ATAR FAQs: tertiary selection
Watch 'All About Your ATAR', a video that explains how ATARs are calculated
- What is the ATAR?
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a number between 0 and 99.95 with increments of 0.05. It provides a measure of your overall academic achievement in the NSW HSC in relation to that of other students, and helps universities rank applicants for selection.
The ATAR is a rank, not a mark. It is calculated on behalf of the universities and released by UAC.
Your ATAR indicates your position relative to the students who started Year 7 high school with you. An ATAR of 80.00 indicates that you've performed well enough in the HSC to place you in the top 20% of your Year 7 cohort.
It is important to note that your ranking depends solely on your performance in the HSC.
ATARs are calculated for all ATAR-eligible students, but not all students are notified. Only NSW HSC students who indicate on their HSC entry forms that they wish to be notified of their ATAR will receive an ATAR Advice Notice from UAC. Notices are mailed at about the same time students receive their HSC results from the Board of Studies (Board).
Read What is the ATAR? for more information. - Who is eligible for an ATAR?
To be eligible for an ATAR in 2012, you must satisfactorily complete at least 10 units of ATAR courses. These ATAR courses must include at least:
- eight units from Category A courses
- two units of English
- three Board Developed courses of two units or greater
- four subjects.
You'll be considered to have satisfactorily completed a course if, in the principal's view, there's sufficient evidence that you've :
(a) followed the course developed or endorsed by the Board
(b) applied yourself with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks and experiences provided in the course by the school
(c) achieved some or all of the course outcomes and
(d) completed at least 50 per cent of the HSC assessment tasks mandated by your school in that course.Failure to satisfactorily complete a course will result in that course not contributing to the eligibility requirements. If the course is a 2-unit course for which there's an associated extension course, failure to satisfactorily complete the 2-unit course will result in neither course contributing towards your ATAR.
For more information read Who is eligible for an ATAR?
Students undertaking tertiary preparation programs such as the Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC) and Open Foundation don't receive an ATAR.
IB Diploma candidates are not eligible to receive an ATAR. You'll receive a UAC rank based on your total score if you've been awarded the IB Diploma or Bilingual Diploma. - How is my ATAR calculated?
Your ATAR is based on an aggregate of scaled marks in 10 units of ATAR courses comprising:
- your best two units of English and
- your best eight units from the remaining units. No more than two units of Category B courses can be included.
Read All about your ATAR for more information. - When is my ATAR calculated?
You'll receive an ATAR the first year you satisfy the eligibility requirements. If you complete additional courses or repeat courses you've completed, your ATAR will be recalculated. Your most recent ATAR is the one used for selection purposes.
Read ATAR FAQs: HSC courses for more information.
- When is the ATAR released?
ATARs will be released in December 2012.
- When do I receive my ATAR advice notice?
While ATARs are calculated for all ATAR-eligible students, only students who indicate on their HSC entry forms that they wish to be notified will receive an ATAR Advice Notice from UAC. These students will receive their written Advice Notices at the same time as they receive their HSC results from the Board of Studies.
Read The ATAR advice notice for more information. - I've lost my ATAR Advice Notice. How do I get another one?
If you've lost your ATAR Advice Notice UAC can issue you with an ATAR confirmation letter. The fee is $48 (the original ATAR notice is free). To request an ATAR confirmation letter, print out this form and post to UAC.
- Where can I find information on Regional bonuses?
Some institutions apply automatic bonus points if you live in or attend school in a certain region.
Read Regional bonuses for more information. - Where can I find information on cut-offs?
The course descriptions available through the course search list the ATAR cut-offs from the Main Round in 2011.
Read Cut-offs for more information. - Where can I find information on Subject bonuses?
All UAC institutions recognise performance in Year 12 subjects relevant to the course/s for which you've applied. Some have formal bonus points schemes, while others consider students individually.
Read Subject bonuses for more information. - If I’m eligible to get bonus points, does my ATAR change?
If universities allocate bonus points they're not added to your ATAR. Bonus points are not ATAR points, and don't change your ATAR; bonus points change your selection rank for a particular preference or course.
Read ATAR FAQs: HSC courses for more information. - If bonus points don’t increase my ATAR, then how do they work?
Universities allocate bonus points for different circumstances. Examples include students with strong performance in HSC subjects, students who live or attend school in an area defined by the university, and students who have applied for consideration through Educational Access Schemes.
For most Year 12 applicants, your selection rank for university entrance is your ATAR. However, if universities allocate bonus points to you for a particular preference, then your selection rank for that preference = ATAR+bonus points. As the bonus points schemes for each university, and often for each course at the same university, are different your selection rank can be different for each course you list in your course preferences.
Read ATAR FAQs: HSC courses for more information. - Do cut-offs include bonus points?
Yes. The cut-off is the lowest ATAR (including any bonus points) required for entry into a particular course.
For example: Course A has six applicants and only three places available. The six applicants have the following selection ranks:
1. 99 (ATAR of 99)
2. 98 (ATAR of 97 plus 1 bonus point)
3. 97 (ATAR of 95 plus 2 bonus points)
4. 96 (ATAR of 96)
5. 95 (ATAR of 93 plus 2 bonus points)
6. 94 (ATAR of 94).
The cut-off for Course A will be 97. Offers will be made to applicants 1, 2 and 3. Applicant 4 won't receive an offer even though that applicant has an ATAR higher than applicant 3.
Read ATAR FAQs: HSC courses for more information. - Where can I find information on the Limited ATAR?
Read Limited ATAR for more information.
- Where can I find downloadable reports on the ATAR?
Read ATAR reports and scaling tables for more information.
