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Applied Computing: Software Development: scaling 2026, assessment & grade cut-offs
official VTAC & VCAA data · 2026 forecastA raw study score of 40 in Applied Computing: Software Development scaled to 39.0 in the 2025 VTAC report, and is forecast to scale to about 39.0 in 2026. Applied Computing: Software Development scales down: a raw score is worth less than its face value; at a raw 40 its scaling has stayed about the same since 2022. The 2025 mean study score was 28.3.
Calculate your Applied Computing: Software Development study score and ATAR →
Applied Computing: Software Development scaling: raw to scaled study scoreOfficial VTAC scaling reports 2022–2025, plus the 2026 forecast (a recency-weighted blend of the last six reports).
| Raw study score | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 50.0 |
| 45 | 45.0 | 45.0 | 45.0 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| 40 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 39.0 |
| 35 | 33.0 | 33.0 | 34.0 | 33.0 | 33.2 |
| 30 | 28.0 | 28.0 | 28.0 | 28.0 | 28.0 |
| 25 | 22.0 | 23.0 | 23.0 | 22.0 | 22.3 |
| 20 | 17.0 | 18.0 | 18.0 | 17.0 | 17.3 |
Scaled scores between VTAC's published anchor points are interpolated. See every subject's scaling curve and the method and accuracy.
How Applied Computing: Software Development is assessedDefault weights from the VCAA study design; the calculator lets you edit them.
| Assessment | Type | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 3 SACs | school-assessed | 10% |
| School-assessed Task (SAT) | school-assessed | 30% |
| Unit 4 SACs | school-assessed | 10% |
| End-of-year exam | external | 50% |
Applied Computing: Software Development grade cut-offs 2026: forecastThe lowest mark each grade starts at, forecast from the last three years' official VCAA cut-offs. Typical error is shown as "likely ±".
Coursework Units 3–4 school-assessed · out of 200 · forecast state average 70%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 181 | 164 | 148 | 133 | 120 | 105 | 90 | 75 | 49 | 20 |
| likely ± | 2.2 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 6.8 | 6.0 | 3.4 |
| 2025 actual | 181 | 165 | 148 | 134 | 121 | 107 | 93 | 79 | 52 | 20 |
| 2024 actual | 181 | 163 | 147 | 131 | 117 | 101 | 84 | 68 | 45 | 20 |
| 2023 actual | 182 | 165 | 150 | 135 | 122 | 104 | 88 | 71 | 48 | 20 |
School-assessed Task 3–4 school-assessed · out of 100 · forecast state average 67%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 94 | 82 | 73 | 65 | 58 | 49 | 40 | 28 | 19 | 10 |
| likely ± | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 1.7 |
| 2025 actual | 94 | 82 | 73 | 66 | 59 | 51 | 41 | 29 | 19 | 10 |
| 2024 actual | 94 | 82 | 73 | 65 | 56 | 48 | 38 | 28 | 19 | 10 |
| 2023 actual | 93 | 81 | 73 | 64 | 56 | 46 | 37 | 25 | 17 | 10 |
Written Examination external · out of 200 · forecast state average 51%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 146 | 131 | 119 | 107 | 94 | 81 | 68 | 55 | 39 | 20 |
| likely ± | 6.2 | 7.0 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.2 | 6.2 | 3.6 |
| 2025 actual | 146 | 132 | 119 | 107 | 94 | 82 | 68 | 55 | 38 | 20 |
| 2024 actual | 151 | 136 | 124 | 112 | 100 | 87 | 75 | 62 | 46 | 20 |
| 2023 actual | 133 | 119 | 106 | 95 | 81 | 68 | 52 | 42 | 29 | 20 |
Cut-offs change every year with how hard the assessment is, so a harder paper can move every grade together. See the full 2025 grade distribution for Applied Computing: Software Development →
About Applied Computing: Software Development
Programming and software engineering: analysis, design, development and evaluation of a real application (30% SAT).
- The programming subject — build something real
- SAT lets careful workers bank marks before the exam
- Strong signal for software degrees
Typical time commitment: 4–6 hours a week outside class.
Applied Computing: Software Development questions
What does a study score of 40 in Applied Computing: Software Development scale to?
In the 2025 VTAC scaling report a raw 40 in Applied Computing: Software Development scaled to 39.0. ATARtools forecasts about 39.0 for 2026, from a recency-weighted blend of the last six reports. Treat it as a guide: VTAC publishes the real 2026 numbers in December.
Is Applied Computing: Software Development scaled up or down?
Applied Computing: Software Development scales down: a raw score is worth less than its face value. In 2025 a raw 30 scaled to 28.0, a raw 40 to 39.0 and a raw 45 to 45.0. For 2026 the forecast is 28.0, 39.0 and 45.0. At a raw 40, scaling has stayed about the same since 2022.
What mark do I need for an A+ in the Applied Computing: Software Development Written Examination?
We forecast the 2026 A+ cut-off at about 146 out of 200 (likely ±6.2 marks) and an A from about 131. For reference the A+ cut-off was 146 in 2025, 151 in 2024 and 133 in 2023. The forecast is the recency-weighted average of the last three years' official cut-offs.
How is Applied Computing: Software Development assessed?
Unit 3 SACs (10%), School-assessed Task (SAT) (30%), Unit 4 SACs (10%), End-of-year exam (50%). School-assessed marks are statistically moderated against the external exam results, then the study score is scaled by VTAC for the ATAR.