Janice Lozano
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a ranking system that measures a student's overall academic achievement in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) in relation to other students. ATAR scores are used by universities to determine eligibility for tertiary courses. Each university sets the ATARs required for its courses, as well as other course entry requirements. The ATAR is calculated based on a student's highest scaled study scores in English and other permissible subjects. Scaled marks are influenced by a student's position in the course and the scaled mean for that course. The ATAR represents the percentage of the student population that the student has outperformed. For example, an ATAR of 60 indicates that the student performed better than 60% of their peers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is ATAR? | Australian Tertiary Admission Rank |
| What does it measure? | Overall academic achievement for VCE in relation to other students |
| What is it? | A rank, not a mark |
| How is it calculated? | Based on an aggregate of scaled marks in 10 units of ATAR courses comprising your best 2 units of English and best 8 units from your remaining units |
| How is the aggregate calculated? | By adding together: your highest scaled study score in one of the English studies (English, English Language, English as an Additional Language (EAL), Literature), highest scaled study scores for three additional permissible studies, and 10% of the scaled study scores for the fifth and sixth permissible studies |
| What is the final score? | The percentage rank is converted to an ATAR score, which is a number from 0 to 99.95 in intervals of 0.05 |
| What does the score mean? | The ATAR is an estimate of the percentage of the population that you outperformed |
| How to calculate an estimate? | Divide each of your scores by the number of assessments you have done |
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What You'll Learn
ATAR is a ranking, not a mark
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a ranking system used in Australia to indicate a student's overall academic achievement in relation to their peers. It is important to emphasise that the ATAR is a ranking, not a mark or score. This means that it does not represent a student's average percentage score or a direct measure of their academic ability. Instead, it indicates their position or ranking compared to other students in their age group.
For example, if a student receives an ATAR of 80, it does not mean they averaged 80%. Instead, it indicates that they are 20% from the top of their age group or cohort. The ATAR is calculated based on a student's achievement in their state's specific academic qualifications, such as the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in New South Wales or the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) in Victoria. The marks obtained in these qualifications are scaled and used to determine a student's ranking relative to their peers.
The ATAR is primarily used by universities as an efficient way to decide which students will be offered a place in a particular course. It provides a standardised way to compare students from different educational backgrounds and assess their suitability for university-level study. A higher ATAR generally gives preference to a student for enrolment in their chosen course at a university.
However, it is important to note that the ATAR is not the sole criterion for university admission. Universities may also consider other factors, such as a student's personal statement, portfolio of work, interview performance, or additional tests. Additionally, private universities in Australia, with the exception of Bond University, do not primarily consider the ATAR, and international students must apply directly to each university, which calculates their Selection Rank (SR) independently.
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Scaled marks are used, not HSC marks
The ATAR, or Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, measures a student's overall academic achievement for VCE in relation to other students. It is a rank, not a mark, so universities can see how well a student performs, regardless of their subject combinations.
The calculation of ATAR involves a process called scaling, which is used to standardise raw marks. This is necessary because all schools use different assessment tasks, which are marked differently, and some schools' assessment programs may be more demanding than others. Scaling allows for a comparison of marks from 'difficult' and 'easy' subjects, ensuring that students are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged by their subject choices.
The scaling process is carried out annually, and all students who complete at least one ATAR course in a given year are included. Scaling first modifies the mean, the standard deviation, and the maximum mark in each course. Adjustments are then made to individual students' marks to produce scaled marks.
The scaled mark for each course is calculated when a student completes that course. While scaled marks generally differ from the raw marks, the ranking of students within a course remains unchanged.
Once the raw HSC marks have been scaled, aggregate marks are calculated. Students are then ranked in order of their aggregate, and a percentile is assigned. This percentile is then truncated to the nearest 0.05 to provide the ATAR, which falls between 0 and 99.95.
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Calculation is based on the best grades in units 3 and 4
In Queensland, Australia, the ATAR or Australian Tertiary Admission Rank is calculated by the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). The calculation is based on the best grades achieved in units 3 and 4 (Year 12) across a student's subjects. Most students take 6 subjects in Year 12, meaning that the subject in which they performed least well will not be included in the ATAR calculation.
It is mandatory to take an English subject and achieve a grade C or higher to be eligible to receive an ATAR. However, the English subject may not be included in the calculation of the ATAR if it is not one of the top 5 subjects. Students can therefore leave out the subject in which they performed least well. It is important to note that some subjects scale more favourably than others.
The ATAR is based on the aggregate of scaled marks in 10 units, irrespective of the year in which the courses are completed. This means that, with school approval, students can accumulate courses for the ATAR over a period of up to five years, or they can accelerate their studies by attempting HSC courses while in Year 11. The five-year period is a ‘rolling period’, meaning that if students go beyond the five years, their ATAR is based on their marks from the most recent five years.
In Queensland, most general subject marks are calculated as 75% assessment and 25% final exams. The exceptions are maths and science subjects, which are 50% assessment and 50% final exams. Scaled marks are calculated in the year the courses are completed.
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Each institution sets its own ATAR requirements
The ATAR or Australian Tertiary Admission Rank measures a student's overall academic achievement in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) relative to other students. It is a ranking of Year 12 results, which allows tertiary institutions to compare the overall achievements of all students who have completed Year 12.
Each tertiary institution sets its own ATAR requirements for its courses, as well as other course entry requirements. The ATAR is calculated by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) based on up to six VCE scaled study scores. Study scores are scaled up or down by VTAC according to the performance of students in a particular year. This means scores change each year, making ATARs difficult to predict.
The ATAR is calculated from an aggregate, produced by adding together the highest scaled study score in one of the English studies (English, English Language, English as an Additional Language (EAL), Literature), the highest scaled study scores for three additional permissible studies, and 10% of the scaled study scores for the fifth and sixth permissible studies.
In NSW, the ATAR is calculated and released by UAC. In the ACT, it’s calculated by the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies, in consultation with UAC, and released by schools. NSW and ACT ATARs are equivalent to those in other states.
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Monash University offers a Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS)
Monash University's Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) is a program that offers students special consideration during the university admission process if they've faced challenges that impacted their academic performance. It adjusts the way your application is assessed, providing extra opportunities based on your circumstances.
SEAS is designed to give everyone a fair chance at getting into university, regardless of their background or the difficulties they've faced. It recognises that your ATAR might not fully reflect your potential due to obstacles you've faced during your studies.
The scheme covers four main categories: personal information and location, disadvantaged financial background, disability or medical condition, and difficult circumstances. You can apply under any or all categories that reflect your personal situation.
When you apply for SEAS, you'll also be considered for the Monash Guarantee. This means your ATAR might be adjusted to give you a better chance at getting into your preferred course. With just one SEAS application, you'll automatically be considered for the Monash Guarantee. From 2025, if you're the first in your family to attend university, or if you've experienced a disability or difficult family circumstances, you'll receive even more support through the Monash Guarantee.
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Frequently asked questions
ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. It measures a student's overall academic achievement for VCE in relation to other students.
The ATAR is calculated by aggregating scaled marks in 10 units of ATAR courses, comprising your best 2 units of English and the best 8 units from your remaining units.
A good ATAR score depends on the university and course you are applying for, as each tertiary institution sets its own ATAR requirements. Generally, an ATAR of 90 or above is considered excellent and will give you a strong chance of getting into most courses.
To maximise your ATAR, focus on achieving high marks in academic subjects such as Mathematics and Physics, as these subjects are known to award a higher proportion of high scaled scores. Additionally, take advantage of any opportunities to boost your ATAR, such as the Monash Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS), which provides support to students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Yes, there are online ATAR calculators provided by universities such as Monash University and Deakin University. However, it is important to note that ATAR predictions can be fickle, as they are difficult to predict and depend on the overall performance of students in a particular year.
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