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Music Contemporary Performance: scaling 2026, assessment & grade cut-offs
official VTAC & VCAA data · 2026 forecastA raw study score of 40 in Music Contemporary Performance scaled to 38.0 in the 2025 VTAC report, and is forecast to scale to about 38.0 in 2026. Music Contemporary Performance 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 27.7.
Calculate your Music Contemporary Performance study score and ATAR →
Music Contemporary Performance 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 | 43.0 | 44.0 | 43.7 |
| 40 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 |
| 35 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 33.0 | 32.6 |
| 30 | 27.0 | 27.0 | 27.0 | 27.0 | 27.0 |
| 25 | 22.0 | 22.0 | 22.0 | 22.0 | 22.0 |
| 20 | 18.0 | 18.0 | 18.0 | 17.0 | 17.4 |
Scaled scores between VTAC's published anchor points are interpolated. See every subject's scaling curve and the method and accuracy.
How Music Contemporary Performance is assessedDefault weights from the VCAA study design; the calculator lets you edit them.
| Assessment | Type | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 3–4 SACs | school-assessed | 30% |
| Performance exam | external | 50% |
| Aural & written exam | external | 20% |
Music Contemporary Performance 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 100 · forecast state average 72%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 93 | 85 | 75 | 66 | 56 | 35 | 27 | 23 | 16 | 9 |
| likely ± | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 1.7 |
| 2025 actual | 93 | 85 | 75 | 66 | 56 | 34 | 26 | 23 | 16 | 10 |
| 2024 actual | 94 | 85 | 75 | 66 | 56 | 36 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 10 |
| 2023 actual | 93 | 85 | 75 | 66 | 57 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
Performance Examination external · out of 180 · forecast state average 75%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 179 | 168 | 152 | 140 | 126 | 113 | 97 | 73 | 36 | 18 |
| likely ± | 5.6 | 6.3 | 7.0 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 5.6 | 3.2 |
| 2025 actual | 179 | 168 | 152 | 140 | 126 | 113 | 97 | 73 | 36 | 18 |
Aural And Written Examination external · out of 120 · forecast state average 53%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 95 | 84 | 75 | 65 | 57 | 49 | 41 | 33 | 23 | 11 |
| likely ± | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 3.7 | 2.2 |
| 2025 actual | 94 | 82 | 73 | 63 | 55 | 47 | 39 | 31 | 20 | 8 |
| 2024 actual | 98 | 89 | 79 | 70 | 60 | 51 | 42 | 33 | 24 | 12 |
| 2023 actual | 95 | 82 | 74 | 65 | 57 | 51 | 44 | 38 | 31 | 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 Music Contemporary Performance →
About Music Contemporary Performance
Contemporary band/ensemble performance focus with a 50% performance exam.
- Built for gigging musicians
- Ensemble authenticity
- Performance-first assessment
Typical time commitment: 4–6 hours a week outside class.
Music Contemporary Performance questions
What does a study score of 40 in Music Contemporary Performance scale to?
In the 2025 VTAC scaling report a raw 40 in Music Contemporary Performance 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 Music Contemporary Performance scaled up or down?
Music Contemporary Performance scales down: a raw score is worth less than its face value. In 2025 a raw 30 scaled to 27.0, a raw 40 to 38.0 and a raw 45 to 44.0. For 2026 the forecast is 27.0, 38.0 and 43.7. At a raw 40, scaling has stayed about the same since 2022.
What mark do I need for an A+ in the Music Contemporary Performance Performance Examination?
We forecast the 2026 A+ cut-off at about 179 out of 180 (likely ±5.6 marks) and an A from about 168. For reference the A+ cut-off was 179 in 2025. The forecast is the recency-weighted average of the last three years' official cut-offs.
What mark do I need for an A+ in the Music Contemporary Performance Aural And Written Examination?
We forecast the 2026 A+ cut-off at about 95 out of 120 (likely ±3.7 marks) and an A from about 84. For reference the A+ cut-off was 94 in 2025, 98 in 2024 and 95 in 2023. The forecast is the recency-weighted average of the last three years' official cut-offs.
How is Music Contemporary Performance assessed?
Unit 3–4 SACs (30%), Performance exam (50%), Aural & written exam (20%). School-assessed marks are statistically moderated against the external exam results, then the study score is scaled by VTAC for the ATAR.