Satisfactory VPC unit result
Students receive an S (satisfactory) for a module when the teacher determines that the student has:
- produced work that demonstrates achievement of the learning goal(s)
- submitted work that is clearly their own.
Schools are solely responsible for decisions about satisfactory completion. Results for each module must be based on a judgment of satisfactory (S) or not yet complete for (N) each learning goal(s).
At the beginning of their students’ VPC enrolment, schools must provide students with clear written details of both the VCAA rules and the school’s rules and procedures. For all units in the VPC, schools must specify the learning program that a student must complete to achieve an S for a module and the conditions under which the work is to be done.
The student’s home school coordinates the assessment and collection of results for all units. Students receive an S (satisfactory) or N (not yet complete) result for each VPC unit. Students receive an S (satisfactory) for the unit upon satisfactory completion of all modules within that unit.
Repeating VPC units
There are no restrictions on students repeating units, however they may obtain credit only once for each unit.
Redeeming modules – submitting further evidence for satisfactory completion
If a teacher judges that work submitted by a student does not meet the required standard for satisfactory completion, they may consider other work the student has undertaken and submitted for the module. This work may include class work, homework, additional tasks or discussions with the student that demonstrate their achievement of the module.
The school may decide to delay the decision about satisfactory completion to allow a student to complete or submit further work.
Lost, stolen or damaged work
If a teacher or student has lost work or had work stolen or damaged, they must provide a written statement explaining the circumstances. The statement must be signed, dated and filed at the school. Schools must keep a record, however they are not required to report the loss, theft or damage to the VCAA. The principal shall base their decision on the student’s unit result on records kept and the teacher’s advice.
Care in the use of technology
A student who uses technology to produce work for assessment is responsible for ensuring that:
- there is an alternative system available for producing assessable work in case of malfunction or unavailability
- hard copies of the work in progress and backup versions are produced regularly.
Authentication
Principals are responsible for administering VCAA rules and instructions in their school. One of these rules is that students must make sure all unacknowledged work submitted for assessment is genuinely their own.
Teachers may consider it appropriate to ask students to demonstrate their understanding of the task at, or about the time of, submission of the work. If any part or all of the work cannot be authenticated, the matter must be dealt with as a breach of rules.
Rules for authentication of school based assessment
Students must observe and apply VCAA authentication rules. Students must sign an authentication record for work done outside class when they submit completed work. The VCAA authentication rules state that:
- a student must make sure that all unacknowledged work submitted is their own
- a student must acknowledge all resources used, including:
- texts, websites and other source material
- the name and status of any person who provided assistance and the type of assistance provided
- a student must not receive undue assistance from another person, including their teacher, in the preparation and submission of work
- acceptable levels of assistance include:
- the incorporation of ideas or material derived from other sources (for example, by reading, viewing or note taking), but which have been transformed by the student and used in a new context
- prompting and general advice from another person or source that leads to refinements and/or self-correction
- unacceptable forms of assistance include:
- use of or copying another person’s work, including their teacher’s work or other resources without acknowledgement
- use of or copying sample answers provided by their teacher or another person
- corrections or improvements made or dictated by another person, including their teacher
- a student must not submit the same piece of work for assessment in more than one study or more than once within a study
- a student must not circulate or publish written work that is being submitted for assessment in a study in the academic year of enrolment
- a student must not knowingly assist another student in a breach of rules
- in considering if a student’s work is their own, teachers should consider if the work:
- is atypical of other work produced by the student
- is inconsistent with the teacher’s knowledge of the student’s ability
- contains unacknowledged material
- has not been sighted and monitored by the teacher during its development.
Determining unit results
Schools should have established procedures for determining the activities and tasks set for students to demonstrate the achievement of each module.
Decisions made by teachers of individual studies and by multiple teachers of one study should be consistent.
If there is more than one class in a study, teachers should consult with one another to arrive at the activities and tasks set for students to demonstrate the achievement of each module.
It is useful to swap some drafts of typical work early in the process of completing the modules. The earlier teachers establish a common understanding, the process will be completed more smoothly.