The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a national ranking system used to determine a student’s eligibility for university courses in Australia. The ATAR score is a rank that shows how a high student’s performance compares to all other students in their year.
How is the ATAR calculated?
The ATAR is calculated by each state and territory’s tertiary admissions centre, using a student’s results from their final year of high school.
Here’s a simplified breakdown of the process:
| Assessment | Students complete a range of subjects in their final year of high school. These subjects are assessed through a combination of school-based tasks (like assignments and exams) and external exams. |
| Scaling | The raw marks a student gets for each subject are “scaled.” Scaling adjusts marks based on the strength of the competition in that subject. For example, a high mark in a subject with many high-achieving students might be worth more than the same mark in a subject with less competition. This ensures that it doesn’t matter which subjects a student chooses to maximise their ATAR. |
| Aggregate | The scaled marks are then added up to create an aggregate score. This is the student’s total performance across all their eligible subjects. |
| Ranking | The aggregate scores of all students are then placed in a list from highest to lowest.The ATAR is the student’s rank within this list. An ATAR of 75.00 means the student is in the top 25% of their age group. Similarly, an ATAR of 99.95 is the highest possible rank, meaning the student is in the top 0.05% of all students. |
What is the ATAR used for?
The ATAR is the primary tool that universities use to select students for their courses. Each university course has a minimum ATAR requirement, known as the “cut-off” or “selection rank.” If a student’s ATAR is equal to or above this cut-off, they are generally eligible for a place in that course.
It’s important to know that the ATAR is not the only factor. Many universities also consider other things such as:
- Special entry schemes: These schemes might consider a student’s background, such as if they are from a rural area or faced personal hardship.
- Bonus points: Some universities offer “bonus points” for things like completing certain subjects, living in a particular area, or for having excellent results in specific Year 12 subjects. These points can boost a student’s selection rank.
- Portfolios or interviews: For some courses, like art or medicine, a student might need to submit a portfolio of their work or attend an interview.
Common misconceptions about ATAR
The ATAR is a score out of 100
As we’ve seen, it’s a rank, not a mark. An ATAR of 80 does not mean a student got 80% on their exams.
You have to get a high ATAR to succeed in life
The ATAR is just one pathway to a university degree. There are many other options, including TAFE, private colleges, and apprenticeships. Many successful people never went to university or took a different route.
Subject choices don’t matter
While scaling tries to make the ATAR fair, it’s crucial for students to choose subjects they are good at and enjoy. This helps them stay motivated and perform well.
What does this mean for your child?
The ATAR is an important part of the university application process, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. The most important thing is to support your child in finding a pathway that’s right for them.
For more information, you can visit the websites of the different tertiary admissions centres, such as the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for New South Wales or the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).
Leave a Reply