VCE Arabic
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
VCE Arabic is a Victorian Certificate of Education study in Arabic, accredited for Units 1 and 2 from 2019 and Units 3 and 4 from 2020. It suits students who already work in Arabic and want formal recognition of their speaking, listening, reading and writing, whether they are First Language Learners or Second Language Learners. Enrolment at Units 3 and 4 requires students to declare that status on the Declaration for enrolment in VCE Modern Languages Units 3 and 4 form and submit it to their home school. External assessment has two parts: an oral examination and a written examination, each with its own published examination specifications, assessment criteria and descriptors. The written examination includes sections supported by audio material, and VCAA publishes past examinations, audio files and external assessment reports for both the oral and written components. The current study design is the single most important preparation document, since it sets out areas of study, outcomes and assessment. Beyond it, work through the examination specifications, then the sample written examination, then recent past examinations under timed conditions, and read the external assessment reports for the oral and written examinations, which describe how students performed and where marks were lost.
What you'll study
About VCE Arabic preparation
What does the VCE Arabic external assessment consist of?
It has two components: an oral examination and a written examination. VCAA publishes separate examination specifications for each, plus oral examination assessment criteria and descriptors and written examination assessment criteria and expected qualities for Section 2 – Part B and Section 3. Read both specifications before planning your revision.
How is the oral examination structured?
The structure and timing are set out in the oral examination examination specifications and the oral examination assessment criteria and descriptors, both published by VCAA. VCAA also provides an oral examination procedure and advice video and a 2026 Languages oral examination advice document. Consult those rather than second-hand summaries, because versions are updated.
How much does each component count?
The source material used for this page does not state a percentage weighting for the oral and written examinations, so no figure is given here. Check the current VCE Arabic study design and the examination specifications on the VCAA website for the authoritative statement of how the external assessment is structured.
Are past exams from before 2020 still useful?
VCAA cautions that with the introduction of a new study design, past examinations from the previous design are not necessarily a guide to the current VCE examination. Examinations from 2020 onward relate to the current study design, so prioritise those and treat 2001 to 2019 material as background only.
What should I study first?
Start with the VCE Arabic study design, then the examination specifications for both components. Next, work through the sample written examination and the 2026 Languages oral examination advice. Only then move to recent past examinations under timed conditions, finishing with the external assessment reports for the oral and written examinations.
What are the most common ways students lose marks?
The external assessment reports published for each year's oral and written examinations are VCAA's account of how candidates actually performed. Read the most recent reports for both components and note the recurring weaknesses they identify, then build your practice around those specific areas rather than revising generically.
Can I retake the examination?
The source material for this page does not describe a retake policy for VCE Arabic, so no answer is given here. Ask your home school or check the VCAA assessment pages for how repeat enrolment and examination attempts are handled in VCE studies.
Do I need to declare whether Arabic is my first or second language?
Yes. Enrolment into VCE Arabic at Units 3 and 4 requires students to declare their status as either a First Language Learner or a Second Language Learner. Students complete the Declaration for enrolment in VCE Modern Languages Units 3 and 4 form and submit it to their home school.
Where can I find audio for the written examination?
VCAA publishes an audio zip file alongside each year's VCE Arabic examination, including 2020 through 2025, and the sample written examination from May 2020. Use these files to practise under realistic listening conditions rather than reading transcripts first.