For Year 12 students across Victoria, the VCE written exams are the final and most important step of senior school. Whether you're aiming for a top ATAR or just want to finish strong, knowing exactly when each exam falls is the first step in building a revision plan that works. This guide covers the full 2026 VCE written exam timetable, the key dates after exams, and advice from tutors who scored a perfect 50 in the subjects you're sitting.
Key Takeaways
- VCE written exams run from Tuesday 27 October to Wednesday 18 November 2026 (VCAA, 2026).
- English and EAL open the exam period on Tuesday 27 October at 9:00 am.
- Every exam starts with a 15-minute reading period, which is included in the times shown.
- Tuesday 3 November is the Melbourne Cup public holiday, so no exams are held.
- VCE results and ATARs are released at 7:00 am on Thursday 10 December 2026 (VCAA, 2026).
VCE Exam Timetable 2026
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has released the official 2026 VCE examination timetable. Written exams run from Tuesday 27 October to Wednesday 18 November 2026. Morning sessions start at 9:00 am. Afternoon sessions start at 3:00 pm on three-session days and at 2:00 pm on two-session days.
Key Dates Before the Written Exams
| Date | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 16 June | General Achievement Test (GAT) |
| Wednesday 29 July | Extended Investigation Critical Thinking Test |
| 5 October – 1 November | Languages oral and performance exams (dates on your advice slip) |
| Thursday 15 October | Languages written exams (selected languages) and Auslan |
Week 1: 27–30 October
| Date | Time | Exam(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 27 October | 9:00 am – 12:15 pm | English, English as an Additional Language (EAL) |
| Wednesday 28 October | 9:00 am – 10:45 am | Agricultural and Horticultural Studies |
| 11:45 am – 1:30 pm | Art Making and Exhibiting | |
| 3:00 pm – 5:15 pm | English Language, Indonesian First Language, Vietnamese First Language | |
| Thursday 29 October | 9:00 am – 10:45 am | Theatre Studies, VET Business, VET Community Services |
| 11:45 am – 2:00 pm | Economics | |
| 3:00 pm – 5:15 pm | Chinese First Language, Japanese First Language, Korean First Language, Literature | |
| Friday 30 October | 9:00 am – 11:45 am | Psychology |
| 2:00 pm – 3:45 pm | General Mathematics Exam 1 |
Week 2: 2–6 November
| Date | Time | Exam(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 2 November | 9:00 am – 11:45 am | Biology |
| 2:00 pm – 3:45 pm | General Mathematics Exam 2 | |
| Tuesday 3 November | — | Melbourne Cup public holiday (no exams) |
| Wednesday 4 November | 9:00 am – 10:45 am | Art Creative Practice, VET Engineering Studies, VET Health Allied, VET Health Services Assistance |
| 11:45 am – 2:00 pm | Aboriginal Languages of Victoria, Algorithmics (HESS), Classical Studies, Korean Second Language, Vietnamese Second Language | |
| 3:00 pm – 5:15 pm | Business Management | |
| Thursday 5 November | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Mathematical Methods Exam 1, Music Composition |
| 11:45 am – 1:30 pm | VET Equine Studies, VET Hospitality | |
| 3:00 pm – 5:15 pm | Chinese Language, Culture and Society, Health and Human Development | |
| Friday 6 November | 9:00 am – 10:45 am | Dance, VET Integrated Technologies |
| 11:45 am – 2:00 pm | Mathematical Methods Exam 2 | |
| 3:00 pm – 5:15 pm | Arabic, Legal Studies, VET Creative and Digital Media |
Week 3: 9–13 November
| Date | Time | Exam(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 9 November | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Music Inquiry, Specialist Mathematics Exam 1 |
| 11:45 am – 2:00 pm | Applied Computing: Data Analytics, Physical Education, Spanish | |
| 3:00 pm – 5:15 pm | History: Revolutions, Industry and Enterprise | |
| Tuesday 10 November | 9:00 am – 11:45 am | Chemistry |
| 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Environmental Science, Greek, Media, Texts and Traditions | |
| Wednesday 11 November | 9:00 am – 10:45 am | VET Furnishing, Visual Communication Design |
| 11:45 am – 2:00 pm | History: Australian History, Outdoor and Environmental Studies, Specialist Mathematics Exam 2 | |
| 3:00 pm – 5:15 pm | Accounting | |
| Thursday 12 November | 9:00 am – 11:45 am | Physics |
| 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Geography, History: Ancient History, Sociology | |
| Friday 13 November | 9:00 am – 10:45 am | Product Design and Technologies, VET Information and Communications Technology, VET Music (Sound Production) |
| 11:45 am – 1:30 pm | Drama, VET Sport and Recreation | |
| 3:00 pm – 5:15 pm | Applied Computing: Software Development, German, Philosophy |
Week 4: 16–18 November
| Date | Time | Exam(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 16 November | 9:00 am – 10:45 am | Food Studies |
| 11:45 am – 1:30 pm | Systems Engineering, VET Hospitality (Cookery), VET Laboratory Skills | |
| 3:00 pm – 5:15 pm | Latin, Politics, Religion and Society | |
| Tuesday 17 November | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Music Contemporary Performance, Music Repertoire Performance |
| 11:45 am – 2:00 pm | Indonesian Second Language, Italian | |
| 3:00 pm – 5:15 pm | Foundation Mathematics, French | |
| Wednesday 18 November | 9:00 am – 11:15 am | Japanese Second Language |
| 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Chinese Second Language, Chinese Second Language Advanced |
Source: VCAA 2026 VCE examination timetable. Times include the 15-minute reading period. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your exam starts.
What's Different in 2026?
Many exams sit on similar dates to 2025, but there are a few changes worth knowing:
- The exam period starts and ends a day earlier. It runs from 27 October to 18 November, compared with 28 October to 19 November in 2025.
- English, Psychology, Biology and General Maths are each one day earlier than last year.
- Specialist Maths Exam 1 moves from Friday 7 November to Monday 9 November, so Specialist students get a weekend between Methods Exam 2 and Specialist Exam 1.
- Legal Studies and Business Management are earlier. Legal Studies moves from 10 November to 6 November, and Business Management from 6 November to 4 November.
- Accounting is later, moving from 7 November to 11 November.
Worth knowing: Week 3 is intense for students taking Maths and Sciences. A student studying Methods, Specialist, Chemistry and Physics sits six exams in eight days: Methods Exams 1 and 2 on 5–6 November, Specialist Exam 1 on 9 November, Chemistry on 10 November, Specialist Exam 2 on 11 November and Physics on 12 November. If that's you, finish your full-length practice papers for Chemistry and Physics before Week 2 begins.
Key Dates After Your Exams
- Wednesday 9 December, 5:00 pm: Deadline to register for the VCE Results and ATAR Service so you can access your results easily.
- Thursday 10 December 2026, 7:00 am: VCE results, study scores and ATARs released through the VCE Results and ATAR Service.
Learn From Students Who Scored a 50
A study score of 50 is the highest possible result in a VCE study. In our How I Scored a 50 series, Apex tutors who achieved a perfect score explain exactly how they studied, what they did in the final weeks and how they approached the exam itself. Here's each article with its 2026 exam date:
- How I Scored a 50 in VCE English (Tuesday 27 October)
- How I Scored a 50 in VCE English Language (Wednesday 28 October)
- How I Scored a 50 in VCE Economics (Thursday 29 October)
- How I Scored a 50 in VCE Psychology (Friday 30 October)
- How I Scored a 50 in VCE General Maths (30 October and 2 November)
- How I Scored a 50 in VCE Biology (Monday 2 November)
- How I Scored a 50 in VCE Maths Methods (5 and 6 November)
- How I Scored a 50 in VCE Specialist Maths (9 and 11 November)
- How I Scored a 50 in VCE Chemistry (Tuesday 10 November)
Essential Tips for VCE Exam Success
We asked our tutors, who have an average ATAR of 99.00, for their best advice for students preparing for VCE exams. Here's what they said:
- Use the full timetable to build your revision plan: Put every exam on a calendar and work backwards. Give the most time to early exams and the subjects you find hardest.
- Simulate exam conditions: Complete full papers in timed sessions, including the 15-minute reading period, to build stamina.
- Understand exam formats: Know the number of sections, the mark allocations and the command terms used in each exam.
- Plan for back-to-back days: If you have exams on consecutive days, practise revising for the next exam on the afternoon of the one before.
- Stick to routines: Keep regular sleep, study, exercise and relaxation habits throughout the exam period.
- Look after yourself: Hydration, healthy meals and short study breaks sharpen focus and reduce stress.
💡 Sitting General Maths? We've put together 100+ practice VCE General Maths multiple-choice questions, organised by topic and difficulty.
Maximising the Benefits of Past Papers
Past papers are one of the best resources for VCE exam preparation. Here's how to use them effectively:
- Time yourself: Recreate the real exam's structure and conditions.
- Use VCAA examination reports: Mark your answers against the assessment criteria and read what examiners say high-scoring responses do.
- Identify trends: Track question types and content areas that come up again and again in each study.
- Review mistakes properly: Make sure you understand why you lost marks rather than skipping past them.
- Use exam language: Answer with clear, concise phrasing and the correct terminology for each study.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do VCE exams start in 2026?
VCE written exams start on Tuesday 27 October 2026 with English and EAL, and finish on Wednesday 18 November 2026 with Chinese Second Language and Chinese Second Language Advanced.
When is the 2026 VCE English exam?
English and English as an Additional Language are on Tuesday 27 October 2026, from 9:00 am to 12:15 pm, including 15 minutes of reading time.
When are the 2026 VCE Maths exams?
General Mathematics Exam 1 is on Friday 30 October and Exam 2 on Monday 2 November. Mathematical Methods Exam 1 is on Thursday 5 November and Exam 2 on Friday 6 November. Specialist Mathematics Exam 1 is on Monday 9 November and Exam 2 on Wednesday 11 November.
Are there VCE exams on Melbourne Cup Day?
No. Tuesday 3 November 2026 is the Melbourne Cup public holiday, and no VCE exams are scheduled.
When are 2026 VCE results and ATARs released?
VCE results and ATARs are released at 7:00 am on Thursday 10 December 2026 through the VCE Results and ATAR Service.
Need Help Preparing for Your VCE Exams?
Personalised support can make a real difference to your exam results. Our VCE tutors offer one-on-one support in Melbourne and online, covering content revision, past paper practice and exam technique.
Resources for VCE students to help prepare for exams
Resources for VCE Maths
100+ Practice VCE General Maths MCQ From The Past 10 Years
Practice makes perfect. Get 100+ MCQ questions organised by topic, sub-topic and difficulty so you can prepare like a 99.00+ ATAR student.
100+ Practice VCE Maths Methods MCQ From The Past 10 Years
Practice makes perfect. Get 100+ MCQ questions organised by topic, sub-topic and difficulty so you can prepare like a 99.00+ ATAR student.
Resources for VCE English
Get your own copy of the Ultimate Guide to Metalanguage!
200+ different metalanguage techniques with definitions, explanations, and examples to help you excel in your literary analysis
Get your own copy of the Ultimate Guide to Literary and Poetic Devices!
300+ different literary and poetic devices with definitions, explanations, and examples to help you excel in your literary analysis
