VCE English Units 3 & 4
Unit 3 — Outcome 2 SAC (creating texts + commentary)
Unit 3 Outcome 2 SAC: original written text plus commentary — word lengths, mark split, what assessors want, and Section B practice.
Typical task shape
- Written text — often ~700–900 words, or two shorter pieces ~400–450 words each (confirm with your teacher).
- Commentary — commonly ~400 words for English / ~250 for EAL pathways where applicable.
Indicative mark split in VCAA samples: 40 (written) + 20 (commentary) of the unit’s 100 marks — your task may differ.
If you choose two shorter pieces, ensure they still feel like one task — shared voice, theme, or rhetorical project — unless the prompt asks for contrast. Commentaries for dual pieces should compare craft decisions across both, not repeat the same paragraph twice.
What assessors look for
- Purpose, audience, and form are clear and sustained.
- Language features and structure support meaning.
- Commentary explains decisions with specific reference to drafts, mentor texts, or frameworks.
Planning checklist
- Underline the task’s purpose, audience, and any required form.
- List three ways the stimulus could enter structure, not just description.
- Draft fast, then revise for one clear “spine” (theme or question) through the piece.
- Commentary last — draft it while the writing choices are still fresh.
Practise
Draft and revise in Study Sesh’s Creating texts / Section B workspace for AI feedback on stimulus use and voice.