How ATAR Is Calculated in Australia: The Complete 2026 Guide

Quick Answer

The ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is a percentile rank between 0.00 and 99.95 that shows how a student's academic performance compares to all other Year 12 students in their state or territory. Each state uses its own certificate and assessment system, but the core process is the same: subject marks are scaled to account for cohort differences, combined into an aggregate score, then converted into a rank. All ATARs are nationally comparable, meaning an ATAR of 85.00 represents the same relative achievement whether you sat the HSC in NSW or the VCE in Victoria.

What Is the ATAR?

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank is a number reported in increments of 0.05, from a minimum of 0.00 to a maximum of 99.95. It is not a mark, a score, or a grade average. It is a percentile rank — a measure of where you sit relative to every other student in your state who completed Year 12.

The ATAR was introduced across Australia to create a common scale that universities could use to compare applicants from different states, each of which has its own curriculum, grading system, and assessment methods. Before the ATAR, states used separate ranking systems: NSW had the UAI, Victoria had the ENTER, and Queensland had the OP. The ATAR unified these into a single nationally consistent rank.

Not every Year 12 student receives an ATAR. Students who do not complete enough ATAR-eligible subjects, or who sit qualifications outside the standard senior secondary certificates, may not receive one. This matters because the ATAR denominator includes all eligible Year 12 students, including those who did not receive a rank, which means competition at the upper end is stiffer than the numbers alone suggest.

The General ATAR Calculation Process

Despite differences between states, the ATAR calculation broadly follows the same sequence in every jurisdiction:

1. 1Students complete their state's senior secondary certificate through a combination of school-based assessment and external examinations.
2. 2Raw subject results are compiled by the relevant authority. In most states this combines internal school marks with external exam results.
3. 3Subject scores are scaled to account for differences in the academic ability of the student cohort who chose each subject.
4. 4Each student's best eligible subject scores are selected according to state-specific rules — for example, best 10 units in NSW, or best 5 subjects in Queensland.
5. 5The selected scaled scores are combined into an aggregate score.
6. 6All students' aggregates are ranked. This rank is then converted to the 0.00 to 99.95 ATAR scale by the state's tertiary admissions centre.

What Is Scaling?

Scaling is the process of adjusting raw subject marks to account for differences in the academic ability of the students who chose each subject. A raw mark of 75 in Chemistry and a raw mark of 75 in another subject do not necessarily contribute equally to your ATAR. If Chemistry attracts a cohort of high-ability students who also perform strongly across their other subjects, those Chemistry marks will be scaled upward to reflect that.

Scaling is not a bonus system for choosing difficult subjects. It is a statistical correction designed to make marks comparable across subjects that attract very different student populations. The result is that high-ability students who perform well in demanding subjects are not disadvantaged relative to students who chose easier ones.

New South Wales: The HSC and ATAR

Certificate and authority

NSW students complete the Higher School Certificate (HSC), administered by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). The ATAR is calculated and released by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

How the HSC mark is formed

For most HSC courses, the subject mark is the average of two equal components:

• The school assessment mark, compiled from tasks completed throughout Year 12 and moderated by NESA
• The HSC examination mark, from the external written examination at the end of Year 12

These combine 50/50 for most subjects. Some project-based or practical courses use different weightings.

ATAR eligibility requirements

• A minimum of 10 units of ATAR-eligible HSC courses
• At least 2 units of English

UAC scales each subject's scores and selects the best 10 units (which must include at least 2 units of English). These scaled scores are combined into an aggregate, which is then converted to the ATAR.

Victoria: The VCE and ATAR

Certificate and authority

Victorian students complete the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), administered by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). The ATAR is calculated by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

Study scores

Each VCE subject results in a study score between 0 and 50. A study score of 30 is the average across the cohort for that subject. Scores are not raw marks; they reflect your performance relative to everyone who sat that subject in Victoria that year.

ATAR aggregate formula

VTAC scales each study score, then calculates the aggregate as:

1. 1The scaled score from your English or EAL subject (compulsory)
2. 2The scaled scores from your next best 3 subjects
3. 310% of the scaled scores from your next best 2 subjects

This aggregate is converted to an ATAR. The theoretical maximum aggregate is approximately 210, though achieving it requires near-perfect study scores in six subjects after scaling.

Queensland: The QCE and ATAR

Certificate and authority

Queensland students complete the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), administered by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA). The ATAR is calculated by the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).

From OP to ATAR

Queensland replaced its long-running Overall Position (OP) system with the ATAR from 2020. The change brought Queensland in line with other states and introduced more standardised external examinations alongside school-based assessment.

How the ATAR is calculated

Queensland students' ATARs are based on their best 5 scaled subject scores, which must include at least one subject from the English category. Subject results combine external examination marks with internal assessment tasks, with the balance depending on the specific subject studied.

South Australia: The SACE and ATAR

Certificate and authority

South Australian students complete the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), administered by the SACE Board. The ATAR is calculated by the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC).

ATAR calculation rules

To receive an ATAR, SA students must complete at least 90 credits at Stage 2 of the SACE. The Research Project is a compulsory 10-credit Stage 2 subject that contributes to the ATAR calculation. English must be included in the 90 Stage 2 credits. Grades are converted to performance band scores that are then scaled and aggregated.

Western Australia: The WACE and ATAR

Certificate and authority

Western Australian students complete the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), administered by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA). The ATAR is calculated by the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC).

ATAR vs General vs Foundation courses

In WA, subjects are offered at different levels. Only ATAR courses contribute to the ATAR calculation. General and Foundation courses develop practical skills but do not generate ATAR-eligible scores.

Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA)

TISC first calculates a Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA):

1. 1The scaled scores from the best 4 ATAR courses
2. 2Plus 10% of the scaled scores from the next best 2 ATAR courses

An ATAR-level English course is compulsory. The TEA is then converted to the final ATAR using TISC's statistical process.

Tasmania, the ACT, and the Northern Territory

Tasmania

Tasmanian students complete the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE), administered by the Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification body (TASC). Students taking pre-tertiary subjects are eligible for an ATAR, which is calculated through a national statistical process consistent with other states.

Australian Capital Territory

ACT students complete the ACT Senior Secondary Certificate, administered by the Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS). The ACT uses a unit-based assessment system with T (Tertiary) scores calculated across subjects. UAC converts these into the ATAR using the same national framework applied in NSW.

Northern Territory

NT students complete the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET), which is based on the South Australian SACE system. Applications and ATAR calculations are processed through SATAC, following the same methodology as South Australia.

What Subjects Count Toward Your ATAR?

Not every subject completed in Year 12 contributes to your ATAR. The key distinction in each state is between ATAR-eligible subjects and non-ATAR subjects such as vocational, general, or foundation-level courses.

• In NSW, only HSC courses classified as ATAR-eligible by NESA count. Some VET courses and Content Endorsed Courses do not contribute.
• In VIC, only VCE studies at Units 3 and 4 generate study scores for ATAR calculation. Units 1 and 2 (Year 11) do not count.
• In QLD, only General Syllabuses — not Applied Syllabuses or most Vocational subjects — are fully ATAR-eligible.
• In WA, only ATAR-level courses contribute to the TEA and ATAR. General and Foundation courses do not.
• In SA and NT, only Stage 2 SACE subjects are eligible. Stage 1 subjects do not count toward the ATAR aggregate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest possible ATAR?

The highest possible ATAR is 99.95. It is awarded to students who rank at the very top of the eligible Year 12 cohort in their state. The number of students who receive 99.95 varies each year but is typically fewer than around 50 across most states.

Does every Year 12 student receive an ATAR?

No. An ATAR is only generated for students who complete enough ATAR-eligible subjects and meet their state's eligibility requirements. Students who complete mostly vocational qualifications, or who do not sit the required subjects, may finish Year 12 without receiving a rank.

Do Year 11 results count toward the ATAR?

In most states, Year 11 results do not directly contribute to the ATAR. In NSW, Year 11 assessment results are not included in the HSC mark used for ATAR calculation. In VIC, Units 1 and 2 (Year 11 VCE) do not generate study scores for ATAR purposes. QLD, SA, and WA follow similar principles. Year 11 performance matters because it determines eligibility to continue into Year 12 subjects and builds the foundational knowledge that ATAR-contributing courses depend on.

Is an ATAR of 80 the same across all states?

Yes. The ATAR is a nationally comparable rank. An ATAR of 80.00 in NSW represents the same relative achievement as an ATAR of 80.00 in Victoria or Queensland. Universities use ATARs from all states on the same scale, which is the entire point of the system.

When is the ATAR released?

ATAR release dates vary by state but generally fall in mid to late December, shortly after HSC or equivalent results are published. In NSW, the ATAR is typically released in the second or third week of December. Victorian ATARs are usually available on the same day as VCE results.

Can I estimate my ATAR before results day?

You can estimate your ATAR using a calculator that applies historical scaling data to your predicted subject marks. MyATAR+ provides a predicted ATAR calculator that tracks your assessment results throughout the year and estimates your likely rank based on current performance. These are estimates, not guarantees, as scaling changes every year.

What happens if I score poorly in one subject?

A low score in one subject does not prevent you from receiving an ATAR as long as you have enough other ATAR-eligible subjects to meet the minimum requirements. In NSW, for example, the lowest-scoring subject will simply not be included if you have more than 10 units to choose from. The best-subject selection rules in each state exist precisely to protect students from one poor result undoing everything else.

Is the ATAR used for every university course?

Most undergraduate university courses use the ATAR as their primary ranking tool for domestic applicants. However, some courses additionally require aptitude tests (such as UCAT for medicine), auditions, portfolios, interviews, or prerequisite subject results. Check the specific entry requirements for each course directly with the university or your state's admissions centre.

Conclusion

The ATAR is a carefully designed percentile ranking system, not a simple average of your marks. Each state uses its own curriculum and process to arrive at the rank, but all ATARs end up on the same national scale. Understanding how your state calculates the ATAR — which subjects count, how scaling works, and what the aggregate formula looks like — gives you a meaningful advantage when making subject choices and setting realistic targets.

If you want to see how your current results translate into a predicted ATAR, MyATAR+ tracks your grades throughout Year 11 and Year 12, applies your state's calculation rules, and shows you where you stand in real time. It is free to get started.