Calculation guide

How the ATAR is calculated

Every jurisdiction applies its own subject and eligibility rules. The broad process still follows the same four stages.

1. Final subject results

The relevant curriculum authority produces final results from examinations, school assessments or both. The exact balance differs across jurisdictions.

2. Scaling

The tertiary admissions authority adjusts subject results to support fair comparison across different subject cohorts. Scaling measures relative performance. It does not label a subject as good, bad, easy or hard.

3. Aggregate

The authority combines the permitted scaled results under local rules. NSW uses the best two units of English plus the best eight remaining units under current rules. Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the territories use different structures.

4. Rank

The aggregate is converted into a rank against the relevant age population. The final ATAR is reported in increments up to 99.95.

Why calculators provide estimates

Official calculations depend on full cohort data and underlying marks unavailable to public calculators. A responsible calculator uses historical information to provide a range and clearly identifies the result as an estimate.