 1b, Question 1c. This numbering style will be consistent with other science examinations. While the total number of questions given on the examination cover will be reduced, the overall length of the paper will remain the same. For further information please refer to the cover of the examination, which will be published on the VCAA website at the beginning of Term 2.

For further enquiries please contact Simona Wengritzky on (03) 9225 2357.

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 10

VCE GENERAL

ADVICE

CCAFL Changes for 2013Albanian, Armenian, Bosnian, Croatian, Dutch, Filipino, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Khmer, Macedonian, Maltese, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Sinhala, Swedish, Tamil, Turkish, Ukrainian, Yiddish

The VCAA participates with other curriculum and assessment authorities across Australia in the delivery and assessment of many languages through the Collaborative Curriculum and Assessment Framework for Languages (CCAFL) Project. This

enables the provision of language courses at Year 11 and Year 12 that may otherwise not be possible because of small candidature. The CCAFL National Reference Group has made a series of minor alterations to the CCAFL study designs, effective 2013. These alterations mostly relate to the end-of-year written examination but also relate to text types and kinds of writing. The following table summarises the planned changes.

Current specifications 2012 Commencing 2013The written examination is three hours including reading time.

The written examination is two hours and 30 minutes plus 10 minutes of reading time.

Prescribed text types as listed in the Text Type section of VCE Study Designs for Languages.

• Text types for receptive use no longer prescribed.• Prescribed text types for productive use in the external

examination are: article, blog, diary/journal entry, email, letter (formal or informal), text of an interview, message, note, report, review, script of a play, script of a speech or talk, and story.

• Written Examination Section 1 (Listening and Responding) has five to seven texts.

• Part A has three to four texts, responding in English, weighting of 20%

• Part B has one short text followed by one longer text, responding in the language, weighting of 10%

• Written Examination Section 1 (Listening and Responding) has six texts.

• Part A has three texts (including at least one shorter and one longer text), responding in English, weighting of 15%

• Part B has three texts (including at least one shorter and one longer text), responding in the language, weighting of 15%

• The total listening time is 16 minutes for two readings of each text.

Written Examination Section 2 (Reading and Responding)• Part B: Students are required to read a short text of

approximately 150 words and write a response of 150 to 200 words.

• Part B: The student will be required to produce a text type drawn from those in the Text Type section of the VCE Study Designs.

• Part A: responding in English, weighting of 20%.• Part B: responding in the language, weighting of 10%

Written Examination Section 2 (Reading and Responding)• Part B: Students are required to read a short text of

approximately 150 words. The student will be expected to write a response of approximately 150 words.

• Part B: The student will be required to produce a text type drawn from those prescribed for productive use. If two related texts are used, they must be presented as one text with two parts in the examination.

• Part A: responding in English, weighting of 10%• Part B: responding in the language, weighting of 15%

Written Examination Section 3 (Writing)• Students are expected to produce a response of 200

to 250 words.• Students are given opportunities to produce different kinds

of writing (e.g. informative, imaginative, persuasive)• Weighting of 15%

Written Examination Section 3 (Writing)• Students are expected to produce a response of

approximately 250 words.• Students are provided with the opportunity to produce

different types of writing such as informative, imaginative, persuasive, personal, evaluative, reflective, narrative or descriptive either individually or in combination.

• Weighting of 20%

VCE STUDY

ADVICE

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 11

English/ESL

Addition to English/ESL Text List 2013

The English/ESL Text List for 2013 was published in Supplement 3 of the VCAA Bulletin No. 94 February 2012.

Following consideration of feedback, the VCAA Board has determined that The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Mohsin Hamid, will be listed as an additional novel in the List 1 English/ESL text list for 2013.

The revised full English/ESL Text for 2013 is available via the following link: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/bulletin/2012/2012FEBSUP3.pdf.

Latin

2012–2013 Prescribed Texts

Teachers of Latin are reminded that the prescribed texts for Section 2 of the 2012 and 2013 end-of-year examinations

are respectively:• Virgil, Aeneid Book 12, 631–952 (321 lines).• Virgil, Aeneid Book 2, 1–56, 195–249, 268–317, 506–631,

768–804 (320 lines)

The following sentence replaces the existing instruction on page 16 of the VCE Latin Study Design:

‘Students need to have an understanding of the set lines in the context of the prescribed book and in relation to the issues and themes of the whole poem.’

Enquiries should be directed to Claudia Cicuttini, Project Manager, VCE Examinations on (03) 9225 2351 or email: examinations.vcaa@edumail.vic.gov.au

Music Style and Composition

Amendments to Externally-assessed Tasks

Teachers are advised that the weightings and assessment criteria for the Externally-assessed Task have been

amended. The changes have been made in response to feedback received from teachers and assessors after the first assessment for this study. The amended weightings and assessment criteria are available on the VCAA website at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vce/studies/music/musicstylecompunits1-4/exams.aspx.

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 12

VCE VET GENERAL

ADVICEVCE VET

VCE VET Information Technology

The VCE VET Information Technology program is currently being revised for implementation from 2013.

Schools are reminded that where students wish to undertake scored assessment in 2012 and 2013, enrolments need to be in Program 2 of the current VCE VET Information Technology program based on the ICA05 training package.

VCE VET Interactive Digital MediaThe supported operating systems and approved software to be used in the practical component of the 2012 VCE VET Interactive Digital Media examination are outlined in the following table and are also available from the VCAA website: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vet/programs/multimedia/exams.aspx.

There are no changes from 2011.

Supported operating systemsIn 2012, the following operating systems will be supported: Windows 2000, XP, Vista/Mac OSX, Mac/Intel OS X or Windows 7.

Approved software programsIn 2012 the following software applications are approved for use in the practical component.

Function Software program

Animation Adobe Flash 8.0

Write content Notepad/TextEdit

Graphics editing Adobe Photoshop CS or Corel Photo-Paint 12 or Adobe Fireworks 8.0

Authoring Interactive Sequences

Adobe Dreamweaver 8.0

Video Will not be assessed in the practical component

More recent versions of these software programs are also acceptable.

Any queries about the VCE VET Interactive Digital Media examination should be addressed to Simona Wengritzky in the VCE Examinations Unit on (03) 9225 2357 or email examinations.vcaa@edumail.vic.gov.au.

Any training providers who are not using the supported operating systems, or who are unable to provide the approved software to all students in the examination, should contact the VCE Examinations Unit as soon as possible.

VCE VET Music: Program 3 Technical ProductionThe following information has been developed to support the VCE VET Music Technical Production Examination Specifications available on the VCAA website at: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/exams/vetmusic/vetmusic-samp-w.pdf.

Although CUSSOU8A Operate sound reinforcement systems and CUSSOU09A Mix sound sources have been included for scored assessment in previous years, teachers need to be aware of the significant changes between these superseded units and CUSSOU301A Provide sound reinforcement and CUSSOU302A Record and mix a basic music demo.

CUSSOU301A Provide sound reinforcement requires students specifically to work with live sound as well as playback material specified in the superseded CUSSOU8A Operate sound reinforcement systems. System installation is no longer part of the performance criteria but there is continued emphasis on testing and sound-checking sound reinforcement systems. There is greater focus on managing sound in a live environment.

CUSSOU302A Record and mix a basic music demo broadens the focus from mixing only to the planning, recording, mixing and finalising of at least two basic music demos. Use of a digital audio workstation (DAW) is stated as a typical application of the skills and knowledge described in the unit.

CUSSOU303A Set up and disassemble audio equipment is examined for the first time in 2012.

CUESOU08A Select and manage microphones and other audio input sources is examined for the first time in 2012.

CUESOU07B Apply a general knowledge of audio to work activities is examined for the first time in 2012.

VCE VET State ReviewersApplications are invited for the position of VCE VET State Reviewer for 2012 for the following programs:• Community Services• Engineering Studies• Hospitality (Kitchen Operations).

State reviewers can be teachers of the program at Unit 3 and Unit 4 levels. The VCE VET State Reviewer is a paid position and those appointed are required to undertake a range of activities including participating in VCAA professional development, providing feedback and advice to schools/RTOs, assisting in the preparation of published advice, conducting coursework audits and preparing feedback as a result of the coursework audits.

For further information, please telephone the VET Unit on (03) 9651 4458 or email tripp.meredith.m@edumail.vic.gov.au.

VCAL GENERAL

ADVICE

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 13

VCAL Update

New VCAL information sheets

Four new VCAL information sheets have been added to the VCAA website at: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vcal/

Publications/Publications/infosheets.aspxThe new information sheets provide an overview and links

to further information/support for the following areas:• Work Related Skills Strand• Personal Development Skills Strand (new curriculum in

2012)• VCAL assessment• I have been given a VCAL unit to teach. Where do I start?

VCAL Achievement AwardsThe 2011 Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning Achievement Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of young people who participated in VCAL in 2011. The awards also recognise the contribution and achievement of VCAL teachers and partner organisations that have contributed to the development and delivery of innovative VCAL programs.

The following table summarises the 2011 VCAL Achievement Awards winners:

Student Partner Teacher Chair’s Award

Total number of winners

37 6 15 1

The VCAL Achievement Awards ceremony is on Thursday 10 May at BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne.

Personal Development Skills (PDS) quality assurance template exemplarTo support teachers in the delivery of the new PDS units, the VCAA has prepared a sample assessment task template for PDS Intermediate, Unit 2. The template is based on a visit to a provider by their local State Member of Parliament. The template is located on the VCAA website at : www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vcal/resource_kit/resources_exemplars.aspx

Changes to the VCAL Eligibility ReportA number of changes have been made to this report to improve its readability.• All components (credit, VCE units, VCAL units, VET

certificates) are now listed in order of those allocated/not allocated, then the level of credit (Senior, Intermediate and Foundation), followed by year, code etc.

• The descriptions of the numbers of credits at the top of each student’s report have been changed to show that these are the credits that the student is eligible to achieve, not just those that they have already achieved.

• At the end of the Units of Competence (UOCs) for each VET certificate, a new line has been added showing VET value eligible (the sum of the values of UOCs), which contribute to the VCAL certificate with S results (for any year) and blank results (for the current year only).

• In the VET certificates box two new lines have been added: – VET value achieved to date – the sum of the value of

all UOCs with S results, which contribute to the VCAL certificate and the credit available from these

– Total VET value eligible – the sum of all UOCs with S results for any year or blank results for the current year, which contribute to the certificate and the credit available from these.

The VCAL Unit welcomes any feedback on the changes; email comments to: gallagher.david.j@edumail.vic.gov.au.

The following eligibility report is for demonstration purposes only and is not a correct VCAL program.

VCAL GENERAL

ADVICE

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 14

Notices

VCE Leadership AwardsThe VCAA is accepting nominations for the 2012 VCE Leadership Awards. These were previously called VCE Achiever Awards.

These awards recognise the efforts of VCE students in promoting community involvement in their local school and wider community.

Further information and entry forms can be found at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/excellenceawards/vceleadership/index.aspx

On 30 November 2012 all the recipients of the 2012 VCE Leadership Awards will be presented with computer prizes, donated by Lenovo Australia, at a ceremony held in Melbourne.

2011 overall winner Patrick Clark with the Hon. Martin Dixon, MP, Minister for Education.

2012 Victorian Training AwardsNominations are now being accepted for the 2012 Victorian Training Awards. The 2012 Victorian Training Awards reward excellence and innovation, and valuable contribution made by apprentices, students, teachers, training providers and employers to Victoria’s strong skills base.

There are 14 Victorian Training Award categories open for nomination and include six individual and eight organisational categories. Nominees gain recognition for outstanding achievements, increase their profile and gain valuable networking opportunities with senior industry and business leaders.

Prizes of up to $10 000 each are awarded to winners of most categories and student winners will represent Victoria at the Australian Training Awards, held in Melbourne on 16 November.

Entering is easy – you can nominate yourself, a teacher or organisation or any person you know. Nominations close on Friday 4 May.

All finalists and their families will be invited to attend the 2012 Victorian Training Awards Presentation Dinner on Friday 24 August 2012.

Visit www.education.vic.gov.au/trainingawards to enter online or email victorian.training.awards@edumail.vic.gov.au for further information.

Plain English Speaking AwardOnce again the VCAA is coordinating the Plain English Speaking Award in Victorian schools. Regional finals will take place between Monday 14 May and Friday 25 May.

The entry deadline is Tuesday 17 April (straight after the school holidays). Entries can be made online at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/excellenceawards/plainenglishspeaking/entryform.aspx. The entry fee per school (not per student) is $50.00. Host schools are exempt.

We look forward to receiving entries (maximum of two per school) for students aged 15 to 18 years on 1 January this year.

Full details on the format of the Plain English Speaking Award are published at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/excellenceawards/plainenglishspeaking/index.aspx.

Enquiries: (03) 9651 4372 or vcaa@edumail.vic.gov.au

Ellie Jamonts, 2011 Victorian state finalist wins the National PESA in Sydney. Ellie will represent Australia in London this May.Photo: Andrew Lasky, NSW Department of Education and Communities

The Age VCE and Careers ExpoThe Age VCE and Careers Expo is on 3–6 May. Visit the website for more details: www.vceandcareers.com.au

INDEX

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 15

February 2011 to February 2012The detailed contents for this VCAA Bulletin are on the front cover. This index records items in all issues from February 2011 to February 2012. Index items are followed by issue number and page number. Index to supplements appears on the next page.SE = Special Edition

AAgricultural and Horticultural Studies

94–11, 92–6Analysing VCE Results

2011 86–4Apology SE–3Australian Curriculum 93–4,

88–4, 87–9, 86–4

CCEO’s column 94–3, SE–2,

93–3, 92–3, 91–3, 90–3, 89–3, 88–3, 87–3, 86–3

Chinese SL/SLA 86–9Classical Studies

List 2012 90–6–7Units 3 and 4 86–10

DDance

Study design amendment 94–11, 90–7

Text advisory panel 2011 94–11, 86–7

DramaAmendment to Study Design

94–12, SE–4Drama and Theatre Studies

Playlist advisory panel 2011 94–12, 86–7

EEnhanced VCE School-based assess-

ment audit and review Program for 2012 SE–1

Examinations Assessors 94–10, 89–5Assessor training 89–5, 87–5Chemistry Data Book 94–10Chinese SL and Chinese SLA

written exam 86–9Feedback survey 93–7History: Revolutions 87–4International Studies 86–9Interactive Digital Media 94–10Language 87–4Latin prescribed text

2012–2013 88–5October/November

2011 91–4Online assessment 87–4Past papers 87–6Periods 2012 88–5Psychology Examination 2

91–4, 90–5Religion and Society examination

92–5Revised studies 94–8, 86–9Setting and Vetting panels

2012 89–5, 88–5Specifications 90–5

Timetable 2011 86 (liftout)2012 SE–4, 92–5

Training days for assessors 89–4VCE VET Interactive Digital Media

computer based examination 2011 90–6

HHealth and Human Development

88–7, 87–9Study design 94–12

Higher Education Studies in the VCE program 2012 94–7, 91–5

IImproving outcomes through data

and statistics 86–4Information Technology

Study design errata 89–5IT Applications 86–10

International Politics 86–10

JJohn Button Prize 87–15

LLatin study design amendments

94–13, 91 (liftout), 90–8

MMargaret Schofield Memorial

Scholarship 87–16Mathematics

Mathematical Methods (CAS) 88–7

Use of technology in VCE Mathematics examinations 2012 92–7

MediaStudy Design 94–13Study Design erratum 92–8

Mid-year examinations 2012 final year 94–4, SE–3

MusicPerformance and Investigations

94–13–14, 92–8, 88–8Prescribed list of group works

advisory panel 2011 94–14, 86–7

Music Style and Composition 94–14

NNotices 94–23, 93–13, 92–11,

91–8, 89–7, 88–10, 87–11, 86–19

PPhilosophy

Prescribed texts for 2011 86–112012 88–8

Physical Education Study Design 2011–2014 86–11

Plain English Speaking Award 2011 91–1, 12, 90–1

Professional development for school leavers 94–4

R2010 Results and ATAR Service

83 (liftout)

SSeason of Excellence

2011 89–1, 87–12012 92–1

Sessional Staff Management System 89–5

STEM connections in agriculture at Elisabeth Murdoch College 93–1

Student Records and ResultsEnglish as a Second Language

(ESL) audit 88–6Final results package delivery to

schools 93–4Full-fee paying overseas students

88–6, 87–9Important administrative dates for

2012 94–6, SE–4Outcomes from Small Group Part-

nerships Audit 2011 94–6Small Group Partnerships 88–6Statement of Marks and Inspec-

tion of Scripts 88–7Student address changes 93–4Student address validation 91–5Studio Arts 88–9VCAL certification at mid year

88–6VCE and VCAL Administrative

Handbook 2011 Errata 89–4, 88–5

VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook 2012 93–7Structural changes 92–4

VCE leadership teams Professional Development 93–5

Victorian Student Number 94–7, 93–7, 92–4, 91–4

SSystems Engineering 94–15

TTexts and Traditions

Set texts and passages for Spe-cial Study 2012 91–6

Theatre Studies 94–15

VVCAA Bulletin online SE–5, 91–1VCAA forms for 2012 94–7VCAL

Achievement Awards 2010 88–1, 86–162011 93–12, 92–10, 91–6

Certificate in General Education for Adults 94–21–23, 86–17-19

Curriculum Planning Guide: Personal Development Skills Strand SE–5, 93–12

Hands on graphic 94–20, 86–16

Induction workshop for new VCAL providers 91–6

New providers 87–10PowerPoint presentation SE–5Quality Assurance 94–20,

SE–5, 87–10, 86–16Review of Professional Develop-

ment Skills Unit 89–6Skills for Further Study

87–10, 86–16Themed VCAL 2012 91–6Unit accreditation periods 86–16Update 94–20, 92–10Use of name 86–16

VCE Achiever 94–1, 93–19, 20, 92–15, 16, 90–11, 89–11, 88–15, 16, 86–1

VCE ImplementationBriefings 94–7, 86–6LOTE nomenclature 87–7Music 2011–2015 87–6Online sessions 93–8Revised study designs

publication online 86–7Studies for implementation in

2012 SE–4, 89–4Study design changes

86–9Workshops 87–7, 8

VCE study designs only online from 2012 SE–2

VCE Results and ATAR Service 2011 93–14, 92–12

INDEX

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 16

VCE ReviewAccreditation periods 1 January

2011 86–72012 94–8–9, 93–9, 92–5

Advisory Panels 86–7Coursework reports 2010 87–6Philosophy 94–8Review of studies

2012 SE–32011 91–4, 90–4, 89–4, 88–4, 86–7

Study Design wall chart 2011 86–7

Study Review Panels 94–8, 86–7

VCE Assessment Handbooks 2012 93–7

VCE Extended Investigation proposed study 93–7

Visual Communication and Design 84–4

VCE School Leaders briefings 87–4, 86–6

VCE VET2011 Australian Vocational

Student Prize nominations 93–10

Agriculture, Horticulture and Land Management 92–9

Animal Studies 92–9Briefings 85–8Business Program 2 94–17Community Services 86–14Coursework Audit 94–19,

86–14Duplication between VCE

Languages and VET Language Qualification 94–18

Engineering 94–17, 92–9Furnishing program 94–17,

92–9Health 92–9

Implementation workshop 93–11

Hospitality 88–9, 86–12Information Technology 94–17

Interactive Digital Media exam 86–12supplementary advice 89–6

MESAB Training Awards 2011 87–10

Music 92–9, 87–10National VET information update

90–8Professional development

94–19, 86–13Program changes for 2012

94–16, 93–11Program redevelopment 2012

90–8Program update

2011 86–152012 90–8

Reference groups for programs under review 94–18, 86–14

Revised and new programs 94–17, 91–7, 88–9, 86–14

Revised VCE VET Sport and Recreation program 94–17, 93–10

School-based Apprenticeships 87–10

Scope of Registration 94–19Scored assessment advice

94–18Scored assessment workshop

94–18Sport and Recreation

94–17, 92–9State Reviewers 94–19,

86–14Statewide briefings

94–19, 93–10, 92–9TAFE Development Centre (TDC)

calendar 90–8Scholarship program 93–11

Training and Assessment 94–19Training.gov.au 91–7Upcoming VET events 90–8WorldSkills Australia 90–8

Victorian Student Number 89–4

Index to supplements

Bulletin No. 861. 2012 Administrative Advice for school-based assessment

2. VCE Music 2012–20153. 2012 VCE Drama and Theatre Studies Playlist

4. VCE English/ESL / VCE Literature Text lists 20125. VET Scored Assessment in Community Services

Bulletin No. 871. VCE 2012 Drama Solo Performance examination

and Theatre Studies Monologue Performance examination2. Mathematics Methods (CAS) study advice

Bulletin No. 891. VCE Studies accredited for implementation

in 2012: summary of changes

Bulletin No. 931. Important administrative dates 2012

2. Revised VCE Studies for Implementation in 2012 – Frequently Asked Questions

Bulletin No. 941. 2012 Administrative Advice for school-based assessment

2. VCE Dance 2012 Prescibed list of works Units 3 and 4. VCE Drama and Theatre Studies 2012 Playlists

3. VCE English/ESL / VCE Literature Text lists 20134. VET Scored Assessment

5. 2012 VCE Examinations timetable

COPY DEADLINES FOR 2012

Issue No. and Month Date of publication Copy deadline

No. 96 June Wednesday 6 June Wednesday 23 May

No. 97 July Wednesday 11 July Wednesday 27 June

No. 98 August Wednesday 8 August Wednesday 25 July

No. 99 September Wednesday 12 September Wednesday 29 August

No. 100 October Wednesday 10 October Wednesday 26 September

No. 101 November Thursday 8 November Wednesday 24 October

DISTRIBUTION

VCAA BULLETIN VCE, VCAL and VET APRIL 2012 17

Distribution12 January 2012 to 21 March 2012

Notices1/2012 re Consultation

• Proposed amendments to VCE study designs that currently have mid-year examinations

• The timing of the General Achievement Test in 2013

2/2012 re Australian Curriculum Consultation: Geography F–12

3/2012 re 2012 School-assessed Task Information Sessions

4/2012 re VASS New Users Professional Development February/March 2012

5/2012 re VCAL quality assurance arrangements for 2012

6/2012 re New VCAA website7/2012 re Changes to Important Administrative Dates

2012 and VASS8/2012 re ENROLMENT 1 DATA – Monday 27

February 20129/2012 re Bushfire Education Resource10/2012 re NAPLAN 2012 updates11/2012 re Information sessions for teachers new to VCE

Languages12/2012 re Changes to VCE VET Business Program 2

for 201213/2012 re VCE Season of Excellence – Top Screen

extra sessions14/2012 re VCE Season of Excellence – Bookings for

Top Class Sound 201215/2012 re 2012 GAT & VCE Written Examination

Centres and Supervisors16/2012 re NAPLAN 2012 updates17/2012 re Plain English Speaking Award 201218/2012 re VCE VET Scored Assessment: Professional

Development for Assessors – March 201219/2012 re 2012 English, English as a Second Language

(ESL) and Literature Units 3 & 4 Text Survey20/2012 re New VCAL providers for 201321/2012 re Changes to VCAA Fees and Charges for 201222/2012 re NAPLAN 2012 updates23/2012 re 2012 New to VCE Examination Conduct and

Administration Training Sessions24/2012 re Top Class Music Performance program now

available on the VCAA Season of Excellence webpages

25/2012 re 2012 Enrolment Advice for VCE VET Furnishing

26/2012 re Workshops for teachers of VCE CCAFL Languages

27/2012 re Online publication of revised Study Designs for implementation in 2013

28/2012 re Online Marking: 2012 VCE English examination

PrintPlain English Speaking Award posterVCE Leadership Award 2012 posterVCE VET Program booklets: Agriculture, Horticulture,

Conservation and Land Management, Sport and Recreation.

InternetAdditionsFebruary 2012 VCAA Bulletin VCE, VCAL and VET No. 94February 2012 VCAA Bulletin Early Years–10 No. 57

VCE2011 School-assessed Coursework report: Agricultural

and Horticultural Studies, Information Technology: Applications, Information Technology: Software Development, Legal Studies, Psychology, Religion and Society, Physical Education, Music Investigation Units 3 and 4

VCE Music Investigation Units 3 and 4: 2012 prescribed list of group works, Focus Area Approval Form

VCE Music Style and Composition: EAT authentication form.VCE Physical Education: Resources list has been updated.

2011 Assessment reports: Accounting 2, Biology, Business Management, Chinese Second Language Advanced oral, Chinese Second Language oral, Classical Studies: Croatian oral, Dance performance, Economics, English, German written, Global Politics, Greek oral, Health and Human Development, Hebrew oral, Hebrew written, History: Australian, History: Renaissance Italy, Indonesian Second Language oral, Indonesian Second Language written, International Studies, Japanese First Language oral, Japanese Second Language oral, Korean Second Language oral, Legal Studies, Literature, Maltese oral, Maltese written, Maths Methods (CAS) 1, Maths Methods (CAS) 2, Media, Music Style and Composition, Outdoor and Environmental Studies, Persian oral, Physical Education, Physics 2, Portuguese oral, Psychology, Punjabi oral, Serbian oral, Sociology, Spanish oral, Spanish written, Studio Arts, Swedish oral, Theatre Studies performance, Theatre Studies written, VET Dance, VET Music performance, English Language, Vietnamese oral.

Exam specifications and samples: Australian Politics, Chemistry 1, Chemistry 2, Dance written, Drama written, English, English (ESL), Further Maths 1, Further Maths 2, Geography, History: Australian, History: Renaissance Italy, Industry and Enterprise, Media, Product Design and Technology, Sociology, VET Business, VET Integrated Technologies, VET Laboratory Skills, VET Music, VET Sport and Recreation, Literature (examination advice and examination criteria), Dance (performance specifications), VET Dance Performance (specifications), Drama Solo Performance (specifications), Theatre Studies Monologue Performance (specifications), Music Investigation (specifications), Accounting 1 (sample), Music Performance (performance exam specifications and criteria), Music Style and Composition (EAT specifications and criteria), VET Music (performance exam specifications and criteria).

VCAA Bulletin (VCAA Bulletin VCE, VCAL and VET; VCAA Bulletin EY–10) is an official publication of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Principals are advised to ensure that it is circulated among teaching staff. One copy should be filed for reference.

The VCAA Bulletin is also available online at: www.vcaa.vic.edu.auVictorian schools only may photocopy this publication for use by teachers and students.The VCAA does not endorse the products or services of any external organisation’s notices published in the VCAA Bulletin.

editor Victoria Harrison desktop publishing Robyn Scotteditorial enquiries: tel (03) 9651 4621, fax (03) 9651 4354, email vcaa.media.publications@edumail.vic.gov.ausubscription enquiries: Ian Jordan (03) 9651 4326

ISSN 1448-2363

Correspondence relating to this publication should be addressed to: The Editor, VCAA, c/o above address

Subscription to the VCAA BulletinSubscription to the VCAA Bulletin online is free. Go to the VCAA website to subscribe: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au

VCE Season of ExcellenceThe VCE Season of Excellence 2012 is well underway. Top Screen opened to a capacity audience on 1 March. Screenings of the 17 films and the associated education programs continue until 23 May at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Federation Square.

Top Class Sound followed a week later and this year’s move to the BMW Edge proved a wonderful venue for this feast of original music. Compere Helen Champion reminded the audience that they were attending a most unique event, emphasising how rare it is to hear new music and that this concert was presenting 15 new works, that the composers were present, and that the majority of them would perform.

Top Class Music and Top Class Dance at the Melbourne Recital Centre in March continued the very high standard of the performing arts students selected for this year’s concerts.

The Hon. Heidi Victoria, MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Assisting the Premier with the Arts, opened Top Arts at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia on 21 March. Fifty-four artists celebrated their outstanding work with their families and school representatives. Drawing, photography, artists’ books, textiles and printmaking are included in this year’s exhibition.

A few days later 119 young designers presented work in the Top Designs exhibition at Melbourne Museum. Over 500 guests attended the opening of this dynamic exhibition. Works range from furniture to fashion, print layout, photography, mechanical projects, architectural models and graphic design portfolios.

The VCE Season of Excellence continues with Top Class Drama and Theatre Studies on 10 and 11 May. Top Arts and Top Designs both continue until 15 July.

The final event, the stunning Top Acts concert, will be held on Friday 25 May at 7.30 pm. The Hon. Martin Dixon, MP, Minister for Education, will open the Season’s grand finale as part of Education Week 2012. Over 30 young singers, actors, dancers and musicians, chosen from the Top Class concert series, will present this spectacular concert at the Palais Theatre.

Season brochures were sent to all schools outlining dates and booking details for all events and education programs.

For updates and further information visit: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/excellenceawards/seasonofexcellence/index.aspx.

Top: Toast by Raudie McLeod, Eltham High School, Eltham (Top Designs)Bottom: Chaperon Rouge by Stephanie Wake, Toorak College, Mount Eliza (Top Designs)