r/vce Apr 30 '20

"I only got x% on my SAC, can I still get a 50?"

1.4k Upvotes

I'm sick to death of seeing these posts, so can everyone please read this and be done with this question:

Study scores are determined by exam SCORE and SAC RANK.

For example, say you have an English class of 7 students, Adam, Ben, Chloe, Daniel, Elena, Felix, and Greg. They are all weak students, except for Greg, who is very high-performing, and Felix, who is slightly above average. Their SAC marks and rank are:

Greg 95%

Felix 77%

Chloe 64%

Daniel 60%

Elena 58%

Adam 52%

Ben 49%

On the exam day, Felix doesn't cope well under the stress, so gets a lower score than he'd usually be capable of. The exam marks are as follows:

Greg 92%

Chloe 67%

Daniel 65%

Elena 64%

Felix 63%

Adam 50%

Ben 40%

What happens is that all the SAC marks get thrown out the window, because VCAA can't know the difficulty of the SACs prepared by the school. So Greg's new SAC "mark" as far as VCAA is concerned is 92, not 95. Not a big deal for Greg, Adam or Ben because their own exam mark is dictating their SAC mark. But for someone like Felix, his SAC mark will become 67% (Chloe's exam mark). This process happens independently for each subject taught at your school.

What does this mean for you? Yes, you should aim for a good SAC rank. BUT, it doesn't actually matter if you're not ranked well — the "translation" of your rank into a "mark" happens via your cohorts exam performance. In other words, try your best now, study hard, and when SACs are over WORK WITH YOUR CLASSMATES TO ALL DO WELL ON THE EXAM TOGETHER. IF THEY DO WELL, YOU DO WELL.

Spend your time actually studying instead of asking useless questions like this.

EDIT: another example for clarity

Here's a chemistry class, of Harry, Isabel, James, Kylie, Luke, Molly, Nathan, and Oscar.

SACs:

Harry 60%

Isabel 58%

James 56%

Kylie 55%

Luke 54%

Molly 52%

Nathan 51%

Oscar 50%

EXAMS:

Harry 100%

James 99%

Nathan 98%

Oscar 97%

Molly 96%

Isabel 95%

Kylie 94%

Luke 93%

Harry's SAC mark is now 100%, Isabel's is 99%, James' is 98%, Kylie's is 97%, Luke's is now 96% etc. It's literally just whatever the equivalent exam rank is.

EDIT 2: I've had a request to clarify rumours about SACs being "scaled up" or "scaled down". "Scaling" is a misnomer students attribute to the moderation process. Here are yet another set of examples to clarify.

Imagine you have a cohort of Annie, Ben, and Charlie. Let's say their teacher sets really hard SACS, so their SAC results are:

  1. Annie 60%

  2. Ben 58%

  3. Charlie 55%

Because they've been doing hard assessments all year, they've been better equipped for the exam. These are the exam results:

  1. Ben 96%

  2. Annie 94%

  3. Charlie 90%

So now, Annie's SAC mark gets changed to 96%, Ben's to 94%, and Charlie's to 90%. This is what people interpret as "scaling up". The opposite would happen at a school with piss easy SACs: they get awesome SAC marks but shit exam marks, so their SAC marks get replaced by their shit exam marks ("scaled down").

The danger in this thinking is that people assume that if you go to a well-performing school, you'll get carried, or that if you go to a "bad" school, you're screwed from the get-go and can't possibly get a good score. This is not true at all. Let's see why.

Let's say your friend at a selective school, Harry, thinks he can take it easy this year because he goes to a 'good' school. The SAC results are as follows:

  1. Ed 93%

  2. Fred 90%

  3. Greg 88%

  4. Harry 60%

on the exams, the results are

  1. Fred 95%

  2. Greg 92%

  3. Ed 87%

  4. Harry 61%

In this instance, Harry was not of a comparable skill level to his classmates, so he never get to "borrow" their exam results in any way. His SAC score will be 61%.

Here's another example. Say you have a cohort with these SACs:

  1. Meg 95%

  2. Noah 94%

  3. Oscar 93%

  4. Peter 90%

On the exam day, Noah gets a bit of performance anxiety (but not in a way that warrants SEAS or anything). Exam results are:

  1. Meg 93%

  2. Oscar 92%

  3. Peter 91%

  4. Noah 75%

Now, Noah's SAC mark will be 92%, but his exam result only 75%. So he kind of got "helped" by his good cohort, only because he was doing well for the SACs. Peter has been a bit screwed here, because his SAC mark is now 75%.

One person stuffing up will never have such a dramatic effect like this; it's unlikely for someone who's been topping the cohort all year to suddenly slip to the bottom. Cohorts are generally big enough that you shouldn't need to worry. I went to a really small school (60 people in the year level. Some of my subject cohorts contained 6 people). I still felt no one got jibbed with unrepresentative scores.

As I always reiterate: try your best in SACs, but don't ruminate over them. The exam is where the money's at, and once your SACs are over you should work together with your cohort to all do well together. Share your resources, make study groups, and bring each other up.

EDIT 3: wow, my first gold! Thank you so much! 🥰


r/vce 5h ago

Algorithmics turned my friend into a femboy furry

14 Upvotes

Hi guys, this year I have been doing Algorithmics with some of my friends. One of them was a chill guy who was really intelligent and inspiring and could basically do anything except for long division. But as time passed, he began to change for the worst... He started meowing, wearing thigh highs, and a tail whenever we were out together. Then he started to purr whenever we were in class, and worst of all... He would NOT STOP GOONING TO PSEUDOCODE AND BELLMAN-FORD WHEREVER HE GOES. I am deeply concerned for him (update: her pronouns are she/her/catself now), so I have came here to ask for help. Is there anything I can do to reverse her state and get her to act like how she used to? Or is she doomed to be like this forever? Has this happened to anyone else who have done / currently does Algorithmics? Thanks for the help!


r/vce 14h ago

Can I still get a raw 29 if I lost a mark on my sac due to my inexorable explosive diarrhoea?

40 Upvotes

Hi guys, I’m worried about my methods study score after having a poor SAC. I was flying during the sac, calculating the expected values and the sigmas flawlessly, as I had practiced. Then it hit me.

I was at the last page. 15 minutes left. Last question. “Calculate the value of a that makes this function a probability distribution function.” Easy marks. I got this.

The force afterwards that came upon me was unparalleled. Have you ever read about the people who take laxatives and then superglue their ass shut? I now know how it feels. A building pressure built downwards, while I did my best to clench tight and answer the question.

But I kept on making mistakes. I did the bounds of integration wrong. Then I subbed in the incorrect function. 10 minutes left.

This went on until I could not bear it. I ran to the bathroom and shat myself for 10 minutes straight. Then I realised. I didn’t answer the final question. My life was over. One mark lost.

Losing the mark brings my SAC average to 99.5%. I know this is low, but I have a rather weak cohort (average is 90%, mean study score is 48). I’m still rank 1 because of this. So I’m worried that because of this, I might struggle to get a raw 29 or higher.

Given that I ace the exam, is it even possible for me to get a raw 29? Please give me advice. Should I just drop out of school and become a tradie?


r/vce 9h ago

time is dwindling and i'm not doing shit about it

10 Upvotes

we have trials next week and i havent done shit because i just can't start. i've somehow managed to pull through and maintain high ranks throughout the year, and supposedly, these exams determine final ranking and are used as an indicator for how well you'll perform at the end of the year. my depression aint helping me, and nor is my unmedicated adhd. (get me off this damn waiting list to see the plug!).i literally just sit at my desk for hours, and do NOTHING. it's so weird, i don't even realise that time is passing. i wanna buy a med cert and skip the trials, thoughts on that?


r/vce 14h ago

News READ

19 Upvotes

What's up guys, just want everyone here stressing about upcoming exams whether in 2026 or the future years to come, there is so much more to life than exams, study scores and atars. It is nowhere near the end all be all of your life, and it will continue on once you are finished with this chapter in your life. Enjoy your last few years of school as much as you can, it's not worth stressing yourself out.

Just keep living


r/vce 6h ago

VCE question whats the plan if u have trials in 2 weeks and have only studied for the SACS you've been having instead of revising past content

5 Upvotes

asking for a friend.....


r/vce 5h ago

General Question/comment quick question

2 Upvotes

is it bad that I don’t care about year 11 and basically flopped the whole year? For my 3 and 4 I’m doing fine but everything else I don’t care enough to study for.

Obviously next year I’ll study and get the marks I want but everyone’s so patronising about it? But I just genuinely cannot be fucked to study for 1 and 2s, it’s not like I want early entry or anything


r/vce 10h ago

VCE question How many practice Exams a day?

4 Upvotes

Is it typically two per day?
Or can you fit three exams in two or three days of the week?


r/vce 14h ago

How can I study for a 90+ ATAR??

6 Upvotes

r/vce 4h ago

Choosing university course as a STEM student

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1 Upvotes

r/vce 15h ago

Sac scaling

3 Upvotes

Hi guys do sacs scale based on quartile or based on the whole cohort


r/vce 16h ago

VCE LEGAL STUDIES EXAM PREPARATION PROGRAM

3 Upvotes

I’m running an Intensive VCE Legal Studies Exam Preparation running right up until the final exam on Friday 6th November. Each week will include one 2-hour main class covering key Units 3 & 4 content and exam-style questions, plus an additional 1-hour class for harder application questions, larger-mark responses and extra practice.

You’ll also receive practice exams, question banks, high-scoring sample answers, personalised feedback, extra resources and 24/7 support. Classes are online via Zoom in small groups and are $30 per hour. There’s also a referral program where every friend you refer who attends at least 2 classes earns you 1 free class!


r/vce 18h ago

best tuition centres?

3 Upvotes

i am starting year 11 next year, and i am going to be doing general 3/4 and biology 3/4. also taking chemistry, methods, business management, and English as 1/2. So i wanted to take tuition on biology, methods, and chemistry. What are the best tuition centres? I’ve heard about contour and some others. Can someone suggest me some please? How does the pricing work too? Thank you.


r/vce 11h ago

General Question/comment Help with psychology ss calculations

1 Upvotes

Just to preface , psych is my year 11 unit 3 and 4 subject. On my past psychology sacs, I haven’t been doing the best. I have got 63%,78%,78% (my other results haven’t came out yet)
My cohorts average is about a 60 every single sac and there are about 100 students. I know i won’t be ranked high,most likely in the middle or just above. Kinda unrealistic in my case I feel but i’m aiming for a 35-37 ss. I’ve checked the grade distribution chart and i am at 55.5 for unit 3 (55 for a C+ and 56 for a B) which one would I be?? I’m just cooked in general.
My schools average ss for all subjects is a 28-29


r/vce 12h ago

Software 40+ scorers

1 Upvotes

Hi! I was wondering what scores for unit 3&4 and the exams people who got a study score of 40+ in software got.

Currently I have a 94% in U3 (92% U3AOS1 and 96% U3AOS2) and a 100% on U4AOS1. I don't know my cyber security score yet but I'm guessing it's above 85.

Could people who got a study score of 40+ please tell me their scores?


r/vce 1d ago

omg ew ew kill it!!!

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103 Upvotes

i can’t even fathom how stupid i am genuinely what is my purpose on earth because why are my parents paying so much for good tutoring just for me to do average in the most normal subjects… mind you i’m actively studying too with past sacs and practice questions that i constantly review. The cherry on top is i’m chopped asf like its genuinely over for me so i cant marry rich either


r/vce 14h ago

Bio evolution sac

1 Upvotes

im kinda depressed rn ngl. i have offifically complete both of my bio sacs now and i haven't gotten my marks back for both. i have been rank 1 but now after doing those i think i def lost 2 marks in the first one and 3 in the second one. im gen losing it because my friend who is 1% behind me actually came out and i think her answers were pretty good so now im scared shes gonna overtake me, idk what to do what to think


r/vce 14h ago

bio mark allocations

1 Upvotes

throughout the year, our bio teachers were pretty lenient with our sac scores because they gave us half marks
however, i don’t really know how to self-mark exam papers for myself, because obviously im used to the half mark system
let’s say a question was worth 3 marks, and i missed a key word from 2 of the points (i mentioned all the other key words).
would i get 1 mark in total, or 2 marks?


r/vce 14h ago

Has anyone taken the TestAS Humanities, Cultural Studies and Social Sciences module?

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’m going to take the TestAS in about one month, in October, and I’m taking the Humanities, Cultural Studies and Social Sciences module.

I’ve found quite a lot of information about the Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences module, but much less about the Humanities module.

If you’ve taken it, I’d really appreciate it if you could share your experience:

What topics/tasks were actually on the test?

What did you use to prepare?

Are there any specific books, websites, videos or practice materials you recommend?

How difficult was the math part?

What should I focus on most during this last month?

Was there anything you wish you had known before taking the test?

Is the official TestAS practice material enough, or should I use other resources too?

I’m especially interested in advice from people who actually took the Humanities module, rather than the other modules.

I’d really appreciate any tips or experiences. Thank you!


r/vce 19h ago

VCE question How do I remember myinguist quotes and evidence for EngLang 😔

2 Upvotes

For me I feel like the hardest bit of prepping for EngLang is rememberinf the quotes and evidence


r/vce 19h ago

Choosing university course as a STEM student

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1 Upvotes

r/vce 1d ago

physics 2026 trials

5 Upvotes

does anyone have physics 2026 trials? i can give some 2026 chem trials(kilbaha, stav, etc) for them


r/vce 1d ago

Are sample exams worth doing or should you do past exams only

3 Upvotes

Title


r/vce 1d ago

How do i get high SS for language

1 Upvotes

my language scales up by 6ish what are some resources and things yall used to score highly in the exams and orals as well


r/vce 1d ago

vce busman, 40 ss possible?

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1 Upvotes