ATAR State by State: A Complete Guide to Each Australian System

While ATAR is a national ranking system, each Australian state and territory has its own senior secondary certificate and unique approach to assessment. Understanding your state's system helps you navigate your final years of school more effectively. This comprehensive guide covers the key features of each state's approach to ATAR.

New South Wales: Higher School Certificate (HSC)

The NSW HSC is Australia's largest senior secondary qualification, with over 75,000 students completing it annually. The system has several distinctive features:

Unit structure: Students complete subjects measured in units, with most subjects worth 2 units. You need at least 10 units for ATAR eligibility, including at least 2 units of English.
Extension courses: High-achieving students can take Extension 1 and Extension 2 courses in English, Mathematics, History, Music, and some languages. These add extra units and often scale well.
Assessment structure: Your HSC mark combines 50% school-based assessment and 50% external examination. School marks are moderated against exam performance.
ATAR calculation: The Universities Admission Centre (UAC) calculates ATAR from your best 10 units, including at least 2 units of English. Extension courses contribute partially.

NSW students can use our ATAR calculator with HSC-specific scaling factors to estimate their potential ranking.

Victoria: Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)

Victoria's VCE is known for its rigor and is completed by approximately 50,000 students each year. Key features include:

Study design: Subjects are called "studies" and are divided into Units 1-4. Units 3 and 4 are typically completed in Year 12 and count toward ATAR.
Study scores: Each study receives a study score from 0-50, with 30 being the mean. Scores are derived from school-assessed coursework (SACs), school-assessed tasks (SATs), and external examinations.
English requirement: You must satisfactorily complete an English study (English, English Language, Literature, or EAL) with a study score of at least 25 or a letter grade of C or above on the Unit 3-4 sequence.
ATAR calculation: VTAC calculates ATAR using your English study score plus your best three other study scores, plus 10% of the fifth and sixth studies.

The VCE scaling process adjusts study scores to create ATAR aggregate scores that can be compared across different subject combinations.

Queensland: Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)

Queensland implemented a new ATAR system in 2020, replacing the previous OP (Overall Position) system. Current features include:

Subject structure: Students complete General and Applied subjects. Only General subjects contribute to ATAR calculation.
External assessment: Year 12 General subjects include 25-50% external assessment (exams) and 50-75% internal assessment.
Scaling: The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) uses inter-subject scaling to adjust subject results for ATAR calculation.
ATAR eligibility: You need to complete at least five General subjects (including an English subject) to receive an ATAR.

The new Queensland system is designed to provide more standardised assessment and better national comparability.

South Australia: South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE)

SACE is a flexible qualification that allows students to combine school subjects with VET and other learning:

Stage structure: SACE has two stages. Stage 1 is typically completed in Year 11, and Stage 2 in Year 12. Only Stage 2 subjects count toward ATAR.
Credits: You need 200 credits to complete SACE, with specific requirements at each stage.
Assessment: Stage 2 subjects include 30% external assessment and 70% school-based assessment.
ATAR calculation: SATAC calculates ATAR from your best 90 credits at Stage 2 level (typically equivalent to four and a half subjects), including compulsory English or English-equivalent credits.

Western Australia: Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE)

Western Australia's WACE has distinct features:

Course types: ATAR courses are academically focused and designed for university-bound students. General and VET courses serve different pathways.
Examination: ATAR course students sit external exams that count for 50% of their final mark (or 100% in some courses).
ATAR eligibility: You need to complete at least four ATAR courses, including an English course, to receive an ATAR.
ATAR calculation: TISC calculates ATAR from your best four Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA) scores, with potential bonuses for additional high-performing courses.

Tasmania: Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE)

Tasmania's system allows considerable flexibility:

Course levels: Courses are offered at different levels (2, 3, and 4), with Level 3 and 4 courses contributing to ATAR.
External assessment: External exams are offered for many Level 3 courses and count for 50% of the final result.
ATAR calculation: Your ATAR is calculated from your best results across Level 3 and Level 4 courses, with specific rules about how different levels contribute.

ACT and Northern Territory

The ACT uses the ACT Senior Secondary Certificate, while the Northern Territory uses the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET). Both territories have smaller student populations but follow similar principles of combining internal assessment with standardised measures for ATAR calculation.

Comparing Across States

Despite different systems, ATARs are designed to be nationally comparable. A student with an ATAR of 85 from NSW should represent similar overall academic achievement to a student with 85 from Victoria or Queensland. This comparability allows students to apply for university courses interstate with confidence.

Some key differences to note when comparing states:

The number of subjects counted toward ATAR varies
The balance between internal and external assessment differs
Scaling methodologies have subtle variations
Subject offerings and names vary by state

Planning Your Studies

Understanding your state's system helps you plan strategically. Key actions include:

Know the minimum subject requirements for ATAR eligibility in your state
Understand how many subjects count toward your final ATAR
Check prerequisites for university courses you might consider
Use state-specific resources from your Tertiary Admission Centre
Speak with your school's careers counsellor about your state's requirements

Conclusion

Each Australian state has developed its own approach to senior secondary education and ATAR calculation, reflecting different educational philosophies and priorities. Whatever state you are in, the core principle remains: strong, consistent performance across well-chosen subjects will yield a strong ATAR. Use the tools and resources specific to your state, including our ATAR calculator, to plan and track your progress toward your goals.