Dates are accurate as of July 2026
VCE written exams in 2026 run from Tuesday 27 October to Wednesday 18 November, opening with English and EAL on the morning of Tuesday 27 October. Performance and Languages oral examinations run earlier, from Monday 5 October to Sunday 1 November, and the GAT was held on Tuesday 16 June.
Here are the confirmed dates, where to find your personal timetable, and how to use the calendar between now and October.
Last verified against the VCAA timetable on 30 July 2026. VCAA is the only authoritative source for these dates. If anything below disagrees with your examination advice slip, the advice slip wins.
Key 2026 dates at a glance
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 16 June | GAT (completed) |
| From Monday 27 July | Individual exam advice slips issued to students |
| Week beginning Monday 7 September | Personal exam timetables available via your school (VASS) |
| Monday 5 October – Sunday 1 November | Performance and Languages oral exams; Extended Investigation presentations |
| Thursday 15 October | CCAFL Languages written exams; Auslan exams |
| Tuesday 27 October – Wednesday 18 November | Written examination period |
| Tuesday 27 October, 9:00 am | English and EAL exam (first written paper) |
| Tuesday 3 November | Melbourne Cup public holiday, no exams |
| December (date TBC) | Results and ATAR released |
Morning exams start at 9:00 am. Afternoon sessions start at 3:00 pm on days scheduling three sessions, and at 2:00 pm on the five days scheduling only two: Friday 30 October, Monday 2 November, Tuesday 10 November, Thursday 12 November and Wednesday 18 November. VCAA asks students to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start time. Always confirm your exact session against your advice slip and the official VCAA timetable.
How to use the timetable now
Map your personal gaps. Once your subjects' dates are confirmed, the shape of your exam period matters more than its start date. Two exams on consecutive days need their revision front-loaded; a five-day gap before your last exam is a gift you should plan to use rather than discover.
Reverse-plan from late October. Count the weeks between now and your first written exam and allocate them backwards: final fortnight for timed past papers and error review, the month before that for topic-by-topic revision, the remaining weeks for closing known gaps while SACs finish. A plan built backwards from exam day survives Term 4; a plan built forwards from today usually doesn't.
Start timed practice before the revision period. Exam stamina, especially for three-hour papers like English, is a trained skill. Students who sit their first full timed paper in September are rehearsing; students who sit it in the exam feel the difference.
Know the safety nets. If illness or misadventure hits during the exam period, VCAA's Derived Examination Score process exists to protect you. A Derived Examination Score, or DES, estimates the result you would have achieved, using your other assessment as evidence. Applications go through your school with documentation, so speak to your VCE coordinator immediately rather than sitting a paper you are in no state to sit. The current criteria are on the VCAA site.
Contour Education's VCE programs [link: /education-programs/] run structured exam preparation through Term 3 and the revision period, including timed practice under exam conditions for each subject.
FAQ
When is the 2026 VCE English exam? Tuesday 27 October 2026 at 9:00 am, the first paper of the written exam period. Confirm your reporting time and venue on your advice slip.
When do 2026 VCE results come out? December 2026. The exact date hadn't been confirmed by VCAA at time of writing; check the VCAA website closer to the end of the year.
What happens if I miss a VCE exam? With documented grounds such as illness or misadventure, you can apply through your school for a Derived Examination Score. Missing an exam without approved grounds means a zero for that component, so contact your VCE coordinator the moment something goes wrong.
