Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
Encyclopedia
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate-entry university programs in Australia, it was gradually introduced during 2009 and 2010 to replace the Universities Admission Index
, Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank
and Tertiary Entrance Rank
. However, it is not used in Queensland
which retains its Overall Position
system.
. The number functions as a rank of all students entering the tertiary education system, based on the number of students in Year 7. The maximum rank attainable is 99.95 with a minimum of 0.00 and increments of 0.05.
(UAI) and the introduction of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, or ATAR, for Year 12 students of 2009 within the ACT
and NSW, and for the rest of the country, excluding Queensland, in 2010. The ATAR was introduced to unify the university entrance system in Australia, where previously each state or territory had its own individual system (UAI in ACT/NSW, TER
in SA/NT/WA/TAS, ENTER
in Victoria).
, however, conversion tables to or from the ATAR are available.
of their choice. The ATAR is used by: the Universities Admissions Centre
(UAC) in New South Wales
and the Australian Capital Territory
; the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre
(SATAC) in South Australia
and the Northern Territory
; Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre
(VTAC) in Victoria
; and Tertiary Institutions Service Centre
(TISC) in Western Australia
. These bodies then allocate positions for the tertiary institutions in their relevant states.
Universities Admission Index
The Universities Admission Index was used in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia, as the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate-entry university programs...
, Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank
Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank
The Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank was the national Australian tertiary entrance rank, administered by Universities Australia...
and Tertiary Entrance Rank
Tertiary Entrance Rank
The Tertiary Entrance Rank was a tertiary entrance score used in several Australian states and the Northern Territory as a tool for selection to universities in Australia...
. However, it is not used in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
which retains its Overall Position
Overall Position
The Overall Position is a tertiary entrance rank used in the Australian state of Queensland for selection into universities. Like similar systems used throughout the rest of Australia, the OP shows how well a student has performed in their senior secondary studies compared to all other OP-eligible...
system.
Overview
Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, or ATAR, is a percentile awarded to students by application for undergraduate-entry university programs upon completion of Year 12 in all Australian states except QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. The number functions as a rank of all students entering the tertiary education system, based on the number of students in Year 7. The maximum rank attainable is 99.95 with a minimum of 0.00 and increments of 0.05.
Introduction of ATAR
During June 2009, the Federal Minister for Education announced the removal of Universities Admission IndexUniversities Admission Index
The Universities Admission Index was used in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia, as the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate-entry university programs...
(UAI) and the introduction of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, or ATAR, for Year 12 students of 2009 within the ACT
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
and NSW, and for the rest of the country, excluding Queensland, in 2010. The ATAR was introduced to unify the university entrance system in Australia, where previously each state or territory had its own individual system (UAI in ACT/NSW, TER
Tertiary Entrance Rank
The Tertiary Entrance Rank was a tertiary entrance score used in several Australian states and the Northern Territory as a tool for selection to universities in Australia...
in SA/NT/WA/TAS, ENTER
Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank
The Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank was the national Australian tertiary entrance rank, administered by Universities Australia...
in Victoria).
Changes from UAI
The shift to ATAR means that the ranks most students receiving a UAI would increase by a small amount (although this would not present as any advantage as cutoffs would subsequently increase), while the maximum rank in NSW/ACT would change from a UAI of 100 to an ATAR of 99.95. Queensland will not shift to the ATAR system because it uses a different system and ranking scale, the Overall PositionOverall Position
The Overall Position is a tertiary entrance rank used in the Australian state of Queensland for selection into universities. Like similar systems used throughout the rest of Australia, the OP shows how well a student has performed in their senior secondary studies compared to all other OP-eligible...
, however, conversion tables to or from the ATAR are available.
Function
The ATAR follows the same principles as is predecessors. The rank gives an indication to the overall position of the student in relation to the student body for that year across the state. A higher ATAR gives preference to that student for the course to which they wish to enrol in a universityUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
of their choice. The ATAR is used by: the Universities Admissions Centre
Universities Admissions Centre
The Universities Admissions Centre Pty Ltd is the organisation that processes centralised applications for admission to tertiary education courses at participating institutions, mainly in NSW and the ACT...
(UAC) in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
; the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre
South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre
The South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre processes applications for entry into courses offered by a number of participating educational institutions in South Australia and the Northern Territory....
(SATAC) in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
; Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre
Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre
The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre is the administrative body which processes applications for universities in the state of Victoria...
(VTAC) in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
; and Tertiary Institutions Service Centre
Tertiary Institutions Service Centre
Tertiary Institutions Service Centre is an incorporated administrative agency involved with the processing of applications for admission to undergraduate programmes for Western Australian state universities.- History :...
(TISC) in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. These bodies then allocate positions for the tertiary institutions in their relevant states.
See also
- University admission
- List of admissions tests
- Universities Admissions CentreUniversities Admissions CentreThe Universities Admissions Centre Pty Ltd is the organisation that processes centralised applications for admission to tertiary education courses at participating institutions, mainly in NSW and the ACT...