New accessible font and layout for VCE examinations in 2024
Principals/directors and VCE coordinators, teachers and students
From 2024, all VCE external written examinations will be published in a revised format.
This change follows an extensive review of our current examination format and content, to ensure we continue to meet our legal obligations for accessibility. The review referenced the
Victorian Government guidelines on accessibility,
Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities and the Australian Government
Style Manual.
Our review explored accessible font types, font sizes, using plain language for covers and instructions and decluttering headers and footers. We reviewed the accessibility of printing on coloured paper for some examinations.
A major change will be the introduction of Arial, a sans-serif font, in place of Times New Roman, a serif font. Sans-serif fonts are recommended for accessibility. In recent years, most students who requested an alternative format examination (as a special examination arrangement) chose sans-serif Arial.
We will continue to use specialist fonts for examinations that require them, such as using Times New Roman for equational and other material in mathematics and science examinations. Software coding will appear in Courier font as in previous years. We will also maintain the current style for Literature extracts.
We have reviewed all examination covers and section instructions. Sitting a VCE examination can be a stressful and challenging experience for students. We hope that students will be better supported by having instructions that are more targeted and concise.
These changes do not replace special examination arrangements but the change will mean an improved reading experience for any person who needs to access VCE examinations. This would include students sitting their examinations in Year 11 or Year 12, students using the examinations as practice examinations in future years, or teachers using the examinations and their reports to inform their curriculum planning and teaching.
The roll-out of the new design will commence with the sample examinations and examples to be published, when available, from December 2023 to the beginning of Term 1 2024, and will continue into the 2024 Northern Hemisphere Timetable and the 2024 Victorian timetable examinations. Schools are encouraged to familiarise students with the new format and to also review the accessibility of school-based assessment tasks so that students are supported in both school-based and external assessments.
Students who require an alternative format should still apply through the usual
Special Provision process.
Note that the final 2024 Victorian timetable examinations will be informed by the independent review into the VCAA's VCE examination-setting policies, processes and procedures (see
Notice to schools 187/2023).
Action
Principals/directors, please note the forthcoming release of the new design via sample exams.
Critical dates
December 2023–January 2024 – release of the sample examinations and examples for 2024
More information
VCE Examinations Unit
email:
vcaa.examinations@education.vic.gov.au