Queensland and NSW Year 12 result and subject equivalents

Before 2020, Queensland Year 12 students received an Overall Position (OP) instead of an ATAR. The OP provided by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) was used to derive a rank equivalent to the ATAR. This equivalent rank was not reported to applicants. The 2018 OP/ATAR comparison table is provided as a guide only to how the OP and ATAR compare.

QCE course results and equivalent NSW HSC course results

QCE gradeNSW HSC BandNSW HSC Band extension course
A6E4
B5, 4E3
C3E2
D2E2
E1E1

Search for a subject equivalent

The following table shows for each QCE course the comparable course in the NSW HSC.

The information in this table is applicable for 2023–24 admissions only. Use it as a guide for 2025 admissions.

QCE subject NSW HSC subject
English subjects
Essential English English Studies (Examination)
English English Advanced
Literature English Advanced
English Extension English Extension 1
English and Literature (Extension) English Extension 1
English as an Additional Language English as an Additional Language or Dialect
Mathematics subjects
Essential Mathematics Mathematics Standard 1 (Examination)
General Mathematics Mathematics Standard 2
Mathematical Methods Mathematics Advanced
Specialist Mathematics Mathematics Extension 2
All others subjects (excluding languages other than English)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Aboriginal Studies
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Aboriginal Studies
Accounting Financial Services (Examination)
Aerospace Studies * No equivalent
Agricultural Science * No equivalent
Ancient History Ancient History
Biology Biology
Business Business Studies
Business Communication and Technologies Business Studies
Business Organisation and Management Business Studies
Business Management Business Studies
Chemistry Chemistry
Dance Dance
Design Design and Technology
Digital Solutions Information Processes and Technology
Drama Drama
Earth and Environmental Science Earth and Environmental Science
Economics Economics
Engineering Engineering Studies
Film, Television and New Media * No equivalent
Film and Television * No equivalent
Food and Nutrition Food Technology
Geography Geography
Health Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
Home Economics Food Technology
Hospitality Studies Food Technology
Information Processing and Technology Information Processes and Technology
Information Technology Systems Information Processes and Technology
Legal Studies Legal Studies
Marine Studies * No equivalent
Marine Science * No equivalent
Modern History Modern History
Multistrand Science Investigating Science
Music Music 2
Music Extension Music Extension
Philosophy and Reason * No equivalent
Physical Education Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
Physics Physics
Psychology * No equivalent
Science21 Investigating Science
Study of Religion Studies of Religion II
Study of Society Society and Culture
Technology Studies Engineering Studies
Visual Art Visual Arts
Languages other than English (LOTE)
Arabic Arabic Continuers
Chinese Chinese Continuers
Chinese Extension Chinese Extension
French French Continuers
French Extension French Extension
German German Continuers
German Extension German Extension
Modern Greek Modern Greek Continuers
Indonesian Indonesian Continuers
Indonesian
Malaysian		 Indonesian Continuers
Indonesian Extension Indonesian Extension
Italian Italian Continuers
Japanese Japanese Continuers
Korean Korean Continuers
Latin Latin Continuers
Polish Polish Continuers
Russian Russian Continuers
Spanish Spanish Continuers
Vietnamese Vietnamese Continuers

* There is no comparable NSW HSC course for this QCE course. Contact the relevant institution for information on that institution’s policy regarding QCE courses that have no comparable NSW HSC course.

1. In the NSW HSC there is a small number of multi-level subject areas (English, mathematics, music and LOTE) which enable advanced students to study extension courses. Students undertaking an extension course must also study the underpinning course. Some institutions, for some courses, award selection rank adjustments for achievement in both courses. In such cases, QCE students undertaking this QCE course will be considered for the same pattern of subject adjustments as NSW HSC students undertaking the comparable course listed in this table and may be eligible to receive more than one adjustment.Go back to first reference of footnote 1.