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VCE & IB

Choose from two leading senior qualifications

PLC is one of only a handful of schools that offers both the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the International Baccalaureate (IB). 

We encourage and support every girl to choose the qualification that best aligns with her learning style, interests and future goals.

The VCE

The VCE is the qualification that most students in Victoria receive upon satisfactory completion of their secondary education. 

PLC offers an extensive selection of VCE subjects across all Learning Areas. 

To achieve their VCE, students study six Unit 1/2 studies in Year 11 and five Unit 3/4 studies in Year 12. The VCE provides diverse pathways to further study or training at university or TAFE and to employment.
 

VCE Subjects

Business Studies

  • Accounting
  • Business Management (Units 3/4 only)
  • Economics
  • Politics
  • Legal Studies

English

  • English
  • English As An Additional Language
  • Literature

Health & Physical Education

  • Health And Human Development
  • Physical Education (Units 3/4 only)

Humanities

  • Geography
  • Australian History (Units 3/4 only)
  • Revolutions History (Units 3/4 only)
  • Modern History (Units 1/2 only)
  • Classical Studies (Units 3/4 only)

Language Other Than English (LOTE)

  • Chinese Second Language
  • Chinese Second Language Advanced
  • French
  • German
  • Indonesian Second Language
  • Japanese Second Language
  • Latin

Mathematics

  • General Mathematics
  • Mathematical Methods
  • Specialist Mathematics

Science

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Psychology

The Arts

  • Art Creative Practice
  • Art Making and Exhibiting
  • Music Contemporary Performance (Units 3/4 only)
  • Music Repertoire Performance (Units 3/4 only)
  • Theatre Studies

The IB

The IB Diploma is a two-year, pre-university certificate designed and administered by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). The IB offers a broad education incorporating all major disciplines. 

The IB curriculum comprises six subject groups, and PLC offers a range of subjects to choose from across each of these groups. Students must choose one subject from each group to study over the two years. 
 

IB Subjects

Group 1 – Language A Literature

  • English
  • Chinese

Group 2 – Language B Language Acquisition

  • English 
  • Japanese
  • Indonesian
  • French 
  • Mandarin 
  • Latin
  • German

Group 3 – Individuals and Societies

  • Economics
  • Geography
  • History

Group 4 – Sciences

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics

Group 5 – Mathematics

  • Analysis and Approaches

Group 6 – The Arts

  • Visual Arts
  • Music
  • Another subject from Group 3 or 4 may also be chosen

VCE or IB? Personalised program guidance to help students choose

Choosing whether to complete the VCE or the IB can be a hard decision. That’s why PLC provides every student with personalised support from a Careers Development Practitioner, who can help her select the pathway that best suits her learning style and career aspirations.

Both the VCE and the IB are accepted for tertiary entrance to Australian universities as well as renowned institutions in North America, Asia and Europe.

Extension opportunities

PLC provides opportunities for students to extend their learning. These include:

  • Completing a Units 3/4 subject in Year 11
  • Completing a university subject in Year 12

These opportunities, and any associated application processes, are discussed individually with students as part of their personal development and course planning.

Thriving in Years 11 and 12

At PLC we know that Years 11 and 12 can be demanding. Our unique Wellness in Motion program supports students to balance academic success with personal wellbeing.

Presbyterian Ladies’ College acknowledges the Wurundjeri, Woiwurrung and Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians, by God’s gracious providence, of the land on which our school stands.

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