Our ATAR Calculators

Use this ATAR Calculator to scale your (raw study scores) based on data from the past 2 years to get an accurate estimate of your ATAR. To start, select your state below:

VCE HSC QCE WACE IB

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.

Subjects Scores

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The QCE System

The Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) consists of:

4 core units across 5 general subjects
Units 1 & 2 (Year 11): Formative assessment only
Units 3 & 4 (Year 12): Contributes to ATAR

QCE Credits:

• Minimum required: 20 credits
• Maximum possible: 28 credits
• Typical graduate: 24 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 Subjects

Count towards both QCE and ATAR calculation

Applied Subjects

Count towards QCE, but only one can be used for ATAR

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?

QCE uses two types of assessments:

Internal Assessments

Exams/assignments formulated and assessed by individual schools, which are then sent off to the QCAA for external confirmation.

External Assessments

High-stress end-of-year exams administered state-wide

How does the ATAR fit into this?

The Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) represents your position relative to other students:

99.95 ATAR = Top 0.05% (approximately 30 students)
70.00 ATAR = Top 30% of students

Important Note: The lowest weighted score (not raw score) is excluded from ATAR calculations.

Need Help with QCE?

Understanding the QCE ATAR system can be challenging. Our tutors can help you:

Navigate curriculum requirements
Prepare for assessments effectively
Develop strong study strategies

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Why use our Calculator?

Our calculator is one of the most accurate calculators around because we use data from the past 2 years released by each state to get the best estimate of your ATAR score.

Your actual ATAR will be scaled according to the performance of everyone in your state that year, so it may differ from our estimate. Our calculator, like all other ATAR calculators, can only give you an estimate of your ATAR based on historical data.

How is your ATAR calculated?

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank is a number between 0.00 and 99.95 that indicates your position relative to all the students in your age group (ie all 16 to 20 year olds in NSW). So, an ATAR of 80.00 means that you are 20 per cent from the top of your age group (not just your Year 12 group).

To qualify for an ATAR, you must:

Complete five General subjects, or a mix of four General subjects plus one Applied subject or VET qualification (Certificate III or higher).
Achieve a minimum grade of C in an English subject (though this may not be used in your ATAR calculation depending on what state you’re in).

QCE ATAR Calculation

The ATAR is calculated by:

Adding the four highest scaled scores achieved in your QCE exams together to get your Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA)
Your TEA is then ranked against all other Year 12s in QCE, and that is how you get your ATAR

How is the ATAR Calculated in Queensland?

How are your results scaled?

Scaling adjusts raw study scores so that students across different subjects are assessed on a level playing field. This makes sure that students and their ATARs are ranked correctly according to their abilities.

High scaling subjects are those that are perceived as more difficult, and consequently, students may receive higher-scaled marks for achieving the same raw mark compared to subjects considered low-scaling. High-scaling subjects often include math extension, physics, chemistry, and certain languages such as Latin.

QCE Scaling

Initial scaled scores
A student's raw score in a subject is used to rank them against all other students who took the same subject (even the ones not eligible for an ATAR).
Polyranks
A polyrank is the average of a student's top five QCE subjects based on their scaled scores. This number is generated for all students
Individual raw scores
A raw score achieved by an individual student in one of their top five QCE subjects is selected. This raw score is then used to find all the other ATAR students that scored that same raw score in that subject. Once we have a pool of these specific students, their polyranks are averaged. This average becomes the next scaled score.
Iterations
The scaled scores produced cause student polyranks to change. Thus, this process of averaging the polyranks of students with the same raw scores in a subject will repeat until the estimated scaled scores start to stabilise.

QCAA ATAR Scaling Report: How Does QTAC Do Scaling in QCE?

How to Optimise your ATAR

If your subjects scale well, great for you! But if it doesn’t, it’s not the end of the world. A general misconception about scaling is that it “punishes” students for taking certain subjects. In reality, it is designed to ensure fairness, not to discourage or favour any particular subject.

Don’t pick subjects based on scaling, but based on what you’re realistically good at and interested in. After all, a raw 50 will still be a scaled 50 (or even more!) no matter which subject you take.

To perform well for the ATAR, it's more than just understanding scaling:

Balance Interest and Strengths: Choose subjects you enjoy and excel at. Passion often translates into better results.
Check Prerequisites: Many university courses require specific subjects. For example, engineering might need Mathematical Methods and Physics.
Diversify Your Selection: Opt for a mix of subjects to keep your options open. For instance, combine sciences with a humanities subject to develop a broader skill set.
Seek Advice: Consult teachers, career counsellors, and even university course guides to make informed decisions. Also, ask older students for insights—they've been through it all and can offer valuable tips.

At KIS Academics, our tutors are all high-achieving ATAR students who are more than happy to share their experiences with you, as well as work with you to achieve your academic goals. Book a tutor with us now

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