Media: scaling 2026, assessment & grade cut-offs
official VTAC & VCAA data · 2026 forecastA raw study score of 40 in Media scaled to 38.0 in the 2025 VTAC report, and is forecast to scale to about 38.0 in 2026. Media 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 27.1.
Media 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 | 44.0 | 44.0 | 44.0 | 44.0 | 44.0 |
| 40 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 |
| 35 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 |
| 30 | 26.0 | 26.0 | 26.0 | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| 25 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 21.0 | 21.0 | 20.8 |
| 20 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 15.8 |
Scaled scores between VTAC's published anchor points are interpolated. See every subject's scaling curve and the method and accuracy.
How Media is assessedDefault weights from the VCAA study design; the calculator lets you edit them.
| Assessment | Type | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 3–4 SACs | school-assessed | 20% |
| School-assessed Task (SAT) | school-assessed | 40% |
| End-of-year exam | external | 40% |
Media 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 80 · forecast state average 70%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 72 | 66 | 59 | 53 | 46 | 38 | 29 | 24 | 16 | 8 |
| likely ± | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 1.4 |
| 2025 actual | 72 | 66 | 60 | 54 | 47 | 39 | 29 | 24 | 16 | 8 |
| 2024 actual | 73 | 66 | 60 | 54 | 47 | 39 | 31 | 25 | 17 | 8 |
| 2023 actual | 71 | 63 | 56 | 50 | 42 | 34 | 27 | 22 | 16 | 8 |
School-assessed Task school-assessed · out of 80 · forecast state average 71%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 71 | 63 | 56 | 51 | 46 | 40 | 33 | 24 | 14 | 8 |
| likely ± | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 1.4 |
| 2025 actual | 72 | 63 | 56 | 51 | 46 | 40 | 33 | 24 | 14 | 8 |
| 2024 actual | 70 | 62 | 56 | 51 | 46 | 40 | 33 | 24 | 15 | 8 |
Written Examination external · out of 160 · forecast state average 60%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 129 | 118 | 110 | 101 | 90 | 79 | 67 | 53 | 36 | 16 |
| likely ± | 5.0 | 5.6 | 6.2 | 6.7 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 5.0 | 2.9 |
| 2025 actual | 128 | 117 | 109 | 100 | 90 | 80 | 68 | 54 | 37 | 16 |
| 2024 actual | 130 | 120 | 111 | 102 | 90 | 78 | 66 | 51 | 34 | 16 |
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 Media →
About Media
Media narratives, audiences and institutions plus a substantial production SAT (40%).
- Production work with real creative freedom
- Balanced 20/40/40 structure
- Pathway to media/communications degrees
Typical time commitment: 4–6 hours a week outside class.
Media questions
What does a study score of 40 in Media scale to?
In the 2025 VTAC scaling report a raw 40 in Media scaled to 38.0. ATARtools forecasts about 38.0 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 Media scaled up or down?
Media scales down: a raw score is worth less than its face value. In 2025 a raw 30 scaled to 26.0, a raw 40 to 38.0 and a raw 45 to 44.0. For 2026 the forecast is 26.0, 38.0 and 44.0. At a raw 40, scaling has stayed about the same since 2022.
What mark do I need for an A+ in the Media Written Examination?
We forecast the 2026 A+ cut-off at about 129 out of 160 (likely ±5.0 marks) and an A from about 118. For reference the A+ cut-off was 128 in 2025, 130 in 2024. The forecast is the recency-weighted average of the last three years' official cut-offs.
How is Media assessed?
Unit 3–4 SACs (20%), School-assessed Task (SAT) (40%), 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.