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Get ready to excel in your VCE English exam with this study guide, packed with proven tips and strategies.
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English is the only compulsory VCE subject and plays a big role in boosting your ATAR. The final exam makes up 50% of your score!
To maximise your VCE English marks, you need to understand the purpose of VCE English and what markers are looking for.
In VCE English, you’ll study a range of texts from different cultures and times. The aim is to expand your knowledge and improve how you respond to what you read. You’ll also develop your ability to create original writing that’s clear on its purpose, audience, and context. These are skills you’ll need in the exam and beyond.
Below, is our VCE English study guide full of key strategies and study tips that will help you achieve your best marks in the VCE English exam.
Table of contents:
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The first and most important step in preparing for the exam is understanding its structure. Knowing what to expect in each section will allow you to allocate your time effectively during your preparation and on the day of the exam.
From 2024, the VCE English exam will be divided into these three sections:
Section A – Analytical response to a text (20 marks)
In this section, you will be required to write an analytical response to one of two unseen questions. Your response will be based on one of the two texts you studied in Year 12.
Section B – Create a text (20 marks)
This creative task requires you to respond to at least one unseen stimulus. You’ll need to connect your creative piece to one of the Frameworks of Ideas you’ve studied throughout the year.
Section C – Analysis of an argument and language (20 marks)
In this section, you will analyse how argument(s) and language are used to persuade an audience in an unseen persuasive text. Unlike previous years, you are not required to evaluate the success of the argument—just focus on how the language is used to persuade.
The analytical response is a core part of the VCE English exam. Here, you’ll need to show how well you understand and interpret one of your studied texts.
Your job is to engage critically with a text, drawing connections between its themes, characters, and narrative techniques. Here’s what to focus on.
Familiarise yourself with both texts
Even though you’ll only need to write about one text, it’s a good idea to prepare for both. This way, you can choose the text you feel has the most relevant connections to the given question.
Understand key themes and characters
In any analytical response, you need a strong understanding of the central themes. These are the driving forces behind the narrative and bring out the broader messages of the text.
Pro Tip: Don’t just describe what happens in the text. Unpack why it happens, and what it tells the reader about broader issues like identity, power, or human nature.
Practise essay writing
Writing practice essays is one of the best ways to prepare for this section. Use past exam questions to guide your practice. When you write:
There are a few common mistakes students often make in Section A of the VCE English exam. Here’s what to avoid:
This section is all about creativity. You’ll be given one or more unseen stimuli—like a short passage, an image, or an idea. From the stimuli, you must create a text while drawing from one of the Frameworks of Ideas you’ve studied in class.
Develop your creative voice
This is your chance to show off your writing skills, but it’s important to write in a style that feels natural to you. Practise different types of writing, like narratives, persuasive essays, or reflective pieces, to find what works best for you.
Some students prefer storytelling, while others might shine in more thoughtful, reflective writing. The more you experiment, the more confident you’ll feel when the time comes to create a text in the exam.
Draw on your studied frameworks
The Frameworks of Ideas are the core themes you’ve been working with all year: Country, Protest, Personal Journeys, and Play. Make sure your piece reflects one of these frameworks. For example, if you choose Country, think about how you can weave in elements of place and belonging through your characters or setting.
Plan before writing
Spend a few minutes outlining your ideas. Ask yourself: What’s the purpose of my piece? What message am I trying to get across? This planning will help give your text a clear structure—so it doesn’t just ramble—and ensure that every part of your response ties together.
Pro tip: To make your writing stand out, use techniques like imagery, dialogue, and symbolism. They add depth to your work and help convey your themes in a more powerful way.
In Section C of the VCE English exam, you’ll be given an unseen text and asked to analyse how argument and language are used to persuade the audience.
The goal isn’t to retell what the text says but to examine how the author uses language and structure to strengthen their argument. Here’s how you can approach this section.
Identify persuasive techniques
The first step is to spot the persuasive techniques used in the text. Common techniques include:
Take note of how these techniques work together to shape the argument and influence the reader.
Analyse, don’t summarise
For every sentence you write, check if you’re explaining how the author uses language or if you’re simply repeating the content. Focus on why the writer chose certain words or techniques and how these choices might impact the reader.
For example, if there’s a fearful tone, how does that tone prompt the audience to think or feel a certain way?
Consider the audience and context
Always think about who the text is speaking to and why. The way an argument is framed will depend on the audience—whether it’s parents, young people, or professionals.
Think about the context too: Is the text part of a larger debate, or is it responding to a recent event? Understanding this will help you explain why the author chose certain techniques to persuade.
Pro Tip: Ask yourself: Why did the author choose this word or tone? How does this choice affect the argument?
You have 15 minutes of reading time and 3 hours of writing time in the VCE English exam. Since each section is worth 20 marks, divide your time equally across all three sections. Here’s a suggested time breakdown:
Here are a few tips to help you stay calm and focused during the VCE English Exam:
By understanding the structure of the VCE English exam and following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to mastering each section and maximising your marks.
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Written by Matrix Education
Matrix is Sydney's No.1 High School Tuition provider. Come read our blog regularly for study hacks, subject breakdowns, and all the other academic insights you need.
© Matrix Education and www.matrix.edu.au, 2023. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Matrix Education and www.matrix.edu.au with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
