Lexi Webster
The Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) is awarded to senior secondary school students who meet its requirements. Students who complete the WACE will receive an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), which is recognised by all universities in Australia and other tertiary institutions worldwide. The Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) is responsible for calculating students' ATARs in Western Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full form | Australian Tertiary Admission Rank |
| Purpose | Determining the Selection Rank (SR) for admission into undergraduate courses in Australian public universities |
| Applicability | Applicable for domestic students (Australian or New Zealand citizens, Australian permanent residents, or long-term refugee visa holders) |
| Calculation | Calculated from a student's Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA), which is the sum of the student's best four scaled subjects out of their Year 12 ATAR subjects over up to five consecutive years |
| Calculating body | Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) |
| Scaled score range | 0-430 |
| WACE | Western Australian Certificate of Education awarded to senior secondary school students who satisfy its requirements |
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What You'll Learn
ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
The ATAR system is used to determine eligibility for university entrance in Australia. ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. It is a ranking system that positions a student relative to all other students in the state who sit the WACE (Western Australian Certificate of Education) exam in a year. The WACE is awarded to senior secondary school students who satisfy its requirements. It is a nationally recognised senior secondary certificate.
The ATAR is calculated from a student's Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA), which is derived from their best four scaled scores out of 400. These scores are obtained from Year 12 ATAR subjects over up to five consecutive years. Students may also count 10% of their score in certain subjects, such as Mathematics Specialist, towards their TEA. The maximum TEA is 430.
The TEA is then converted into an ATAR, which is a percentile ranking that indicates how a student performed in comparison to their peers. For example, an ATAR of 82.00 means that the student achieved as well as or better than 82% of the Year 12 school-leaver population in Western Australia.
The ATAR is used by all Australian public universities as the primary criterion for determining the Selection Rank (SR) for admission into undergraduate courses. Each state or territory has its own state-level Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC) that calculates the ATAR for domestic students studying within their geographical limits. In Western Australia, the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) is responsible for calculating students' ATARs.
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How is ATAR calculated?
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a ranking system used for entry into Australian tertiary institutions. It is a number between 0.00 and 99.95, reported in increments of 0.05, that indicates a student's performance relative to their peers. An ATAR of 80.00, for example, means the student performed better than 80% of their year group. It is important to note that the ATAR is a rank, not a score.
The calculation of the ATAR differs slightly between states. In Victoria, the ATAR is derived from the aggregate of a student's English units, their three next best (scaled) subjects, and 10% of their 5th and 6th subjects if they did any. The Victorian aggregates, which can range from 0 to over 210 in exceptional cases, are then mapped to percentiles for conversion to an ATAR. In New South Wales, the ATAR is calculated by the University Admission Centre (UAC) using student results achieved in the Higher School Certificate (HSC). The marks included in the calculation can be accumulated over five years.
In Western Australia, the ATAR is calculated from the Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA), which is the sum of a student's best four scaled scores out of 400. The TEA can also include 10% of the student's scaled score in Mathematics Methods ATAR and/or Mathematics Specialist ATAR, and 10% of their scaled score in a Language Other Than English (LOTE), if applicable. The maximum TEA is 430.
The ATAR is calculated by taking into account a student's school-assessed coursework and their performance in external examinations. It is a comparative ranking, so a student's scores in all their subjects are scaled according to difficulty and then added together, forming a score that is compared against their peers. This means that a student's ATAR depends not only on their own performance but also on the performance of their peers.
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Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA)
The Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA) is the sum of a student's best four scaled scores, which are out of 400 (4 x 100 = 400). The TEA can also include:
- 10% of the student's best Language Other Than English (LOTE) scaled score (if they have one).
- 10% of the student's Mathematics: Methods ATAR scaled score (if they have one).
- 10% of the student's Mathematics: Specialist ATAR scaled score (if they have one).
The TEA is calculated by the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) for students who have successfully completed the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) and fulfilled other criteria to qualify for a Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER). The TER was used in Western Australia until 2009, when it was replaced by the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). The ATAR is now used across Australia, with the exception of Queensland, as the primary criterion for determining the Selection Rank (SR) for admission into undergraduate courses in Australian public universities.
TEA calculation changes are scheduled for 2028, when TISC will update the way it calculates the TEA to increase consistency and fairness for all students in Western Australia. The maximum TEA is 430.
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WACE (Western Australian Certificate of Education)
The Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) is the credential awarded to students who have completed senior secondary education (Year 10, Year 11, and Year 12) in Western Australia. It is a nationally recognised senior secondary certificate in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Students are required to meet various breadth and depth requirements, achievement standards, and literacy and numeracy standards across their final years of schooling.
The WACE is recognised by universities, industry, and other training providers. Students who complete the WACE will receive an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), which is recognised by all universities in Australia and other tertiary institutions worldwide. The Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) calculates and awards the ATAR in Western Australia. It is a rank relative to all other school-leaving-aged people in Western Australia, from 99.95 to 0.00. An ATAR of 82.00, for instance, means that a student has achieved as well as or better than 82% of the Year 12 school-leaver population in Western Australia.
The ATAR is calculated from a student's Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA), which is the sum of their best four scaled scores out of 400. Some subjects have scaled bonuses that are added to a student's marks even if they are not in their top four, such as languages and maths. The TEA calculation will be updated in 2028 to increase consistency and fairness for all students in Western Australia.
The WACE has undergone several reforms since 2002 to improve the curriculum and offer more pathways for students. As of 2020, there are 106 available WACE courses. Students can choose from ATAR courses, Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, and General courses. The General course pathway can lead to university, employment, or further vocational education and training. The WACE is also available overseas in Southeast Asia, offering an affordable option for international students.
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ATAR is used by all Australian public universities
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a ranking system used by all Australian public universities to select students for their courses. It is a number between 0.00 and 99.95 that indicates a student's achievement relative to other students in their age group. The ATAR is calculated based on a student's Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA), which is the sum of their best four scaled scores out of 400. The TEA can include bonuses for certain subjects, such as mathematics and languages.
The ATAR system was introduced in 2009 to unify the university entrance system in Australia, which previously had different state-level entrance scores. Each state or territory now has its own state-level Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC) that calculates the ATAR for domestic students studying within their geographical limits. These TACs then allocate positions for students at the tertiary institutions in their respective states or territories.
The ATAR is just one of the criteria used by universities to select students. Other factors may include a personal statement, a questionnaire, a portfolio of work, an audition, an interview, or a test. Adjustment factors can also be used in combination with a student's ATAR to derive their course selection rank. These adjustments can be based on factors such as athletic or artistic ability, equity considerations, location, or the relevance of a student's secondary subjects to the academic requirements of the course they are applying for.
It is important to note that the ATAR is not a percentage of marks but rather an indication of a student's overall position relative to their peers. For example, an ATAR of 80.00 means that the student is in the top 20% of their age cohort. The ATAR is applicable to domestic students, while international students must apply directly to each university, and their Selection Rank (SR) is calculated by the university itself.
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Frequently asked questions
ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank.
The Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) is responsible for calculating students' ATARs in Western Australia. ATAR is calculated from a student's Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA), which is the sum of the student's best four scaled subjects out of their Year 12 ATAR subjects over up to five consecutive years.
The higher your ATAR, the better. An ATAR of 82.00, for example, means you have achieved as well as or better than 82% of the Year 12 school-leaver population in Western Australia.
