Tertiary Entrance Rank
Encyclopedia
The Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) was a tertiary entrance score used in several Australia
n states and the Northern Territory as a tool for selection to universities in Australia. As of 2010, it has been replaced by the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
(ATAR) in all states and territories except Queensland
.
, the Northern Territory
, Tasmania
and Western Australia
. Although directly equivalent to the Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank
(ENTER) in Victoria, and the Universities Admission Index
(UAI) in New South Wales
and the Australian Capital Territory
, the terms ENTER and UAI were only used in their respective states or territories. Queensland uses a different system called the Overall Position
(OP), but conversion tables were published each year to convert the OP to and from an ENTER/TER or UAI.
(SATAC) for students who successfully completed the South Australian Certificate of Education
(SACE) or the Northern Territory Certificate of Education
(NTCE) and fulfilled other criteria to qualify for a TER.
In South Australia, students' subject achievement scores (out of 20) were forwarded to SATAC by the Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia (SSABSA), whereupon they were scaled (adjusted according to the level of performance in the group of students studying the subject in that year to ensure that each subject contributes equally to the TER).
The university aggregate was then calculated by adding:
The university aggregates (out of 90) were ordered from lowest to highest, and the TER was assigned as a percentage rank (in steps of 0.05, ranging from 0.00 to 99.95) according to the student's position on that list.
The process was the same for secondary students in the Northern Territory, except results were forwarded to SATAC by the Northern Territory Board of Studies.
(TCE) and fulfilled other criteria to qualify for a TER.
The tertiary entrance aggregate was calculated as the sum of the best five Level 5 TCE subject scores, of which a maximum of two could be selected from Year 11.
As in other TER systems, the aggregates were ranked in order and assigned a TER based on their position.
(TISC) for students who successfully completed the Western Australian Certificate of Education
(WACE) and fulfilled other criteria to qualify for a TER.
As the WACE qualification was being revised for from 2005 to 2009, the process for calculating the TER for WA students was changed for tertiary entry in 2009. In 2008, a Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA) was calculated using the sum of the four highest Course of Study Levels of Achievement.
As in other TER systems, the TEAs were ranked in order and assigned a ranking based on their position.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n states and the Northern Territory as a tool for selection to universities in Australia. As of 2010, it has been replaced by the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank 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...
(ATAR) in all states and territories except 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...
.
Equivalence
The TER was used in South AustraliaSouth 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...
, 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...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
and 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...
. Although directly equivalent to the 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...
(ENTER) in Victoria, and the Universities Admission Index
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...
(UAI) 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 terms ENTER and UAI were only used in their respective states or territories. Queensland uses a different system called the 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...
(OP), but conversion tables were published each year to convert the OP to and from an ENTER/TER or UAI.
Calculation of the TER in South Australia and the Northern Territory
The TER was accumulated by the South Australian Tertiary Admissions CentreSouth 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) for students who successfully completed the South Australian Certificate of Education
South Australian Certificate of Education
The South Australian Certificate of Education is awarded to students who have successfully completed their senior secondary schooling in the state of South Australia....
(SACE) or the Northern Territory Certificate of Education
Northern Territory Certificate of Education
The Northern Territory Certificate of Education is the credential awarded to High School students who successfully complete senior high school level studies in the Northern Territory, Australia.-The NTCE structure:...
(NTCE) and fulfilled other criteria to qualify for a TER.
In South Australia, students' subject achievement scores (out of 20) were forwarded to SATAC by the Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia (SSABSA), whereupon they were scaled (adjusted according to the level of performance in the group of students studying the subject in that year to ensure that each subject contributes equally to the TER).
The university aggregate was then calculated by adding:
- the scaled scores for the best four subjects,
- 50% of the scaled score for the next best (fifth) subject.
The university aggregates (out of 90) were ordered from lowest to highest, and the TER was assigned as a percentage rank (in steps of 0.05, ranging from 0.00 to 99.95) according to the student's position on that list.
The process was the same for secondary students in the Northern Territory, except results were forwarded to SATAC by the Northern Territory Board of Studies.
Calculation of the TER in Tasmania
The TER was calculated by the Tasmanian Qualifications Authority for students who successfully completed the Tasmanian Certificate of EducationTasmanian Certificate of Education
The Tasmanian Certificate of Education, or TCE, is the main credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete senior high school level studies in Tasmania, Australia...
(TCE) and fulfilled other criteria to qualify for a TER.
The tertiary entrance aggregate was calculated as the sum of the best five Level 5 TCE subject scores, of which a maximum of two could be selected from Year 11.
As in other TER systems, the aggregates were ranked in order and assigned a TER based on their position.
Calculation of the TER in Western Australia
The TER was calculated by the Tertiary Institutions Service CentreTertiary 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) for students who successfully completed the Western Australian Certificate of Education
Western Australian Certificate of Education
The Western Australian Certificate of Education is the credential given to students who have completed Year 11 and Year 12 of their secondary schooling in the state of Western Australia, Australia, and is intended to become the Western Australian certificate within the Australian Certificate of...
(WACE) and fulfilled other criteria to qualify for a TER.
As the WACE qualification was being revised for from 2005 to 2009, the process for calculating the TER for WA students was changed for tertiary entry in 2009. In 2008, a Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA) was calculated using the sum of the four highest Course of Study Levels of Achievement.
As in other TER systems, the TEAs were ranked in order and assigned a ranking based on their position.
See also
- Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance RankEquivalent National Tertiary Entrance RankThe Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank was the national Australian tertiary entrance rank, administered by Universities Australia...
(ENTER) - Universities Admission IndexUniversities Admission IndexThe 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) - Australian Tertiary Admission RankAustralian Tertiary Admission RankThe Australian Tertiary Admission Rank 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...
(ATAR)