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Specialist Mathematics: scaling 2026, assessment & grade cut-offs
official VTAC & VCAA data · 2026 forecastA raw study score of 40 in Specialist Mathematics scaled to 51.0 in the 2025 VTAC report, and is forecast to scale to about 51.4 in 2026. Specialist Mathematics scales up: a raw score is worth more than its face value; at a raw 40 its scaling has stayed about the same since 2022. The 2025 mean study score was 41.5.
Calculate your Specialist Mathematics study score and ATAR →
Specialist 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 | 55.0 | 55.0 | 55.0 | 55.0 | 55.0 |
| 45 | 54.0 | 54.0 | 54.0 | 54.0 | 54.0 |
| 40 | 51.0 | 52.0 | 52.0 | 51.0 | 51.4 |
| 35 | 47.0 | 48.0 | 48.0 | 48.0 | 47.9 |
| 30 | 42.0 | 43.0 | 43.0 | 43.0 | 42.9 |
| 25 | 36.0 | 37.0 | 36.0 | 36.0 | 36.1 |
| 20 | 28.0 | 29.0 | 28.0 | 29.0 | 28.6 |
Scaled scores between VTAC's published anchor points are interpolated. See every subject's scaling curve and the method and accuracy.
How Specialist Mathematics is assessedDefault weights from the VCAA study design; the calculator lets you edit them.
| Assessment | Type | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 3 SACs | school-assessed | 20% |
| Unit 4 SACs | school-assessed | 20% |
| Exam 1 (tech-free) | external | 20% |
| Exam 2 (tech-active) | external | 40% |
Specialist 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 Units 3–4 school-assessed · out of 100 · forecast state average 70%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 90 | 81 | 70 | 60 | 49 | 37 | 27 | 16 | 13 | 9 |
| likely ± | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 1.7 |
| 2025 actual | 91 | 82 | 71 | 61 | 50 | 38 | 27 | 16 | 13 | 10 |
| 2024 actual | 88 | 78 | 67 | 57 | 47 | 36 | 27 | 16 | 13 | 10 |
| 2023 actual | 89 | 80 | 70 | 61 | 51 | 38 | 26 | 17 | 13 | 6 |
Written Examination 1 external · out of 80 · forecast state average 59%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 74 | 67 | 59 | 51 | 43 | 33 | 25 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| likely ± | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.4 |
| 2025 actual | 75 | 68 | 60 | 52 | 44 | 35 | 26 | 17 | 11 | 5 |
| 2024 actual | 73 | 66 | 58 | 50 | 40 | 31 | 23 | 15 | 9 | 6 |
| 2023 actual | 74 | 67 | 60 | 52 | 42 | 32 | 23 | 16 | 11 | 7 |
Written Examination 2 external · out of 160 · forecast state average 61%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 146 | 136 | 124 | 110 | 92 | 77 | 59 | 44 | 28 | 16 |
| likely ± | 5.0 | 5.6 | 6.2 | 6.7 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 5.0 | 2.9 |
| 2025 actual | 151 | 142 | 131 | 117 | 100 | 84 | 65 | 48 | 30 | 16 |
| 2024 actual | 141 | 127 | 113 | 99 | 81 | 66 | 50 | 38 | 25 | 16 |
| 2023 actual | 139 | 127 | 116 | 101 | 85 | 70 | 56 | 42 | 26 | 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 Specialist Mathematics →
About Specialist Mathematics
The most advanced VCE maths: complex numbers, vectors, mechanics, differential equations and proof, taken alongside or after Methods.
- Highest-scaling mainstream subject (30 → ~43)
- Effectively required for some engineering/actuarial pathways
- Makes first-year university maths feel familiar
Typical time commitment: 8–10 hours a week outside class.
Almost always taken with Methods — the two reinforce each other.
Specialist Mathematics questions
What does a study score of 40 in Specialist Mathematics scale to?
In the 2025 VTAC scaling report a raw 40 in Specialist Mathematics scaled to 51.0. ATARtools forecasts about 51.4 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 Specialist Mathematics scaled up or down?
Specialist Mathematics scales up: a raw score is worth more than its face value. In 2025 a raw 30 scaled to 43.0, a raw 40 to 51.0 and a raw 45 to 54.0. For 2026 the forecast is 42.9, 51.4 and 54.0. At a raw 40, scaling has stayed about the same since 2022.
What mark do I need for an A+ in the Specialist Mathematics Written Examination 1?
We forecast the 2026 A+ cut-off at about 74 out of 80 (likely ±2.5 marks) and an A from about 67. For reference the A+ cut-off was 75 in 2025, 73 in 2024 and 74 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 Specialist Mathematics Written Examination 2?
We forecast the 2026 A+ cut-off at about 146 out of 160 (likely ±5.0 marks) and an A from about 136. For reference the A+ cut-off was 151 in 2025, 141 in 2024 and 139 in 2023. The forecast is the recency-weighted average of the last three years' official cut-offs.
How is Specialist Mathematics assessed?
Unit 3 SACs (20%), Unit 4 SACs (20%), Exam 1 (tech-free) (20%), Exam 2 (tech-active) (40%). School-assessed marks are statistically moderated against the external exam results, then the study score is scaled by VTAC for the ATAR.