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Music Inquiry: scaling 2026, assessment & grade cut-offs
official VTAC & VCAA data · 2026 forecastA raw study score of 40 in Music Inquiry scaled to 38.0 in the 2025 VTAC report, and is forecast to scale to about 38.0 in 2026. Music Inquiry scales down: a raw score is worth less than its face value; at a raw 40 its scaling has risen by 1.0 points since 2022. The 2025 mean study score was 27.8.
Music Inquiry 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 | 42.0 | 44.0 | 44.0 | 44.0 | 44.0 |
| 40 | 37.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 |
| 35 | 33.0 | 32.0 | 33.0 | 33.0 | 32.9 |
| 30 | 29.0 | 27.0 | 28.0 | 28.0 | 27.9 |
| 25 | 25.0 | 22.0 | 23.0 | 23.0 | 22.9 |
| 20 | 21.0 | 17.0 | 18.0 | 18.0 | 17.9 |
Scaled scores between VTAC's published anchor points are interpolated. See every subject's scaling curve and the method and accuracy.
How Music Inquiry is assessedDefault weights from the VCAA study design; the calculator lets you edit them.
| Assessment | Type | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 3–4 SACs | school-assessed | 35% |
| Externally-assessed Task | external | 50% |
| Aural & written exam | external | 15% |
Music Inquiry 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 75 · forecast state average 72%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 66 | 59 | 52 | 44 | 36 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 5 |
| likely ± | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 1.3 |
| 2025 actual | 66 | 60 | 53 | 45 | 37 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 4 |
| 2024 actual | 66 | 58 | 49 | 42 | 34 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 8 |
| 2023 actual | 67 | 59 | 53 | 46 | 37 | 28 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
Externally-assessed Task external · out of 200 · forecast state average 73%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 182 | 172 | 159 | 144 | 127 | 106 | 77 | 49 | 29 | 12 |
| likely ± | 6.2 | 7.0 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.2 | 6.2 | 3.6 |
| 2025 actual | 180 | 170 | 158 | 142 | 127 | 103 | 75 | 40 | 20 | 6 |
| 2024 actual | 183 | 172 | 158 | 142 | 124 | 103 | 70 | 60 | 40 | 20 |
| 2023 actual | 190 | 180 | 168 | 154 | 135 | 123 | 99 | 60 | 40 | 20 |
Aural And Written Examination external · out of 150 · forecast state average 57%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 116 | 105 | 94 | 82 | 71 | 58 | 43 | 26 | 17 | 12 |
| likely ± | 4.7 | 5.3 | 5.8 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 4.7 | 2.7 |
| 2025 actual | 110 | 101 | 92 | 80 | 71 | 57 | 43 | 23 | 19 | 15 |
| 2024 actual | 125 | 111 | 96 | 83 | 70 | 57 | 40 | 30 | 15 | 8 |
| 2023 actual | 121 | 110 | 95 | 88 | 75 | 65 | 46 | 29 | 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 Music Inquiry →
About Music Inquiry
Music inquiry: create, perform and investigate with a 40% externally assessed project.
- Flexible for producers and multi-instrumentalists
- Project-based assessment
- Modern take on music study
Typical time commitment: 4–6 hours a week outside class.
Music Inquiry questions
What does a study score of 40 in Music Inquiry scale to?
In the 2025 VTAC scaling report a raw 40 in Music Inquiry 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 Inquiry scaled up or down?
Music Inquiry 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 38.0 and a raw 45 to 44.0. For 2026 the forecast is 27.9, 38.0 and 44.0. At a raw 40, scaling has risen by 1.0 points since 2022.
What mark do I need for an A+ in the Music Inquiry Externally-assessed Task?
We forecast the 2026 A+ cut-off at about 182 out of 200 (likely ±6.2 marks) and an A from about 172. For reference the A+ cut-off was 180 in 2025, 183 in 2024 and 190 in 2023. 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 Inquiry Aural And Written Examination?
We forecast the 2026 A+ cut-off at about 116 out of 150 (likely ±4.7 marks) and an A from about 105. For reference the A+ cut-off was 110 in 2025, 125 in 2024 and 121 in 2023. The forecast is the recency-weighted average of the last three years' official cut-offs.
How is Music Inquiry assessed?
Unit 3–4 SACs (35%), Externally-assessed Task (50%), Aural & written exam (15%). School-assessed marks are statistically moderated against the external exam results, then the study score is scaled by VTAC for the ATAR.