VCE School-assessed Coursework (SACs) are the internal assessments your teacher will set that you need to complete in Units 3–4 that count toward your study score and, together with your exam(s), feed into your ATAR. Because schools assess under different conditions, the VCAA uses statistical moderation to align results across the state while preserving your school’s rank order. Bottom line: consistent SAC performance matters—and the exact weighting varies by subject.
Quick link: Want a study plan to lift your marks? Read How to Ace Your VCE SACs (2025).
What exactly are VCE SACs?
SACs are school-based assessment tasks that measure how well you’ve met the outcomes in each subject’s VCE Study Design during Units 3–4. They form part of your scored assessment that contributes to your study score.
Units 1–2 are assessed at school and reported as S (satisfactory) or N (not satisfactory). They don’t directly count toward your study score or ATAR but build the skills you’ll need for Units 3–4.
How important are VCE SACs?
Short answer: Very. In Units 3–4, SACs form a core part of your scored assessment and combine with your exam(s) to produce your study score (used in the ATAR). They also set your school rank in each subject, and VCAA’s statistical moderation aligns schools to a common standard while preserving that rank order—so consistent SAC performance both lifts your score and protects your position.
Why SACs matter (beyond the obvious)
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Direct contribution to your study score. SACs are one of the graded assessments in every Unit 3–4 study. The exact weighting varies by subject (e.g. English/EAL uses Unit 3 & 4 coursework plus an end-of-year exam; Maths has two exams), but SACs always count. Check your current study design for the breakdown.
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Your cohort rank is locked in. Moderation keeps the rank order your school awarded and scales the school’s marks to the statewide standard. That’s why steady SAC results across the year matter as much as single “big” tasks.
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They’re part of the safety net if something goes wrong. If illness or an emergency affects an exam, a Derived Examination Score (DES) can be calculated using GAT component scores, your other available scores in the study (including SACs), and the school’s indicative grade. Strong SAC evidence helps here.
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The GAT backs up fairness. VCAA can use GAT data in moderation and DES processes to check that assessments are fair and comparable statewide—another reason to take it seriously.
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Unit completion & credibility. SACs provide the teacher-marked evidence of achievement used for S/N decisions and must be completed mainly in class under school authentication rules—so staying on top of them protects both your results and your record.
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Feedback while there’s time to improve. Treat each SAC as a mini-diagnostic: identify patterns, update your “mistakes book,” and adjust your plan before the exam period hits.
If you’re absent or need adjustments
Schools have policies for rescheduling or alternative arrangements when SACs clash with illness, events or ongoing conditions. VCAA’s Special Provision framework covers classroom learning, school-based assessment, special exam arrangements and DES - speak to your teacher or VCE Coordinator early if you need support.
What if I do poorly on a SAC?
One result won’t define your year. Focus on improving your rank across the remaining tasks and lifting your exam performance. For a recovery plan, see How to Ace Your VCE SACs (2025).
Quick next steps
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Map the weightings for each of your subjects (from the current study design).
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Practise with past exams & examiner reports (internal link).
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Use the ATAR Calculator to see how small lifts shift your aggregate.
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Get targeted help from a VCE tutor on Learnmate to build consistency and rank.
How VCE SACs affect your study score and ATAR
Your moderated SACs and your external exam(s) combine to form your study score. VTAC then uses your set of study scores (after scaling) to calculate your ATAR.
Do SACs and exams carry the same weight for every subject?
No - weightings vary by subject. For example, English/EAL is commonly 50% SACs / 50% exam, while VCE Mathematical Methods/General (Further) is typically about one-third SACs / two-thirds exams. Always check the current Study Design and your school’s outline. Check Learnmate's VCE exam hub here for the main VCAA Subject Study Designs and past exams and examiner's reports.
How statistical moderation works (in plain English)
Schools assess under different conditions. To make results comparable across Victoria, the VCAA statistically moderates school-based results. Moderation aligns your school’s marks to a statewide standard without changing the rank order your school awarded.
Key takeaways:
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Your rank within your school matters and is kept through moderation.
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Moderation does not replace SACs with exam marks; it aligns them so scores are comparable statewide.
SACs vs SATs: what’s the difference?
Most studies use SACs. Some practical or performance-based studies also use School-assessed Tasks (SATs), which are teacher-assessed against VCAA criteria and are part of scored assessment. Think subjects like Product Design & Technology, Media or Studio Arts.
Common misconceptions (and quick fixes)
“If I bomb one SAC, I’m done.”
Not necessarily. Your rank is preserved through moderation, and the exam still contributes heavily. There is also discretion for your teachers to rank you detached from your marks (ie. to exclude or underweight a bad mark). Despite this, you should focus on consistent improvement from here if you do have a bad SAC result.
“Moderation swaps SACs for exam marks.”
False. Moderation aligns school results to the statewide standard without changing rank order.
“All subjects weight SACs the same.”
They don’t. Weightings are set in each Study Design and your school’s course plan.
Where to go next (resources & support)
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Strategy guide: How to Ace Your VCE SACs (2025).
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Plan your pathway: VCE ATAR Calculator and How to Get the ATAR You Need.
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Practice bank: Past exams & examiner reports for your VCE subjects.
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Personal help: Connect with a VCE subject expert on Learnmate.
FAQs
A SAC is School-assessed Coursework—a school-based assessment task completed in Units 3–4 that contributes to your study score.
SAC stands for School-assessed Coursework in the Victorian Certificate of Education.
SACs are teacher-assessed tasks completed during Units 3–4 that measure your achievement of Study Design outcomes and count toward your study score.
Indirectly. Moderated SACs combine with your exam(s) to produce a study score, and VTAC uses your set of study scores to calculate your ATAR.
It varies by subject. As examples, English/EAL is often 50% SACs / 50% exam, while Mathematical Methods/General (Further) is about one-third SACs / two-thirds exams. Check the current Study Design and your school’s outline.
No. Units 1–2 are assessed at school and reported as S/N; only Units 3–4 contribute to study scores and the ATAR.
VCAA aligns school results to a statewide standard while preserving school rank order so scores are comparable.
SACs are used in most studies; SATs are practical/performance tasks in some subjects, also part of scored assessment.
Learnmate can help
If you’d like personal guidance, you can connect with a VCE subject expert on Learnmate to build a targeted study plan, practise under timed conditions, and get feedback that improves your rank and exam performance.
