A study score is a number from 0 to 50 that shows how you performed in one VCE study (Units 3 and 4) compared with everyone in Victoria who took that study that year. The VCAA calculates it from your graded assessments, and it is designed so the middle is about 30. VTAC then scales study scores to build your ATAR.
Study score key facts
- A study score runs from 0 to 50 and ranks you against everyone in Victoria who took that study.
- It is designed so the middle is about 30 and most students fall between 23 and 37.
- The VCAA calculates it; VTAC scales it for the ATAR.
- You need at least four study scores, one in English, to get an ATAR.
- 2026 study scores come out on Thursday 10 December 2026.
How a study score is calculated
- Graded assessments. Each study has school-based assessment (SACs or SATs) and at least one external exam. You get a grade for each.
- Moderation. Your school's SAC scores are statistically moderated against how the school's students did in the exam. Your rank within your school stays the same, but the scores can move up or down.
- Combining. The VCAA combines your assessments, weighted as the study design sets out.
- Ranking. Everyone's combined results in the study are placed in order and converted to a score from 0 to 50, designed so that the middle is about 30 and most students fall between 23 and 37.
To estimate yours from your expected place in the state, use the VCE study score calculator. Because it is a rank, a study score is not a percentage. You can score below 50% on an exam and still get a decent study score if others found it hard too.
Is a study score out of 50?
Yes. Scores run from 0 to 50, with 30 as about the middle. Higher scores are rare: on a scale built this way, roughly 8% of students reach 40 or more. More detail in what is a good study score.
Is a study score raw or scaled?
For ATAR purposes, a study score is the raw number. VTAC scales it next. In 2025 a study score of 35 scaled to 48 in Specialist Mathematics, 41 in Mathematical Methods and 33 in English. The full table is on VCE scaling 2025, and the difference is explained in raw vs scaled scores.
How study scores feed your ATAR
VTAC adds your scaled English score, your next three best scaled scores and 10% of your fifth and sixth. Enter your study scores in the VCE ATAR calculator to see the result.
When you get your study scores
Study scores are released with VCE results and the ATAR. In 2026 that is Thursday 10 December. See ATAR release dates 2026.
What moves your study score
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Your rank in school assessment | Kept through moderation, so it carries straight into your result |
| Your school's exam results in the study | Set the scale that school assessment marks are moderated to |
| Your own exam result | Counts directly, and is compared with the whole state |
| How hard the exam was | Matters less than you think: a study score is a rank, so a hard exam is hard for everyone |
Study score misconceptions
- "80% on my SACs means a 40." No. A study score is a rank, not a percentage of marks.
- "A 30 is a pass mark." No. 30 is about the middle of the state in that study.
- "Every study gives the same ATAR value for a 35." No. In 2025 a 35 scaled anywhere from 26 to 50 depending on the study.
- "The best exam mark in my class gets 50." Study scores are set across the whole state, not a class.
How many study scores do you need?
At least four for an ATAR, including one from English, English Language, Literature or English as an Additional Language. Up to six count: four in full and two at 10%. See how many subjects count.
FAQ
Is a study score a ranking?
Yes. It ranks you against everyone in Victoria who took the same study that year.
How much do SACs contribute to a study score?
It depends on the study design: the weighting of school-based assessment and exams differs by study. SAC scores are also moderated against your school's exam results.
Does the study score contribute to the ATAR?
Yes. Every study score is scaled by VTAC, and your best scaled scores make up the aggregate that becomes your ATAR.
Can teachers see your study score?
Schools receive their students' results from the VCAA, so your school can generally see your study scores.
Can a study score be higher than 50?
No. Study scores stop at 50. Scaled scores can go above 50, for example 55 in Specialist Mathematics at a study score of 50 in 2025.