More study resources

About this exam

VCE Italian is a Victorian Certificate of Education study in the Languages learning area, administered by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). It is designed for secondary students in Victoria who wish to develop their skills in the Italian language and their understanding of Italian-speaking cultures, and it forms part of a student's overall VCE program rather than a standalone certificate. The study is structured across four units. Units 1 and 2 are accredited from 2019, while Units 3 and 4 are accredited from 2020, with the study design updated in January 2020. The course covers areas of study, outcomes and assessment defined in the VCE Italian Study Design, and Units 3 and 4 include both school-based assessment and an external examination. Students enrolling in Units 3 and 4 must declare their status as either a First Language Learner or a Second Language Learner by completing the Declaration for enrolment in VCE Modern Languages Units 3 and 4 form and submitting it to their home school. Preparation should centre on the official study design, the school-based assessment requirements, the examination specifications, past examinations and reports, and the advice for teachers, including performance descriptions and the glossary of command terms. Candidates should confirm current requirements with VCAA and their school.

What you'll study

Common questions

About VCE Italian preparation

What is VCE Italian and who is it for?

It is a VCE language study for Victorian senior secondary students who want to build Italian language skills and cultural understanding. It sits within the VCE Languages learning area under VCAA, and students study it as part of their broader VCE program across Units 1 to 4.

When were the current units accredited?

According to VCAA, the accreditation period is Units 1 and 2 from 2019 and Units 3 and 4 from 2020. The VCE Italian Study Design is described as updated January 2020, and VCAA also publishes study design amendments dated January 2020. Always check the VCAA page for any later updates.

How is the assessment structured?

The study design sets out areas of study, outcomes and assessment. For Units 3 and 4, VCAA provides a school-based assessment report, and examination specifications, past examinations and reports are published separately. The source does not state weightings, so confirm current details through VCAA materials and your school.

Is there an external examination?

Yes. VCAA publishes examination specifications, past examinations and reports for VCE Italian, which indicates an external examination component for the study. The source does not specify examination duration, section structure or question counts, so consult the current examination specifications rather than relying on second-hand summaries.

Do I need to declare a language learner status?

Yes. Enrolment into VCE Italian 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.

What is the hardest part of the course?

The source gives no difficulty data, so no pass rates or difficulty ratings can be quoted. Practically, candidates typically find sustained accuracy in production and handling unfamiliar texts demanding. Use the study design outcomes, performance descriptions and past examination reports to identify your own weak areas early.

Can I retake the assessment?

The source does not describe any retake or repeat policy for VCE Italian. Repeat arrangements are governed by VCAA administrative rules and school procedures, so ask your school's VCE coordinator or check VCAA administration pages rather than assuming a retake is available.

What order should I study the units in?

The units are numbered 1 to 4, with Units 1 and 2 accredited from 2019 and Units 3 and 4 from 2020, and Units 3 and 4 build on the earlier work. Follow your school's sequence, and use the study design outcomes unit by unit to track coverage before moving to examination preparation.

How should I prepare for the examination?

Work from the VCE Italian Study Design, the school-based assessment report, the examination specifications, past examinations and reports, and the advice for teachers with performance descriptions. The glossary of command terms helps you interpret what questions ask. VCAA also lists recordings of VCE Languages webinars as support material.

Where can I get official information?

The VCAA Italian study page hosts the study design, amendments, school-based assessment report, examination specifications and support material. For enrolment questions, VCAA directs students to the Enrolment in VCE Modern Languages webpage and the Curriculum Manager – Languages. Confirm details there before relying on any third-party summary.