What Is the Difference Between an ATAR and a Selection Rank?
If you are applying to university, you may see the terms ATAR and selection rank used almost interchangeably. However, they are not the same thing.
Your ATAR reflects your academic ranking at the end of Year 12. Your selection rank is the number a university generally uses to assess your application for a particular course.
Understanding the difference can help you interpret university entry requirements, adjustment factors and course offer data more accurately.
KIS Summary:
- Your ATAR is your academic rank, while your selection rank is the number universities use after applying eligible adjustment factors.
- Selection ranks can vary between courses and universities, so a published lowest selection rank may be higher than the applicant’s original ATAR..
⭐️ Why Parents & Students Love KIS Tutoring
What Is an ATAR?
ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank.
It is a rank between 0.00 and 99.95 that shows your position relative to other people in your age group. An ATAR of 80.00 does not mean you scored 80% in your subjects. It means you performed at or above approximately 80% of your age group.
Universities use the ATAR as one part of the admissions process, but offers for many courses are ultimately based on an applicant’s selection rank.
What Is a Selection Rank?
Your selection rank is the rank a university uses to assess your application for a particular course.
For a recent Year 12 student, it will usually be calculated as:
Selection rank = ATAR + applicable adjustment factors
For example, imagine you receive:
- an ATAR of 82.00
- three subject adjustment points
- two regional adjustment points.
Your selection rank for an eligible course could be 87.00.
However, your official ATAR remains 82.00. Adjustment factors do not permanently change your ATAR.
ATAR vs Selection Rank at a Glance
| ATAR | Selection rank |
|---|---|
| Your academic rank at the end of Year 12 | The rank used to assess you for a course |
| Does not change between university applications | May differ between universities and courses |
| Calculated by your state or territory’s admissions centre | Determined using the university’s admissions rules |
| Does not include adjustment factors | May include adjustment factors |
| Remains the same after it is released | Can vary depending on your eligibility |
The simplest way to remember the difference is:
Your ATAR is the rank you receive. Your selection rank is the rank universities may use.
What Are Adjustment Factors?
Adjustment factors are additional points used to calculate your selection rank. They were previously commonly called “bonus points”.
You may receive adjustments for factors such as:
- strong results in subjects related to your chosen degree
- living or attending school in a regional or remote area
- attending a school within a university’s local area
- educational disadvantage or difficult personal circumstances
- elite sporting or performing achievements
- completing certain university preparation programs.
Each university sets its own adjustment schemes. The number of points available and the courses they apply to can therefore differ considerably.
Can Your Selection Rank Be Different for Each Course?
Yes.
You do not necessarily have one selection rank that applies to every course on your preference list.
For example, a university may award you subject adjustment factors for engineering because you performed strongly in Mathematics and Physics. Those same adjustments may not apply to a degree in Arts.
Another university may offer regional adjustments that the first university does not.
You could therefore have:
- an ATAR of 85.00
- a selection rank of 90.00 for one course
- a selection rank of 87.00 for another course
- a selection rank of 85.00 for a course where no adjustments apply.
This is why students should check the adjustment schemes for every university and course they are considering.
What Does the Lowest Selection Rank Mean?
The lowest selection rank is generally the lowest selection rank held by a recent school-leaver who received an offer for that course in a previous admission period.
It may include adjustment factors.
For example, a course may publish a lowest selection rank of 90.00. A student with an ATAR of 86.00 could still have received an offer if four adjustment points increased their selection rank to 90.00.
The lowest selection rank is not necessarily the lowest raw ATAR accepted into the course.
It is also not a guaranteed future cut-off. Entry ranks can rise or fall depending on:
- the number of available places
- the number of applicants
- the strength of those applicants
- changes to the course
- university admission policies.
Do Adjustment Factors Guarantee a University Offer?
No. Adjustment factors can improve your selection rank, but they do not guarantee admission.
You must still:
- submit a valid application
- list the course in your preferences
- satisfy any subject prerequisites
- meet English-language requirements
- complete any interviews, auditions, portfolios or additional tests
- compete for an available place.
A high enough selection rank will not override a compulsory prerequisite or additional admission requirement.
Should You Apply If Your ATAR Is Below the Published Selection Rank?
Usually, yes—provided you are genuinely interested in the course and meet its prerequisites.
Your selection rank may be higher than your ATAR once adjustments are applied. Published entry ranks are also based on a previous group of applicants and may change from year to year.
You should include a mixture of:
- ambitious preferences
- realistic options
- courses with more accessible entry requirements.
List courses in the order you genuinely want to study them, rather than trying to predict which offer you are most likely to receive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an ATAR the same as a selection rank?
No. Your ATAR is your academic ranking, while your selection rank is the rank a university uses to assess your application for a particular course.
For recent Year 12 students, a selection rank is often their ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors.
Can a selection rank be higher than an ATAR?
Yes. Adjustment factors can make your selection rank higher than your ATAR.
For example, an ATAR of 84.00 plus five adjustment points would create a selection rank of 89.00 for an eligible course.
Do adjustment points change your ATAR?
No. Your official ATAR does not change.
Adjustment points only affect the selection rank used for particular university courses.
Can I have more than one selection rank?
Yes. Your selection rank may differ between courses and universities because each institution has its own adjustment schemes and admission rules.
Do universities use your ATAR or selection rank?
Universities generally use your selection rank when assessing you for a course, although some courses also consider interviews, portfolios, auditions, tests or other admission criteria.
Is the lowest selection rank the same as the course ATAR?
Not necessarily. The lowest selection rank may include adjustment factors, so the applicant’s original ATAR may have been lower.
Where can I find my selection rank?
Students are not always given one universal selection rank because it can vary between courses.
Check the adjustment-factor information published by the university or relevant tertiary admissions centre. Your application outcome may also show whether you were eligible for particular adjustments.
Final Thoughts
Your ATAR is important, but it does not always tell the full story of your university application.
Your selection rank may include adjustments that recognise relevant subject performance, your location, educational disadvantage or other circumstances. Because these adjustments vary between institutions and courses, it is worth researching every degree on your preference list before assuming your ATAR is too low.
An ATAR below last year’s published selection rank does not always mean the course is out of reach.
Want personalised study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor from KIS Academics can make the biggest difference!