VCE Geography: Course, Assessment and Exam Guides (VCAA)

VCE Geography (VCAA) is decided by three graded assessments in Units 3 and 4: a school-assessed coursework (SAC) for each unit and an end-of-year written examination. The exam examines every outcome in both units, so the exam half of the result rewards knowing both units evenly.

The 2027 cohort sits the VCE Geography Study Design (from 2022), which has an accreditation period for Units 1 to 4 from 1 January 2022. VCAA's study design page shows no end date for it and no replacement.

Start with the study design's key knowledge for each area of study and tick off what your school has covered. Then practise reading maps, images and data quickly, because the Data Book is part of the exam.

How is VCE Geography assessed?

Your school sets and marks both SACs using the tasks the study design sets out (see VCE SACs for how SAC scores feed into the study score). Each SAC is scored out of 100 marks across two outcomes:

• Unit 3: Outcome 1 is 40 marks, an analysis of geographic data plus a research report, case study or multimedia presentation. Outcome 2 is 60 marks, a fieldwork report plus structured questions.
• Unit 4: Outcome 1 is 40 marks, an analysis of geographic data plus a research report, case study or multimedia presentation. Outcome 2 is 60 marks, a research report or case studies.

For the Unit 3 fieldwork report the study design says to write approximately 1500 to 2000 words. Your school chooses its own tasks within these options, so follow its handout for dates and conditions.

What does VCE Geography cover in Units 3 and 4?

• Unit 3, Changing the land: Area of Study 1 looks at global land cover change, with two processes (melting glaciers and ice sheets, and deforestation), their impacts and responses in two locations, and two global responses. Area of Study 2 is a local land use change investigated with fieldwork and secondary sources.
• Unit 4, Human population: trends and issues: Area of Study 1 covers global population distribution and growth, fertility, mortality, population movements, the Demographic Transition Model and Malthusian theory. Area of Study 2 examines two countries, one with a growing population and one with an ageing population, and evaluates strategies in response to the issues each faces.

Across both units the study design lists twelve key geographic concepts, including change, distribution, interconnection, scale and sustainability, and expects geospatial technology skills and fieldwork.

What is the VCE Geography exam like?

• Time: 15 minutes of reading time, then 2 hours of writing time. The 2026 exam is on Thursday 12 November, 2:00 pm to 4:15 pm.
• Marks: 80 in total, all questions compulsory.
• Format: a Question and Answer Book of short-answer and extended-answer questions. Some questions use a separate Data Book.
• Stimulus: the specifications name 3D representations, aerial photographs, graphs, photographs, satellite images, sketches, statistics, tables and topographic maps.
• Extended answers: these are assessed on applying geographical knowledge, demonstrating geographical skills, applying key concepts, and interpreting and analysing data.
• Materials: normal stationery, coloured pencils, water-based pens and markers. A calculator is not listed.

All of the key knowledge and key skills in Units 3 and 4 can be examined, including the skills you build in the fieldwork report.