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Literature: scaling 2026, assessment & grade cut-offs
official VTAC & VCAA data · 2026 forecastA raw study score of 40 in Literature scaled to 41.0 in the 2025 VTAC report, and is forecast to scale to about 41.1 in 2026. Literature scales up: a raw score is worth more than its face value; at a raw 40 its scaling has fallen by 1.0 points since 2022. The 2025 mean study score was 31.0.
Literature 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 | 46.0 | 46.0 | 46.0 | 46.0 | 46.0 |
| 40 | 42.0 | 41.0 | 41.0 | 41.0 | 41.1 |
| 35 | 37.0 | 36.0 | 36.0 | 36.0 | 36.1 |
| 30 | 32.0 | 31.0 | 31.0 | 31.0 | 31.1 |
| 25 | 26.0 | 26.0 | 26.0 | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| 20 | 21.0 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 20.1 |
Scaled scores between VTAC's published anchor points are interpolated. See every subject's scaling curve and the method and accuracy.
How Literature is assessedDefault weights from the VCAA study design; the calculator lets you edit them.
| Assessment | Type | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 3 SACs | school-assessed | 25% |
| Unit 4 SACs | school-assessed | 25% |
| End-of-year exam | external | 50% |
Literature 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 100 · forecast state average 73%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 88 | 79 | 72 | 66 | 58 | 42 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 10 |
| likely ± | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 1.7 |
| 2025 actual | 88 | 79 | 72 | 66 | 58 | 44 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 10 |
| 2024 actual | 88 | 78 | 71 | 65 | 57 | 39 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 10 |
| 2023 actual | 88 | 78 | 71 | 65 | 58 | 43 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 10 |
Coursework Unit 4 school-assessed · out of 100 · forecast state average 76%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 90 | 82 | 75 | 69 | 62 | 53 | 43 | 28 | 20 | 10 |
| likely ± | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 1.7 |
| 2025 actual | 90 | 82 | 75 | 69 | 62 | 53 | 44 | 30 | 20 | 10 |
| 2024 actual | 90 | 82 | 75 | 69 | 62 | 52 | 41 | 23 | 20 | 10 |
| 2023 actual | 90 | 82 | 75 | 70 | 63 | 55 | 45 | 30 | 20 | 10 |
Written Examination external · out of 80 · forecast state average 63%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 66 | 60 | 55 | 49 | 44 | 38 | 32 | 26 | 18 | 8 |
| likely ± | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.4 |
| 2025 actual | 66 | 60 | 55 | 49 | 44 | 38 | 32 | 26 | 17 | 8 |
| 2024 actual | 68 | 62 | 57 | 51 | 46 | 40 | 34 | 28 | 20 | 8 |
| 2023 actual | 65 | 59 | 54 | 48 | 42 | 35 | 29 | 22 | 15 | 8 |
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 Literature →
About Literature
Close reading and interpretation of literary texts — poetry, prose, drama — with creative and analytical responses.
- Scales above mainstream English (typically +3 at 30)
- Best fit for passionate readers and writers
- Small, discussion-driven classes at most schools
Typical time commitment: 4–6 hours a week outside class.
Literature questions
What does a study score of 40 in Literature scale to?
In the 2025 VTAC scaling report a raw 40 in Literature scaled to 41.0. ATARtools forecasts about 41.1 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 Literature scaled up or down?
Literature scales up: a raw score is worth more than its face value. In 2025 a raw 30 scaled to 31.0, a raw 40 to 41.0 and a raw 45 to 46.0. For 2026 the forecast is 31.1, 41.1 and 46.0. At a raw 40, scaling has fallen by 1.0 points since 2022.
What mark do I need for an A+ in the Literature Written Examination?
We forecast the 2026 A+ cut-off at about 66 out of 80 (likely ±2.5 marks) and an A from about 60. For reference the A+ cut-off was 66 in 2025, 68 in 2024 and 65 in 2023. The forecast is the recency-weighted average of the last three years' official cut-offs.
How is Literature assessed?
Unit 3 SACs (25%), Unit 4 SACs (25%), 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.