Careers Corner

As our Year 12 cohort move towards completing their assessment schedules prior to the Trials Examinations and Year 10 begin looking into Stage 6 Subject Selection, many students have been asking me the same question; What is an ATAR?

The ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is a number between 0 and 99.95 that indicates a student's overall academic performance in Year 12 compared to their peers in the same year group. It is not a mark or a score out of 100, but rather a rank that reflects a student's position relative to other students in their state. Universities use the ATAR to select students for their courses and determine eligibility for admission. 

How it's calculated:

• The ATAR is calculated by scaling the raw marks received in different subjects and then aggregating them. 
• In NSW, your ATAR is based on an aggregate of scaled marks in 10 units of HSC courses, including your best 2 units of English and your best 8 units from your remaining subjects. 
• The ATAR is not a direct reflection of a student's marks, but rather a scaled and aggregated representation of their overall performance. 

Purpose of the ATAR:

• The ATAR allows universities to compare the achievements of students who have completed different combinations of subjects. 
• It provides a standardized measure of academic achievement that can be used to make decisions about student admissions. 
• It is a key factor in determining eligibility for tertiary courses, but universities may also consider other factors, such as personal statements, portfolios, or auditions. 

Understanding the ATAR:

• An ATAR of 80.00 means that you are in the top 20% of your year group.
• A higher ATAR generally indicates better academic performance, but it's important to remember that the ATAR is just one factor in the university admissions process. 

Year 12 students are aware that the University Admissions Centre (UAC) portal is open for preferences for 2026 admission. Students can use this link to create their UAC account, please be aware that the early bird application fee ends in September. Applicants can enter up to 5 course preferences for NSW universities in their UAC portal. If your child in intending to apply at an interstate institution, earlier this week I uploaded user guides to the VTAC (Victoria) and QTAC (Queesnland) portals for interstate applicants. 

While the ATAR is still the main selection tool used by most unis, there are other ways for you to show that you’re ready to succeed at tertiary study.Many institutions have one or more early offer schemes for Year 12 students. Through these schemes, the institutions will assess you using criteria other than (or in addition to) your ATAR. Always check the institution websites to make sure the courses you are applying for are covered by the schemes.

Educational Access Scheme (EAS): Institutions use this to take into account the educational disadvantages many applicants experience (eg financial hardship, illness, severe family disruption). If you think this might apply to you, make sure you complete an EAS application and claim all the disadvantages that have affected your studies. How to apply for EAS.

Pathway courses: If you successfully complete a non-degree course, such as foundation studies, a preparatory course, or a certificate or diploma, a university may guarantee you entry into a degree. Otherwise, you can use your non-degree studies to apply and compete for admission to other degree courses. You may also be awarded credit for studies undertaken in your non-degree course. Some unis offer an even larger range of prep courses to help you move into your degree. Contact the individual institutions to get the most up-to-date information. Other pathways to uni.

TAFE-Delivered Vocational Education and Training (TVET)

With a TVET course, you can get a head start on your career by completing a TAFE NSW course while still at school. TVET courses are available to students in Year 11 and 12 (Stage 6), they count towards your HSC, with some contributing towards your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). 

Benefits of TVET At TAFE NSW: you will gain work related skills and experience that is recognised and valued by employers. In many TVET courses, in addition to your theoretical training, you will also be required to complete a mandatory work placement. TVET studies can be used to help you gain a place in a TAFE NSW Higher Education course or at a university, by contributing to your ATAR. Your TVET course may provide you with an industry qualification or contribute towards credit or Advanced Standing in your next TAFE NSW course. By successfully completing your TVET course, you will gain two credentials upon finishing school; one from the New South Wales Educational Standards Authority (NESA) and another from TAFE NSW. 

TAFE NSW have released their 2026 course guide which you can download using this link. If your year 10 child is interested in enrolling in a TVET course for 2026-27, please reach out to Mrs Galvin.