#1: Navigating Section C of the 2024 VCAA Exam

Hi everyone, my name is Poorva and I graduated from Mac.Rob in 2024, scoring a raw 46 in English Language 3/4. Today I’ll be sharing how I approached Section C of the 2024 VCAA English Language exam, which I completed during my Year 12.

As a current or future VCE English Language student, you may find Section C the most challenging due to its demand for precision and real-world examples. With help from an experienced English Language tutor, this section can become a place to demonstrate your analytical strength. Here’s how I tackled it.

🔍 Choosing the Right Prompt

The first thing I did was choose between the three essay prompts. I wanted to select one that would allow me to showcase my strongest media examples. Initially, I leaned towards Q7 because it allowed for a counterexample – but realistically, my example would be Standard Australian English (SAE), which felt too bland. I immediately ruled out Q8, as it would’ve restricted me to Unit 4 AOS 1, where I was weakest. While Q9 confused me at first, I eventually realised it was the best option. The key words were: register, politeness, and social standing — core areas your English Language tutor would always recommend focusing on.

🏛 Example 1: Political & Corporate Doublespeak

After reviewing the stimuli, Stimulus D inspired me to write a paragraph on corporate and political doublespeak. These institutions often hold high social standing and are expected to use formal registers. Their language choices aim to protect both their positive and negative face needs — concepts central to any solid Section C response.

Sample elaboration:

In February 2024, Victoria Police’s Commissioner released a statement following a police shooting, using the noun phrase “tactical options”. The jargonistic pre-modifier “tactical” evokes professionalism and masks any sense of wrongdoing. This example demonstrates euphemistic doublespeak, a strategy used by high-status entities to uphold public perception and maintain power – just as Stimulus D notes: they can “spin or distort the truth” to suit their agenda. This type of analysis is something I frequently practised with my English Language tutor.

🌈 Example 2: Non-Discriminatory Language

Next, I included a paragraph about politically correct (PC) language, which usually aims to protect marginalised groups with lower social standing.

Sample elaboration:

In January 2024, the Queensland Department of Health began using the gender-neutral noun phrase “persons with a cervix” in health campaigns, replacing “women.” This shift includes and validates transgender and gender-diverse people, aligning with the expectations of positive politeness. It shows how formal register can be used to promote inclusion and social equity — an insight that can elevate your essay if explained clearly. A great English Language tutor will help you break down examples like this with both sociolinguistic understanding and VCAA expectations in mind.

😮‍💨 Counterexample: Informality & Profanity

To respond fully to the prompt ("To what extent...?"), I introduced a counterpoint: informality, particularly profanity, used by both high- and low-status speakers.

Sample elaboration:

In August 2023, a teacher from Ballarat Clarendon College was dismissed for an “expletive-filled rant” while marking essays. Phrases like “absolute dog shit” and “fucks up” were seen as unacceptable given the hierarchical context of teacher-student interactions. Such profanity violates positive politeness norms, especially when coming from a superordinate interlocutor. While some high-status figures use informal language to reduce social distance (e.g., sports stars using slang in interviews), it’s not universally acceptable.

🎓 Final Thoughts

This breakdown reflects how I chose and developed my Section C response — balancing theory with current, relevant examples. If you’re a VCE student looking to improve in this area, I strongly recommend working with an experienced VCE English Language tutor who can help you:

• Identify high-impact contemporary examples
• Master key sociolinguistic frameworks
• Refine essay structure and logical flow

At Excel Education, our English Language tutors have helped many students approach Section C with confidence and clarity — and achieve great results. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you want personalised support in your English journey.

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