Year 10 Subject Handbook 2023 - Program Overview - Rules for Selecting Subjects

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Sage

Year 10 Subject Handbook 2023 outlines the program structure and subject-selection rules for all Year 10 students, including required core studies and how elective slots can be allocated across key domains. The handbook explains constraints around VCE pathway subject enrolment, year-long vs semester expectations, and restrictions on specific VCE media and psychology subjects. It also details the VCE class attendance policy, including how unexplained and explained absences are recorded on Compass and the warnings or N outcomes that follow.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

AccessFree to download

Program Overview

Rules for Selecting Subjects

VCE & VCE VM Subject Handbook

VCE Class Attendance Policy

Subject List

Core Subjects

English

History

Mathematics

Year 10 Subject Handbook 2023 YEAR 10 SUBJECT HANDBOOK PAGE 1 PROGRAM OVERVIEW RULES FOR SELECTING SUBJECTS All year 10 students must complete the following core subjects: English (year long subject) Mathematics (year long subject) Compulsory History (semester subject) At least one Physical Education and Health subject (semester) At least one of the core Science subjects (semester) When choosing electives, students can choose one additional elective from each of the core domains ( English, Maths, Science, PE and Health, Humanities) . Students can choose two electives from the non-core domains ( Languages, Arts and Technology) . Students can choose VCE subjects even if they are selecting electives from the same domain. If a student is recommended to study a VCE subject it will be a year long subject. They will take up two elective slots. Students cannot enrol in VCE Media and Year 10 Media Students cannot enrol in VCE Psychology and Year 10 Psychology *Subjects listed as VCE Pathways are not guaranteed to run in 2024. * Described assessment tasks may change VCE & VCE VM SUBJECT HANDBOOK PAGE 2 VCE CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY The VCAA requires all schools to enforce minimum attendance policy for all VCE units of study. The attendance policy is in place to ensure students are present for the minimum hours of instruction required to participate in VCE and allow for authentication of student work. Unexplained absences: ‘ red’ on Compass, no or insufficient explanation provided Students will receive a formal warning if they have three unexplained absences that they are at risk of an N. Students who have five unexplained absences in a semester will be awarded an ‘ N’ for the Unit and enter course counselling. Explained absences: ‘yellow’ or ‘ blue’ on Compass, includes: medical appointment, illness with a certificate, religious observance, school excursion, family holiday, etc. Students will receive a formal warning if they have five explained absences that they are at risk of an N. A medical certificate will be required for subsequent absences. After ten total absences (i.e. five explained any reason, five with medical certificate) students will be awarded an N and enter course counselling. VCAA allows for some exceptions to the attendance policy via the Special Provision process, however these are usually for a limited duration and apply to a narrow range of circumstances. Families and students are strongly encouraged to share any medical diagnoses, hardship or extenuating circumstances with the school so a special provision application can be prepared before being awarded an N. VCE & VCE VM SUBJECT HANDBOOK PAGE 3 SUBJECT LIST YEAR 10 SUBJECT HANDBOOK PAGE 4 CORE SUBJECTS All Year 10 students will complete these subjects. ENGLISH This subject provides the essential skills for VCE English and VM Literacy. Students will prepare for VCE and the Vocational Major English studies by reading, evaluating and analysing various types of texts including novels, newspapers, non-fiction and digital texts. Students will develop their writing skills by creating a range of informative, imaginative and persuasive texts. Additionally, students will develop their persuasive writing and speaking skills. All students will deliver an oral presentation to their class. Length: Full Year Future Pathways: VCE English, VM Literacy | Units
Reading and creating fiction texts
Comparing texts
Analysing persuasive arguments
Writing persuasive arguments | Assessments
Creative writing piece
Text response essay
Persuasive argument analysis
Oral presentation
Examination | | --- | --- | YEAR 10 SUBJECT HANDBOOK PAGE 5 HISTORY Students will expand their knowledge of the development of the modern world. Students will explore historically important events, movements, ideas and people throughout the 20th Century. Students will continue

FAQs

What core subjects are Year 10 students required to complete?

All Year 10 students must complete English and Mathematics as year-long subjects, compulsory History as a semester subject, at least one Physical Education and Health subject (semester), and at least one core Science subject (semester).

How do students choose electives across core and non-core domains?

When selecting electives, students can choose one additional elective from each core domain: English, Maths, Science, PE and Health, and Humanities. They can choose two electives from the non-core domains: Languages, Arts and Technology.

How does the VCE attendance policy handle unexplained absences on Compass?

Unexplained absences are marked as ‘red’ on Compass with no or insufficient explanation. A formal warning is issued after three unexplained absences, and five unexplained absences in a semester lead to an ‘N’ for the unit and course counselling.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Sage