ATARs

ATARs are the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary ranking metric used in Australia for undergraduate university admissions based on senior secondary school achievement. An ATAR is a percentile-like score intended to indicate a student’s relative position within their cohort rather than a raw mark. It is not a measure of intelligence or potential, but a reflection of performance relative to peers in the year and jurisdiction.

Calculation and range: Each Australian state or territory has a tertiary admissions centre that calculates ATARs by converting a student’s subject marks into scaled scores and combining a subset of subjects, typically including English. The exact subject mix, scaling rules, and any bonus points vary by jurisdiction. The resulting ATAR ranges from 0.00 to 99.95, in increments of 0.05, representing how a student compares with others in the same cohort.

Use in admissions: ATARs are used by universities to screen applicants for most bachelor degree programs. Higher ATARs generally improve chances of admission to competitive courses, though many programs also consider course prerequisites, selection ranks, interviews, portfolios, or auditions. Some jurisdictions or institutions apply adjusting mechanisms such as equity or rurality bonuses, or offer alternative entry schemes to address access and pathways for non-traditional students.

Scope and comparability: ATARs are state- or territory-based and are not directly interchangeable across jurisdictions due to differences in subject pools, scaling, and bonus provisions. While the ATAR provides a concise summary for admission decisions, individual universities may apply further selection criteria or alternative pathways.

Limitations: The ATAR reflects performance in a specific year and its calculation depends on state rules, scaling methods, and incentive schemes. It does not measure all aspects of a student’s abilities or potential, and does not guarantee admission to any particular program.

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