Contribution of SACs and tests to study score?

[Pathfinder]

Hey, so I have a question about the difference between SACs and tests for VCE courses, I've tried asking people from my school but the answers seem to vary from subject to subject. I believe, for all subjects, SACs directly contribute to the study score for that subject but, what role do topic tests have, are they considered S/N coursework or do they go towards our study score? Thanks in advance.

[lazaward]

SACs represent School Assessed Coursework and these are the things that will go towards your final score. Topics tests won’t contribute to your score but if you’re failing your SACs the teacher may use it as evidence to say that you have demonstrated the outcome so you can pass.

[Pathfinder]

SACs represent School Assessed Coursework and these are the things that will go towards your final score. Topics tests won’t contribute to your score but if you’re failing your SACs the teacher may use it as evidence to say that you have demonstrated the outcome so you can pass.

That makes sense. Do you happen to know if topic tests affect cohort ranking or is it just the SACs? Also, say hypothetically you had two subjects A and B with A having a topic test and B having a SAC both on the same day, would it be better in the long run to focus more on subject B to get a higher mark for the SAC?

[PhoenixxFire]

That makes sense. Do you happen to know if topic tests affect cohort ranking or is it just the SACs? Also, say hypothetically you had two subjects A and B with A having a topic test and B having a SAC both on the same day, would it be better in the long run to focus more on subject B to get a higher mark for the SAC?

Topic tests do not affect cohort ranking, only SACs do. Definitely focus on the SAC - you should be given 2 weeks notice of when your SACs are though, so you'll have enough time to revise for the topic test too.

[Yertle the Turtle]

So just to summarise what has been said, and to add a couple of points of my own. A SAC is School Assessed Criteria. Your SACs and the final exam are the ONLY things that go towards your final study score. If you look on the VCAA website, it will show you what the percentage of your mark each SAC relates to. Unit 3/4 SACs are the only things used to make up your cohort ranking, and that ranking is then used to scale final exam marks. Your tests, and non-SAC assignments can be made a required task by the teacher, that you need to pass those tests to get an S, but they do not count towards your mark. They are generally used to give the teacher an idea of where you are at and if there is anything that needs improving on, and also to give you some experience. But SACs and the exams are the important thing. Another thing, SACs are only important as far as getting your S in Year 11, but in Year 12 your mark counts!

[Sine]

adding onto all the great responses on this thread, sometimes topics tests may be used by your teacher as a tie-breaker for sac rankings this is because some cohorts don't like to have two people on the same mark. Also practice exams may be used as a final shift and confirm rankings - although this isn't right to do it sometimes does happen and will be dependent on the teacher(s).