Originally scheduled for June, all students enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3 and 4 sequences are expected to sit the GAT which is used to help validate the accuracy of school-based and external assessments.

But this year it has taken on even greater importance, being used as a measure for special consideration which will be granted, at different levels, to every VCE student depending on how COVID-19 has impacted their studies.

It also marked the first time that the entire year 12 cohort has been together in months at most of the region's secondary colleges.

"Students are saying this year they are happy to be here, even though they are about to sit a three-hour exam," said Ballarat High School VCE leader Jenny Nicholls.

Social distancing requirements meant extra staff and venues were needed at each school.

At Ballarat High School, 240 students sitting the GAT were spread out across nine venues instead of the normal two.

And rather than having nine staff supervise the three and a quarter hour exam, there were 18 keeping a watchful eye on the students.

Ms Nicholls said the GAT was also used if a student could not attend an exam and needed to apply for a derivative exam score - something that was more likely to occur this year.

"In a general year we might have one or two students who can't attend an exam because of illness or something happened in the 24 hours prior to the exams, so they can apply for a derivative exam score using their school scores plus the GAT.

"But this year given the existing health conditions we've got we may have more than two students who can't sit an exam. We had two students unable to sit the GAT because of cold-like symptoms who didn't have their (COVID) test results back."

Year 12 student and school vice captain Sophie Kurzman said parts of the exam were "a bit tricky" but was happy to finally have it out of the way.

The GAT is an all-round exam with some maths, science, English writing tasks and problem solving among the questions posed.

"The GAT one of those things you can't necessarily study for it but there are ways you can prepare and our teachers gave us one of the best chances we can to do well in something like this," Ms Kurzman said.

"Obviously coronavirus has impacted all students but especially year 12s. A lot of people say they feel for the year 12s, I feel for us too, but we are nearly finished. It's been a bit of a hard year with everything, being at home, but I think with the support we were given at Ballarat High most of us have been adequately supported to do really well this year."

Students were well versed with the new socially distanced exam rules, with all seats at least 1.5m from each other, hand sanitising and other COVID-safe measures..

"It wasn't too bad and everyone is kind of used to the new systems put in place with desks apart and sitting apart," Ms Kurzman said.

To ensure the safety of year 12 students heading in to the GAT, the return of other secondary school year levels to face-to-face learning in regional areas was delayed until next Monday to reduce the risk of potential COVID transmission.

IN OTHER NEWS

Students in years seven to 10 at regional secondary schools head back to the classroom next Monday.

During term three and over the school holidays regional VCE students had been allowed to visit their school campus to do assessments so most students had been at school two or three times with small groups of classmates, but not all at once.

"The first time they got to come in and do a SAC (school assessed coursework) they were really very excited," Ms Nicholls said. "Their attitudes really changed as soon as they were given permission to do that, even to do practice exams."

Ballarat's 1000+ VCE students were among 85,000 who sat the General Achievement Test across the state from 10am on Wednesday. They will receive the results of the GAT as part of their final results package in December.

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