What is ATAR Score? How to calculate ATAR score when studying in Australia | IDP Vietnam

ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Ranking) is a ranking system used in Australia to assess your academic performance throughout high school. The ATAR is not a specific score but a relative ranking between 0.00 and 99.95, which shows where you stand compared to all other students taking the Australian high school graduation exam.

For example, if you achieve an ATAR of 80, this means that your score is higher than 80% of all candidates who took the exam that year and is in the top 20% of Australia's top performers.

Instead of choosing based on grade point average in class, the use of ATAR in admissions will help universities have the most objective view of each candidate's ability, thereby selecting the most suitable candidates for each major. Besides, owning a high ATAR score not only opens the door to studying at top universities but is also the key for you to get your hands on valuable scholarships, helping you realize your dream of studying abroad to the fullest.

In the journey of preparing a study abroad application in Australia, the ATAR score serves as an important criterion to help universities assess and compare the academic capacity of candidates. So specifically, what is an ATAR score and how is it used?

First of all, the ATAR score is used as the main basis for admission to undergraduate programs. Each discipline and each school will require a different level of ATAR score, especially for highly competitive fields such as Medicine, Law or Business.

In addition, the ATAR score also helps:

• Determine the possibility of admission to each specific school and field of study

• Compare your academic performance with other candidates in the same year

• It is the basis for some schools to consider scholarships or priority admission

In addition, in some cases, understanding what the ATAR score is also helps students build a learning strategy early on, choose the right subjects to optimize outputs.

However, it should be noted that not all Australian study abroad programs require ATAR. Many schools still accept admissions based on GPA or through transfer pathways such as Foundation or Diploma.

The ATAR score is not based on a fixed set of subjects, but rather on the subjects that students choose in the Year 11 and 12 curriculum in Australia. Normally, students need to complete at least one English subject, while the rest of the subjects can be flexibly chosen by subject-oriented such as Maths, Science, Business or Arts.

In the Australian ATAR scoring system, scores are usually calculated based on the 4 subjects with the highest results, combined with a portion of the score of the 5th subject (or more depending on the state). Subjects can also be "scaled" to ensure fairness between different levels of difficulty.

Once completed, your academic results will be converted into an ATAR score through a comparison process with all of your peers across the state. Therefore, an ATAR score is not merely an individual score, but also a reflection of your ranking position among the entire candidate.

The ATAR score each year will vary depending on the academic performance of each course, creating a high level of competitiveness in the admissions process. Although each state in Australia has its own admissions body, the Australian ATAR system is still standardized nationwide to ensure transparency and fairness.

State Admissions Centres in Australia

In Australia, each state has its own admissions centre that is responsible for processing applications and calculating ATAR, including:

• Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) – New South Wales & ACT

• South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) – South Australia & Northern Territory

• Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) – bang Victoria

• Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) – Western Australia

• Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) – bang Queensland

• University of Tasmania – Tasmania's own admissions system

A high Atar score increases your chances of studying highly competitive majors.

The conversion of ATAR scores from GPA is a major concern for many Vietnamese students when learning about the conditions for studying in Australia. However, it should be noted that there is no uniform formula for converting GPA to ATAR scores across the country. Instead, each university will have its own admission criteria and conversion table based on each candidate's academic record.

In recent years, some of the top 8 universities in Australia such as the University of Sydney or the Australian National University (ANU) have been more flexible in accepting admissions based on grade 12 grade average (GPA), rather than the Australian ATAR system entirely requirement. This opens up more opportunities for international students, especially those who are not enrolled in high school in Australia.

In essence, GPA is the cumulative average score of the entire subject, reflecting the long-term learning process. Meanwhile, the ATAR score is a ranking index used to compare a student's position with other candidates in the same year. Therefore, the conversion of ATAR score from GPA is only relative and reference.

Below is a reference table for converting grade 12 GPA to ATAR according to the criteria of the Australian National University (ANU):

Read more: What is a GPA score? The 5 most important facts about GPA scores

In the process of studying in Australia, many students wonder if the ATAR score is the same across the country. In fact, each state in Australia will have its own assessment and scoring system, but the final result is converted to the same ATAR scale in Australia (0–99.95) to ensure fairness in university admissions.

An ATAR score is essentially a result of comparing your academic performance to that of all students in the same course, indicating what percentage you are in the top. Therefore, understanding the scoring mechanism in each state will help you have a more suitable learning strategy.

5.1. State of Victoria (VIC)

In Victoria, ATAR scores are calculated through the VCE system and administered by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

Common calculations include:

• 1 English subject (compulsory)

• The next 3 high-scoring subjects

• 10% of the score of the 5th and 6th subjects (if any)

This is a model of 4 major subjects and minor subjects that are common in the Australian ATAR system.

5.2. New South Wales (NSW)

In New South Wales, the ATAR score is calculated based on HSC exam results and is processed by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Key Principles:

• Calculate up to 10 units (≈ 5 subjects)

• It is mandatory to have:

  • 2 units of English

• The remaining subjects are selected from the list of recognized subjects

There is no fixed division of "2 English subjects and 8 subjects" as many people mistakenly believe.

5.3. State of Queensland (QLD)

In Queensland, ATAR Australia is calculated by the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) based on:

• Internal assessment

• Final Exam (External Assessment)

Students typically need:

• 5 subjects "General subjects" or

• Combination of subjects and vocational qualifications (VET)

Note: the Queensland Core Skills Test system is no longer in use.

5.4. How to calculate the ATAR score of Western Australia (WA)

In Western Australia, the ATAR score is calculated through the Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA) index administered by the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC).

Calculation:

• Choose 4 subjects with the highest scores

• Each subject:

  • 50% of the academic score

  • 50% of WACE test scores

Pros:

• 10% of your Mathematics Methods or Mathematics Specialist score goes toward your TEA score, even if it's not in your top four highest-scoring subjects.

5.5. How to calculate the ATAR score of South Australia – South Australia (SA)

In South Australia, the SACE system is used and the ATAR is handled by the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC).

Principle:

• From the best 90 credits

• In which:

  • At least 60 credits in subjects for university admission

5.6. How to calculate the Tasmanian State ATAR (TAS) score

In Tasmania, the ATAR score is built from the Tertiary Entrance (TE) index.

• Choose the 4 subjects with the highest results

• These include:

  • Subjects Levels 3–4

  • Or a college associate program

5.7. How to calculate the Australian Capital Territory ATAR score

At ACT, ATAR scores are processed through the University Admissions Centre (UAC) system based on your academic performance in the ACT Senior Secondary Certificate (ACT SSC).

• Based on the total score of the best subjects

• There is a score standardization mechanism to ensure comparison with other states

After understanding what ATAR is, you need to build the right study strategy to improve your results. ATAR score is a ranking system, your score depends not only on your ability but also on how competitive you are with other candidates.

To achieve a high ATAR score while studying in Australia, you should:

• Choose a subject that suits your strengths and scaling advantages

• Focus on 4–5 core subjects for ATAR calculation

• Plan to study early and practice regularly

Understanding what ATAR is correctly will help you optimise your study strategy and improve your chances of gaining admission to top universities in Australia.

IDP is ready to accompany you in conquering a high ATAR score when studying in Australia

Studying in Australia is not only a gateway to world-class learning opportunities, but also a solid stepping stone for your future career. IDP is always ready to advise you on all information, support you in your scholarship hunt and accompany you before, during, and after your study abroad journey.

Are you wondering which country and university to choose? Join IDP's study abroad seminars to get dedicated advice and experience the best study abroad process. You can meet directly with university representatives, consider scholarships on the spot, practice interviews, apply for an Australian student visa with a 95% success rate or register for the IELTS test with many attractive offers.

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See also:

Australia's top universities directly admit Vietnamese students

5 Latest Updated Conditions for Studying in Australia