This presentation is focused on the requirements for English in the final year of schooling in Victoria over the past 50 years. For at least the last half-century, the subject "English" has held a significant place in the final year of secondary education in Victoria. From 1950 — 2001 English has been a compulsory requirement for the completion of the Year 12 certificate, in the various forms that certificate has taken, from Matriculation in the 1950s, to the current Victorian Certificate of Education. In the context of a national conference on the teaching of English, an historical case study contextualised in the experience of one state can usefully prompt reflection on the experience and traditions of other states. The scope of what has been prescribed, taught and examined in this subject reflects some aspects of what has been valued and seen as culturally significant for the educational experience of young people. The history of English at Year 12 also reflects broader educational and historical changes from 1950 until the beginning of the 21st Century. During this period, the reading and examination of prescribed texts has occupied a key position. A review of what has been read and examined provides some insights into what has been valued in the teaching of English, and what has been valued in the broader community. The sources used for this review have been the primary sources relating to English at year 12 — syllabus documents, lists of prescribed texts, examination papers, and reports of examiners. Another possible source of information for a more extensive review would be a sample of students’ written examination responses.