KIS Summary:
- Brief explanation of what ATAR is, and what ATAR scaling is.
- Provides an example to illustrate how scaling works and how it affects your final ATAR.
- Advice on how to choose subjects that will serve you well.
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If you’ve ever heard students talking about how “this subject scales better” or that “doing easier subjects will hurt your ATAR,” you’re not alone. Scaling is one of the most misunderstood parts of the ATAR system, and it’s a topic that causes confusion for students each year.
In this article, we’ll break down what scaling actually is, why it exists, and how it affects your ATAR. This way, you can make smarter subject choices and study with confidence!
Table of Content:
- What is the ATAR?
- What is Scaling?
- Why do we Need Scaling?
- Should I only do High Scaling Subjects?
- What is an Example of Scaling in Action?
- How should you Choose Subjects?
- FAQs
What is the ATAR?
The ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is a number between 0.00 and 99.95 that ranks your overall performance compared to your peers. It’s a rank, not a score – so it tells you how well you did relative to the rest of the cohort, not how many marks you got.
To calculate your ATAR, universities use your final subject marks. But here's the catch: not all subjects are marked the same way, and that's where scaling comes in.
What is Scaling?
Scaling is the process of adjusting your raw marks to account for differences in subject difficulty and competitiveness.
In simple terms: if two students score the same raw mark in two different subjects – say, 90 in Extension Maths and 90 in Standard English – their scores don’t necessarily contribute equally to their ATAR. That’s because the scaling process takes into account:
- How academically strong the students who take each subject are
- How students in each subject perform across all of their subjects
So, if students in Extension Maths tend to do very well across all their subjects, the system assumes the subject is more challenging or attracts high-achieving students – and it scales the marks up. The reverse can also be true: if a subject tends to attract students with lower overall results, marks might be scaled down.
Why Do We Need Scaling?
Without scaling, students could "game the system" by choosing what they think are easier subjects to get higher marks and boost their ATAR. But the ATAR is supposed to reflect your position in the entire cohort, not just your mark in a single subject.
Scaling ensures fairness by comparing student performance across different subjects and making sure your ATAR reflects your overall ability, not just how you did in one subject that may have been easier or harder than others.
Should I only do High Scaling Subjects?
Not necessarily!
While some subjects like Maths, Physics, and Languages may scale higher, that doesn't mean you should automatically choose them. If you struggle in those subjects, a low raw mark (even after scaling) can hurt your ATAR more than a strong performance in a subject that scales a bit lower.
Why? Because:
- You’re more likely to stay motivated and engaged
- You’ll perform better in assessments and exams
- You’ll develop deeper understanding and skills (which is the whole point of school!)
What is an Example of Scaling in Action?
Let’s say two students both get a raw mark of 85:
- Student A: 85 in Advanced Maths (a high-scaling subject)
- Student B: 85 in Standard English (a lower-scaling subject)
After scaling:
- Student A’s score might become 88
- Student B’s score might become 80
So, even though their raw marks were the same, scaling changes how much those subjects contribute to their final ATAR calculation. This makes it fair to students who want to pick more challenging subjects.
If you want an estimate of what your ATAR might be, you can use an ATAR Calculator:
How should you Choose Subjects?
If you’re in Year 10 or 11 choosing your subjects, or in Year 12 wondering if you picked the “right” ones – don’t panic. Scaling is not something you can control, and trying to “beat the system” rarely works.
Instead, focus on:
✅ Choosing subjects that play to your strengths
✅ Studying consistently and strategically
✅ Asking for help early (KIS Academics tutors can help with that!)
✅ Doing practice papers to understand exam styles and build confidence
Need help understanding how the ATAR system works or want support in challenging high-scaling subjects like Maths and Science?
At KIS Academics, we have expert tutors who’ve been through the system and can help you maximise your potential. Book a free study consultation now!
Conclusion
Scaling might seem complicated, but at the end of the day, it exists to make things fair. If you work hard and do well in your chosen subjects, the ATAR will reward you, no matter what you picked.
For more study tips and resources, check out these KIS Academics resources:
Manoj Arachige
Manoj Arachige
Manoj Arachige
FAQs
How is the ATAR Calculated?
ATAR is calculated differently in different states, and each state also has its own requirements. Find out more in these articles:
What subjects should I do?
Consider various factors like university pre-requisites, what subjects you like doing, subjects you excel at, and subject scaling. Find out more in these state-specific articles:
Do harder subjects always scale up?
- Not always. Subjects like Extension Maths and Physics sometimes scale up because students sitting them tend to do well across all their subjects— not because the course itself is “harder”.
- Scaling is based on cohort performance, not perceived difficulty. If students in a subject do well in their other subjects, that subject tends to scale up.
Do all states scale the same way?
No, each state has different ways they scale subjects. Each state’s tertiary admissions centre (UAC, VTAC, TISC, QTAC, SATAC) publishes annual guides and technical reports explaining the scaling and calculation method in detail, so you can check it out on their websites!
Want more personalised study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor from KIS Academics can make the biggest difference!
