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Foundation Mathematics: scaling 2026, assessment & grade cut-offs
official VTAC & VCAA data · 2026 forecastA raw study score of 40 in Foundation Mathematics scaled to 32.0 in the 2025 VTAC report, and is forecast to scale to about 31.9 in 2026. Foundation Mathematics scales down: a raw score is worth less than its face value; at a raw 40 its scaling has fallen by 1.0 points since 2022. The 2025 mean study score was 21.6.
Calculate your Foundation Mathematics study score and ATAR →
Foundation Mathematics 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 | 40.0 | 40.0 | 39.0 | 40.0 | 39.7 |
| 40 | 33.0 | 33.0 | 31.0 | 32.0 | 31.9 |
| 35 | 28.0 | 28.0 | 25.0 | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| 30 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 20.6 |
| 25 | 19.0 | 19.0 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 16.4 |
| 20 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.6 |
Scaled scores between VTAC's published anchor points are interpolated. See every subject's scaling curve and the method and accuracy.
How Foundation Mathematics is assessedDefault weights from the VCAA study design; the calculator lets you edit them.
| Assessment | Type | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 3 SACs | school-assessed | 40% |
| Unit 4 SACs | school-assessed | 20% |
| End-of-year exam | external | 40% |
Foundation Mathematics 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 Unit 3 school-assessed · out of 60 · forecast state average 61%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 55 | 48 | 43 | 38 | 33 | 29 | 26 | 18 | 11 | 5 |
| likely ± | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 |
| 2025 actual | 56 | 48 | 43 | 38 | 34 | 30 | 27 | 21 | 13 | 6 |
| 2024 actual | 54 | 46 | 41 | 36 | 31 | 27 | 23 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 2023 actual | 55 | 49 | 44 | 39 | 34 | 30 | 25 | 12 | 6 | 3 |
Coursework Unit 4 school-assessed · out of 30 · forecast state average 62%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 29 | 25 | 22 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
| likely ± | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 |
| 2025 actual | 29 | 25 | 22 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
| 2024 actual | 29 | 25 | 22 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 2023 actual | 29 | 26 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 5 |
Written Examination external · out of 160 · forecast state average 37%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 125 | 105 | 86 | 71 | 56 | 42 | 30 | 20 | 12 | 7 |
| likely ± | 5.0 | 5.6 | 6.2 | 6.7 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 5.0 | 2.9 |
| 2025 actual | 123 | 105 | 85 | 70 | 55 | 41 | 29 | 19 | 11 | 5 |
| 2024 actual | 122 | 102 | 82 | 70 | 55 | 42 | 30 | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| 2023 actual | 136 | 113 | 95 | 79 | 60 | 43 | 34 | 26 | 18 | 10 |
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 Foundation Mathematics →
About Foundation Mathematics
Practical numeracy for work and life — measurement, finance, data — scored at 3/4 level since 2023.
- Meets "any mathematics" prerequisites at some universities
- Most accessible scored maths
- Suits VM-adjacent or apprenticeship-bound students wanting an ATAR
Typical time commitment: 2–4 hours a week outside class.
Foundation Mathematics questions
What does a study score of 40 in Foundation Mathematics scale to?
In the 2025 VTAC scaling report a raw 40 in Foundation Mathematics scaled to 32.0. ATARtools forecasts about 31.9 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 Foundation Mathematics scaled up or down?
Foundation Mathematics scales down: a raw score is worth less than its face value. In 2025 a raw 30 scaled to 20.0, a raw 40 to 32.0 and a raw 45 to 40.0. For 2026 the forecast is 20.6, 31.9 and 39.7. At a raw 40, scaling has fallen by 1.0 points since 2022.
What mark do I need for an A+ in the Foundation Mathematics Written Examination?
We forecast the 2026 A+ cut-off at about 125 out of 160 (likely ±5.0 marks) and an A from about 105. For reference the A+ cut-off was 123 in 2025, 122 in 2024 and 136 in 2023. The forecast is the recency-weighted average of the last three years' official cut-offs.
How is Foundation Mathematics assessed?
Unit 3 SACs (40%), Unit 4 SACs (20%), End-of-year exam (40%). School-assessed marks are statistically moderated against the external exam results, then the study score is scaled by VTAC for the ATAR.