Physics — VIC VCE scaling 2024

VTAC's verbatim 2024 scaling for Physics (Sciences category). Scaled mean 32.2, scaled SD 7.4. Raw study score 30 mapped to scaled 32; raw 40 to scaled 43; raw 50 to scaled 50.

Raw study score → scaled score (2024)

Raw study score	Scaled study score	Adjustment
20	21	++1
25	27	++2
30	32	++2
35	38	++3
40	43	++3
45	47	++2
50	50	+0

Summary statistics

Scaled mean	32.2 / 50
Scaled SD	7.4
VCE code	PH
Category	Sciences

How Physics scaled in 2024

This subject scales up. The candidature performs slightly above the cohort median across all subjects, so raw marks are adjusted upward in the scaling process. A typical raw mark scales to a slightly higher scaled mark.

The most useful reference points in VCE scaling are study scores 30 (cohort mean position) and 40 (top 9% of the cohort). For Physics in 2024:

• Raw study score 30 mapped to scaled 32 (++2 adjustment).
• Raw study score 40 mapped to scaled 43 (++3 adjustment).
• Raw study score 45 mapped to scaled 47 (++2 adjustment).

The adjustment becomes more or less extreme at the top of the distribution depending on the candidature. Strong candidature subjects tend to flatten at the top (raw 45 and raw 50 receive similar scaled scores) because the upper end of the distribution is already crowded with high-achievers. Use the scaling calculator to test specific score combinations across your VCE study program.

3-year scaling trend for Physics →

Year	Scaled mean (/ 50)
2022	32.0
2023	32.2
2024	32.2

Very stable across 3 years — Physics has scaled within 0.2 points of its 2022 value, suggesting its candidature composition is consistent.

3-year trend data sourced from the VTAC annual scaling reports 2022–2024. See all scaling trends.

Tutor rate context for Physics

Subject complexity classification: high. Based on our subject-complexity model, this subject typically carries a +12% adjustment to the base AU tutor rate band — partly because of the qualified-tutor pool size, partly because of subject-specific marking and exam complexity.

Tutor tier	Typical rate for Physics
University-student tutor	$65/hr
Experienced graduate	$90/hr
Registered teacher	$125/hr
Subject specialist	$155/hr

Estimates from the AU rate synthesis at /rates/. Use the rate estimator to add city and delivery format.

What this subject means for ATAR planning

VCE scaling is recalculated annually. The 2024 pattern shown above is a guide, not a prediction. For ATAR planning purposes, three reads of this table matter:

1. The raw-30 row — what a "cohort-average" performance is worth. This is the swing point for most VCE students.
2. The raw-40 row — what a strong-but-not-elite performance is worth. The realistic top end for most students.
3. The raw-50 row — the maximum scaled score. Useful only for top-decile candidates who could realistically hit 50.

Read these in conjunction with our VIC VCE state overview for cross-subject comparison, and the VCE curriculum guide for the actual syllabus content.

Caveats

• This is 2024 data. VTAC recomputes scaling each year — small candidature shifts move the numbers.
• The calculator we provide uses these anchor points with linear interpolation between them; actual VTAC scaling is slightly smoother but the differences are typically less than 0.5 scaled points.
• For small-LOTE languages, VTAC applies a separate language adjustment (the "All small LOTEs" entry in the official report); this page covers only languages with full standalone scaling.

Related resources