VCE English as an Additional Language (EAL) past exams 2023–2025

Every question from the last three VCE English as an Additional Language (EAL) exams, matched to the lesson that teaches it, with class averages from the examiners' reports and worked solutions. VCE English as an Additional Language (EAL) (Year 12) lessons.

2025 Exam

Section A (20 marks, class average 53%): Essay on one of your two set texts, answering one of the two topics given for it. Lesson: Reading and Responding — Understanding Your Text’s Ideas, Characters and Values, Writing an Analytical Text Response — Contention, TEEL Paragraphs and Evidence, Language Control — Academic Vocabulary, Grammar and Sentence Variety, EAL Exam Strategy — Timing, Planning and Proofreading
Section B (20 marks, class average 55%): Create your own text on one Framework, built around its set title and one or more stimuli. Lesson: Creating Texts — Mentor Texts and Your Framework of Ideas, Creating Texts — Writing for Purpose, Audience and Context, and Explaining Your Choices, Language Control — Academic Vocabulary, Grammar and Sentence Variety
Section C (20 marks, class average 50%): Analyse how a resident's newsletter article and images push for a lightshow in place of fireworks. Lesson: Analysing Argument — Contention, Arguments, Tone and Persuasive Techniques, Writing the Argument Analysis — Structure, Flow and Analysing Visuals

2024 Exam

Section A (20 marks, class average 55%): Essay on one of your two set texts, answering one of the two topics given for it. Lesson: Reading and Responding — Understanding Your Text’s Ideas, Characters and Values, Writing an Analytical Text Response — Contention, TEEL Paragraphs and Evidence, Language Control — Academic Vocabulary, Grammar and Sentence Variety, EAL Exam Strategy — Timing, Planning and Proofreading
Section B (20 marks, class average 54%): Create your own text on one Framework, built around its set title and one or more stimuli. Lesson: Creating Texts — Mentor Texts and Your Framework of Ideas, Creating Texts — Writing for Purpose, Audience and Context, and Explaining Your Choices, Language Control — Academic Vocabulary, Grammar and Sentence Variety
Section C (20 marks, class average 49%): How the chair of a community gym uses a speech and two slides to win support for a lolly shop tenant. Lesson: Analysing Argument — Contention, Arguments, Tone and Persuasive Techniques, Writing the Argument Analysis — Structure, Flow and Analysing Visuals

2023 Exam

A1a (1 mark, class average 77%): Listening: one problem of apartment living that the male podcaster mentions. Lesson: Listening Skills — Note-Taking and Responding to Spoken Texts
A1b (2 marks, class average 70%): Listening: one advantage of apartment life the speakers give, and how it helps residents. Lesson: Listening Skills — Note-Taking and Responding to Spoken Texts
A1c (2 marks, class average 60%): Listening: decide whether Tim used Sarah's car space, with one piece of evidence. Lesson: Listening Skills — Note-Taking and Responding to Spoken Texts
A1d (1 mark, class average 83%): Listening: why Tim struggled to sleep in his first apartment. Lesson: Listening Skills — Note-Taking and Responding to Spoken Texts
A1e.i (1 mark, class average 14%): Listening: what Sarah first thought of her neighbours at the beach apartment. Lesson: Listening Skills — Note-Taking and Responding to Spoken Texts
A1e.ii (1 mark, class average 50%): Listening: a line from Sarah that shows her view of the neighbours changed. Lesson: Listening Skills — Note-Taking and Responding to Spoken Texts
A1f (2 marks, class average 30%): Listening: explain what Tim means when he says the story ended differently from his expectation. Lesson: Listening Skills — Note-Taking and Responding to Spoken Texts
A2a (2 marks, class average 40%): Listening: how a customer feels about her hairdresser's holiday, with evidence. Lesson: Listening Skills — Note-Taking and Responding to Spoken Texts
A2b (1 mark, class average 59%): Listening: what the customer is implying about her band. Lesson: Listening Skills — Note-Taking and Responding to Spoken Texts
A2c (2 marks, class average 45%): Listening: one word choice and one feature of delivery showing the hairdresser disagrees. Lesson: Listening Skills — Note-Taking and Responding to Spoken Texts
A2d (1 mark, class average 84%): Listening: one thing the customer and hairdresser agree to do to her hair. Lesson: Listening Skills — Note-Taking and Responding to Spoken Texts
A2e (4 marks, class average 30%): Listening: describe the customer's attitude at two points, with a quote for each. Lesson: Listening Skills — Note-Taking and Responding to Spoken Texts
Section B (20 marks): Essay on one set text, answering one of its two topics. Lesson: Reading and Responding — Understanding Your Text’s Ideas, Characters and Values, Writing an Analytical Text Response — Contention, TEEL Paragraphs and Evidence, Language Control — Academic Vocabulary, Grammar and Sentence Variety, EAL Exam Strategy — Timing, Planning and Proofreading
C1a (1 mark, class average 48%): Persuasive letter: one reason the young musicians give for wanting a festival. Lesson: Analysing Argument — Contention, Arguments, Tone and Persuasive Techniques
C1b (1 mark, class average 90%): Persuasive letter: evidence that the existing garden festival is struggling. Lesson: Analysing Argument — Contention, Arguments, Tone and Persuasive Techniques
C1c (2 marks, class average 25%): Persuasive letter: the intended effect of praising the garden festival's organisers. Lesson: Analysing Argument — Contention, Arguments, Tone and Persuasive Techniques
C1d (2 marks, class average 90%): Persuasive letter: a likely problem with the new festival and the students' solution. Lesson: Analysing Argument — Contention, Arguments, Tone and Persuasive Techniques
C1e (2 marks, class average 75%): Persuasive letter: two benefits the students claim for the whole community. Lesson: Analysing Argument — Contention, Arguments, Tone and Persuasive Techniques
C1f (2 marks, class average 60%): Persuasive letter: two meanings of the claim that everyone will be "richer". Lesson: Analysing Argument — Contention, Arguments, Tone and Persuasive Techniques
C2 (10 marks, class average 49%): Analyse how a student music group's letter and images argue for a festival in their region. Lesson: Analysing Argument — Contention, Arguments, Tone and Persuasive Techniques, Writing the Argument Analysis — Structure, Flow and Analysing Visuals