VCE Systems Engineering
(From 2019)
Written examination – End of year
Examination specifications
Overall conditions
The examination will be sat at a time and date to be set annually by the Victorian Curriculum and
Assessment Authority (VCAA). VCAA examination rules will apply. Details of these rules are published
annually in the VCE Administrative Handbook.
There will be 15 minutes of reading time and 1 hour and 30 minutes of writing time.
The examination will be assessed by a panel appointed by the VCAA.
The examination will contribute 30 per cent to the study score.
Content
The VCE Systems Engineering Study Design (From 2019) is the document for the development of the
examination. All outcomes in Units 3 and 4 will be examined.
All the key knowledge and key skills that underpin the outcomes in Units 3 and 4, and the content found in
the section ‘Cross-study specifications’ (pages 9–13), are examinable.
Format
The examination will be in the form of a Question and Answer Book.
The examination will consist of two sections.
Section A will consist of 20 multiple-choice questions and will be worth a total of 20 marks.
Section B will consist of short-answer and extended-answer questions and will be worth a total of 80 marks.
The examination will include a range of question types that will require students to diagrammatically
represent systems, perform calculations, plan, design and evaluate. The design scenario(s) in the
examination will consist of diagrammatic representations and other stimulus material that may take the form
of technological systems, equipment, graphs and tables.
© VCAA 2025 Version 4 – March 2025
VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING (SPECIFICATIONS)
A detachable Insert of miscellaneous formulas will be included in the centrefold.
All questions will be compulsory. The total marks for the examination will be 100.
Answers to Section A are to be recorded on the Answer Sheet provided for multiple-choice questions.
Answers to Section B are to be recorded in the spaces provided in the Question and Answer Book.
Approved materials and equipment
Normal stationery requirements (pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers, sharpeners and rulers)
One scientific calculator
Relevant references
The following publications should be referred to in relation to the VCE Systems Engineering examination:
VCE Systems Engineering Study Design (From 2019)
VCE Systems Engineering – Advice for teachers
VCAA Bulletin
VCAA Notices to Schools
Advice
From 2019, VCE Systems Engineering examinations will be prepared according to the examination
specifications above. Each examination will conform to these specifications and will test a representative
sample of the key knowledge and key skills from all outcomes in Units 3 and 4, and the content found in the
section ‘Cross-study specifications’ in the study design (pages 9–13).
Examination questions may relate to one or more areas of study. The weighting of examination questions will
reflect approximately the weighting of the outcomes in the study design.
Students should use command/task words, other instructional information within questions and
corresponding mark allocations to guide their responses.
A separate document containing sample questions has been published on the VCE Systems Engineering
‘Examination specifications, past examinations and examination reports’ page on the VCAA website.
The sample questions provide an indication of the types of questions teachers and students can expect until
the current accreditation period is over.
Answers to multiple-choice questions are provided on page 9 of the sample questions document.
Answers to other questions are not provided.
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