The ATAR, or the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, can cause a lot of confusion. We hope to clear up some common ATAR misconceptions in this article.

 

What does the ATAR look like?

The ATAR is typically reported on a 2,000-point scale, from 0.00 all the way up to 99.95. The ATAR is reported in increments of 0.05, meaning an ATAR of 85.65 is possible, but an ATAR of 85.64 is not possible. Typically, ATARs under 30.00 will simply be reported as “less than 30”.

This is a single number intended to give an overall indication of your child’s achievement level in their Year 12 studies.

 

How is the ATAR calculated?

ATAR calculation is relatively complex, and takes into account many factors. Whilst the general idea behind the ATAR is consistent between states, the details vary from state to state. If interested, you can find a more detailed overview for Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland via the links below.

"Whilst the general idea behind the ATAR is consistent between states, the details vary from state to state."

 

It’s important to note that you aren’t required to know the specifics of ATAR calculation, and students don’t need to know the details in order to achieve high scores, either. A general understanding of the ATAR and how it functions, however, can help to reduce anxiety throughout Year 12.

 

What does the ATAR mean?

A common misconception is that an ATAR of 70.00, for example, means the student has averaged 70% across their studies. This is not the case, because the ATAR is not a ‘score’ as much as it is a percentile rank.

As such, an ATAR of 70.00 actually indicates that the student has outperformed 70% of their peers from their cohort (those graduating in the same year from the same state). Similarly, an ATAR of 35.65 suggests the student has outperformed 35.65% of their peers. An ATAR of 100.00 is not possible, because even the top students will equal (and therefore not outperform) some of their peers.

 

How is the ATAR used?

One of the primary functions of the ATAR pertains to tertiary admission. Universities and other institutions can use the ATAR as a means of measuring students’ overall Year 12 academic performance. As the ATAR is a single number, universities can rank students easily based on one metric, and offer places to certain degrees based on that level of achievement.

"One of the primary functions of the ATAR pertains to tertiary admission."

Importantly, achieving a certain ATAR is not the only consideration for some pathways, and there are also other ways to gain admission to a degree without receiving the required ATAR (for example, starting a different degree, and then transferring into the desired degree at a later time).

There are many misconceptions about the ATAR, its uses, and how it’s calculated. This causes uncertainty for students and parents alike each and every year, but we are here to help as much as we can!