ATAR

What is the 'ATAR' Score?

The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) converts students' VCE results into an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) using a statistical scaling process. This process has been developed by tertiary institutions who may use it as part of their selection process.

To obtain an ATAR score, you must meet VCE requirements and your studies must include:

• a 3/4 sequence in English/EAL/Literature/English Language
• a minimum of 3 other 3/4 sequences
• a maximum of 5 other 3/4 sequences
• two sequences can be VET subjects

Further Unit 3/4 sequences can be studied, but they will not be used to calculate the ATAR.

The ATAR is calculated by aggregating your scaled study scores in a maximum of 6 subjects. This ATAR aggregate ...is a score between 0 and 210+ which is then converted into an ATAR up to 99.95 at intervals of 0.05."

English/ESL/Literature/Language and your best three subjects (known as the Primary Four subjects) are counted in full in compiling the aggregate score. Your fifth and sixth subjects each count as a 10% bonus.

University Enhancement subjects must be counted as the 6th bonus subject. VET subjects carry a full study score which can be included in your Primary Four, with the exception of Horticulture, Applied Language Screen and Community Recreation, which provide a 10% bonus as a fifth and/or sixth  subject.

Only two VET subjects can count in your Primary Four.

Calculation of Aggregate Score and ATAR

10% bonus for Chemistry 3.1                         10% bonus for Psychology 3.5

PE 29 - 10% bonus for PE 2.9                         LOTE: Chinese 42 10% bonus for LOTE: Chinese 4:1

Aggregate Score = 141                                   Aggregate Score = 172.6

ATAR = 77.40                                                      ATAR = above 94

NOTE: ATAR score cannot be directly calculated from study scores.

An ATAR may contain studies accumulated over a number of years. However, students need to be aware that some tertiary institutions apply their own penalties for repeated studies. Students must investigate each individual tertiary institution’s enrolment policy. Middle band selection criteria will be specified for each tertiary institution for each course they offer.

The criteria will include considerations that were previously handled by bonuses for particular studies; consideration of any relevant factor introduced by using ATARs rather than the previously announced scoring formula for the course; more detailed consideration of VCE results, and whatever other factors had been previously specified as relevant for middle-band selection for that course.

Further information regarding the tertiary selection process can be obtained in the ATAR into Tertiary Courses booklet published by VTAC, available in the Careers Office, Senior School office or the VTAC website (www.vtac.edu.au) The Unit Descriptions and details of courses listed in this outline have been written by the relevant Key Learning Area Leaders following Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) study guidelines. In some study areas, KLAs have chosen to provide additional course content information.