The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, or ATAR, plays a crucial role in university admissions for Australian secondary school students. This national ranking system shows how students compare with their peers at the end of year 12. Since it influences university entry, you must know how the ATAR is calculated, how scaling works, and how different subjects contribute to the final rank.
What is the ATAR?
The ATAR is a national rank that ranges from 0.00 to 99.95, used to assess students' performance across the country.
While the ATAR is often mistaken for a score, it's actually, as the name suggests, a ranking system that indicates how well a student did compared to other students in the country.
An ATAR of 80 means that the student in question did better than 80% of their cohort. This is useful for tertiary institutions like universities when determining course admission. They can compare students across the nation despite having taken different exams.
However, there is one caveat. The average ATAR is 70, not 50. This is because it's calculated against a theoretical cohort of students across the country, which includes those with an ATAR and all those who don't get one.
Here's the ATAR explained.
Why Was the ATAR Introduced
Before the ATAR, every state in Australia used its own school assessment system, and universities struggled to compare students from different parts of the country fairly.
ATAR was introduced to simplify admissions, ultimately replacing the previous systems used:
- UAI (Universities Admission Index – NSW & ACT)
- TER (Tertiary Entrance Rank)
- ENTER (Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank)
The ATAR was rolled out between 2009 and 2010. Queensland (QCE) eventually adopted it in 2020. Since it offers universities a standardised rank, admissions are much fairer for students across different states.
How is the ATAR Calculated
The ATAR calculation uses a complex mathematical process that includes scaled marks from a year 12 students' different subjects.
Here's how the various ATAR eligibility requirements compare across the various parts of Australia:
| State/Territory | Number of subject units | Scaling exam and certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | 10 units | AST / Year 12 Certificate |
| New South Wales | 14 units | HSC |
| Victoria | 6 subjects | VCE |
| Queensland | 5 subjects | QCE |
| Tasmania | 4 subjects | TCE |
| South Australia | 90 study credits | SACE |
| Western Australia | 4 subjects | WACE |
| Northern Territory | 90 study credits | NTCET |
Here's a simplified breakdown of how it's calculated.
Step 1: Raw Marks
When a student sits an exam like HSC (NSW), VCE (Victoria), or QCE (Queensland), they'll be given a raw mark from both external assessments and school-based assessments.
This will form the foundation of their ATAR.
Step 2: Scaling
Since students can take different subject combinations, the raw marks must be scaled to make them more comparable.
Typically, this scaling indicates the difficulty of the subject and the performance of a student cohort across Australia.
For example, Extension Mathematics is often scaled upwards since it's a more advanced version of mathematics, and the raw scores are typically lower than those of foundational maths subjects. Rather than punish the students who opt to take more advanced subjects, scaling means that their ATAR results are more fairly compared to those who didn't.
Step 3: Aggregate Score
Once the marks of a student's best subjects have been scaled, the student's aggregate score can be calculated.
This is usually done in the following way:
- English (compulsory in most states)
- The best three or four subjects
- A portion of additional subjects (depending on state policies)
Step 4: Rank Conversion
Once all the aggregate scores have been calculated, these are converted into a rank between 0.00 and 99.95, which shows how a student compares to their peers across Australia.
How Many Subjects Contribute to the ATAR
The number and type of subjects that contribute to the ATAR can vary slightly across states. Students will usually need to complete a set number of units across their exams, with a focus on English being fairly standard across states.
- NSW & ACT (HSC): Best two English units + best 8 other units
- Victoria (VCE): Highest scaled English score + next three subjects + 10% of fifth and sixth subjects
- Queensland (QCE): Combination of General subjects, including English and Mathematics
- Western Australia (WACE): ATAR calculated from scaled marks across English and Tertiary courses
What Exactly is Scaling?
We've briefly touched upon scaling, but students subjected to the ATAR are often curious about how exactly it works and whether or not it'll benefit them.
It's a statistical adjustment to ensure that the raw marks can be fairly compared across different subjects.
This means that students won't be disadvantaged in choosing more challenging subjects, which typically results in lower raw marks. It considers the scores reported for different subjects and the student's overall strengths.
Suppose a subject is popular among high-performing students but scores lower overall. In that case, the scores for that particular subject may be scaled up.
Suppose lots of students score really well in a subject. In that case, the results may be scaled down for the ATAR to reflect that the subject was relatively easy compared to other subjects.
UAC (Universities Admissions Centre), VTAC (Victoria Tertiary Admissions Centre), and QCAA (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) scale based on national performance data.
What Types of Subjects Contribute to the ATAR?
Different types of subjects contribute to university admission, but not all of them contribute to the ATAR.
- Tertiary (T) – Contributes to the ATAR
- Accredited (A) – Does not contribute to the ATAR
- Registered (R) – Used for school-based assessments only
The number of units and subject combinations required for the ATAR vary by state, with English often mandatory for students.
What is a “Good” ATAR?
The term "good", especially when discussing the ATAR, depends on the course and university you'll be applying to.
While the ATAR is a rank reported as being between 0.00 and 99.95, it's not a percentage, and the median ATAR is around 70.00. After that, there may be adjustment factors applied by universities.
The universities you apply to will usually dictate the ATAR they require, but here are some ballpark figures to give you a better idea.
- Competitive courses like Medicine often require an ATAR above 95.
- Courses like Arts and Business may require an ATAR of around 70-85.
- Some institutions offer pathways with lower ATAR requirements or alternative entry programs.
How to Boost Your ATAR by Picking Certain Subjects
If you consider choosing certain subjects to boost your ATAR, you can't. Ultimately, the scaling of the ATAR means the rank is fairer, and students can't game the system by choosing "easier" subjects.
Instead, the best way to boost your ATAR is by:
- Studying subjects you enjoy and excel in
- Maintaining consistent study habits
- Seeking additional support if needed, such as private tutoring
Any time you attempt to game the system could just as easily be used to pick and study the right subjects effectively.
What Should You Do If You Don't Get the ATAR You Hoped For?
Unfortunately, not every student will get the ATAR they need for the university course they want to take.
Don't worry too much about it, as there are alternative pathways to university admission in Australia that you could consider.
- Bridging Courses: Prepare for specific university courses.
- Diplomas: Transition from TAFE or a diploma program to university.
- Special Entry Programs: Some institutions consider portfolios, interviews, or work experience.
The ATAR isn't the only way to get into university. However, if it's going to be the first way you attempt to get onto a university course, then make sure you try to get the highest ATAR possible.
The ATAR System at a Glance
If you remember anything about the ATAR System and how it works, make it that:
- The ATAR is a ranking system, not a score.
- Scaling adjusts marks to ensure fairness across all subjects.
- Your rank is calculated based on your best subjects and performance.
- Alternative pathways are available if your ATAR doesn't meet your desired course requirements.
Thanks to the ATAR system, you won't be personally punished if a subject or assessment is particularly difficult, provided other students across the country also have a similar experience.
However, your ATAR will be affected if you don't perform as expected on specific assessments but your peers do.
Luckily, to avoid this, you should be organised, study, and work with a private tutor to ensure that you know what you need to know for your chosen subjects.
The Superprof website has tutors for every subject, and you can find them across Australia and worldwide.
Search for the subject you need help with, and you can browse their profiles today. Most offer the first session for free, so you can try a few before choosing the right one for you and your academic goals!
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