QCE ATAR Calculator 🧠

Predict your QCE ATAR and use it to build a study plan for QCE exam success.

QTAC does not release scaling data for some low participation subjects. These subjects are not available in the calculator.

The QCE System
The QCE is a certificate earned by students in Year 12, given the successful completion of four core units in 5 general subjects. For each general subject, there are 4 units (which correspond to 4 QCE credits). Units 1 and 2 are completed in Year 11 and are formative (ie. scores do not contribute to your final ATAR). Units 3 and 4 are completed in Year 12 and are summative (they do contribute to your ATAR).
Students must have a minimum of 20 credits to receive a QCE certificate, but they can attain up to 28 credits. Most Queensland students will graduate with 24 QCE credits (4 units in 6 general subjects).

What subjects do I need for my QCE/ATAR?
In the QCE system, subjects are split up into 2 categories, general and applied:

• Applied subjects can count towards QCE but only one applied subject can be used in the calculation of ATAR
• General subjects can count towards both QCE and ATAR calculation

Some students opt to undertake a diploma or certificate during Years 11 and 12. All students must successfully complete an English subject to receive their QCE and ATAR.
For the remaining 5 or 6 subjects you select for your senior studies, there is a broad range of options available, including Maths, Science, Commerce, Arts, Humanities, Languages and more.

What are the assessments like?
Internal assessments are exams/assignments formulated and assessed by individual schools, which are then sent off to the QCAA for external confirmation. External assessments are high-stress exams that students take at the end of the year.

How does the ATAR fit into this?
The Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) is a rank assigned to students based on their performance in Year 12 compared to all other students in the state. Students who receive a 99.95 ATAR are in the top 0.05% of the state (around 30 people), whereas students with a 70 ATAR are in the top 30%.

How is the ATAR calculated?
The ATAR calculation assigns a rank to students based on their raw exam scores, with the lowest score not factored in. However, it is important to note that the grace subject is based on the lowest weighted score, not the lowest raw score.

Scaling report
The scaling report provides an indicator of the subjects that were generally most difficult (with the lowest grades) as well as those which were easier (with the highest grades).

The QCE ATAR system can be quite complex, and understanding what's going on can be very daunting for new students and parents. If you ever need some assistance with your ATAR, KIS Academics QCE tutors have a thorough knowledge of the subjects and can assist in understanding curriculum requirements.