Background
The VCAA exists to provide high-quality curriculum and assessment for Victorian students. One of our core roles is developing and administering more than 160 exams to more than 80,000 VCE students each year. This significant and complex task requires the collective efforts of all parts of the VCAA and our stakeholders.
An
independent review was held into the VCAA examination-setting policies, processes and procedures for the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), in response to issues arising from the 2023 examination series.
The report was handed down in March 2024 and the review found that the VCAA had comprehensive policies, processes and procedures for developing, reviewing, distributing and administering external examinations.
The review made 6 high-level recommendations for improvement, particularly for the Mathematics and Chemistry examinations.
The Government has committed to implementing all of these recommendations and the VCAA has made substantial progress and we are also working to strengthen our end-to-end processes to ensure they are robust, consistent, and efficient across all exams.
The VCAA will continue to communicate our progress in the lead-up to the 2024 VCE examination period on this page.
Latest Update
New partnership delivers quality in VCE Examinations
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Implementing the recommendations of the Independent Panel Review
Improvements to Examination Process
The independent review into examination-setting policies, processes and procedures highlighted specific areas for improvement, particularly in our Mathematics and Chemistry examinations. We are pleased to report that we have made substantial progress strengthening our review processes and support for 2024 Mathematics and Chemistry examinations. We have:
- Engaged 8 new study specialists for Mathematics examinations, and 2 new study specialists for Chemistry examinations. These specialists (at senior lecturer level and above), are contributing at critical stages of examination development and as additional quality assurance.
- Explored how we work with panels to support them to work more efficiently and effectively.
- Increased the funding allocated for Mathematics and Chemistry panels to develop examinations, including additional hours and hourly wages rather than fixed rates.
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Simplified multiple-choice questions, to be in line with best practice.
- Updated our examination checking workflow and processes with a key focus on quality assurance.
- Developed new accessible templates with
clearer fonts in line with accessibility guidelines.
More broadly, we've reviewed other areas of improvement in line with the independent review including:
- Improved the exam administration process, including modified examination announcement scripts and amended access logs to support supervisor exam checks.
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Increased mandatory briefing sessions for all chief supervisors and relevant school personnel focused on changes to VCE external assessment administration procedures made in response to the independent review.
- Updated communications regarding expertise that we look for in exam development panels.
Looking ahead, we’re working to improve the end-to-end process to drive quality and efficiency:
- Comprehensive examination development workflow and process improvements for Mathematics and Chemistry will be rolled out for 2025 examinations onwards.
- Additional support and training will be provided to empower our staff and examination panels in developing consistently high-quality examinations.
- We are also collaborating with other jurisdictions to identify further examination process improvements.
Communications
Reports
Independent review
Independent review into the VCAA's VCE examination-setting policies, processes and procedures
Stay up to date
Notices to Schools
The VCAA Bulletin
Senior Secondary Update
Contact
For further information, please contact the Director Curriculum, Lauren Sayer
email:
lauren.sayer@education.vic.gov.au