ATAR - Australian Tertiary Admission Rank Educational Access Schemes (EAS) Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following statements most accurately describes the primary function of the Educational Access Scheme (EAS)?
- It guarantees a university place to students who have experienced educational disadvantages.
- It allows eligible students to receive additional points, which are added to their final ATAR score.
- It provides adjustment factors to an applicant's selection rank for consideration by universities, but it does not change their ATAR. (Correct answer)
- It is a scholarship program that provides direct financial assistance to students from low-income backgrounds.
Correct answer: It provides adjustment factors to an applicant's selection rank for consideration by universities, but it does not change their ATAR.
The primary function of the EAS is to provide adjustments to an applicant's selection rank, not their ATAR. This helps universities consider the impact of long-term educational disadvantage when making offers. While some EAS-eligible students may also receive scholarships, the scheme's main purpose is rank adjustment.
Question 2: A Year 12 student, Sam, experienced a significant, long-term illness that caused them to miss a substantial amount of school over the past year. Under which EAS category would this situation most likely be considered?
- Financial Hardship
- School Environment
- Home Environment and Responsibilities
- Personal Illness or Disability (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Personal Illness or Disability
A significant, long-term illness falls under the 'Personal Illness or Disability' category. This category covers circumstances where a medical condition or disability has negatively impacted a student's studies over a prolonged period.
Question 3: When applying for EAS, what is the typical timeframe of disadvantage that Tertiary Admissions Centres (TACs) consider?
- Disadvantage experienced at any point during primary or secondary schooling.
- Disadvantage experienced for a period of at least six months during Years 11 and/or 12. (Correct answer)
- Short-term difficulties experienced only during the final exam period of Year 12.
- Financial hardship experienced in the 12 months immediately following high school graduation.
Correct answer: Disadvantage experienced for a period of at least six months during Years 11 and/or 12.
EAS is designed to address long-term educational disadvantage that has seriously affected a student's studies. Generally, the circumstances must have been experienced for a period of six months or more during the final two years of secondary schooling (Years 11 and 12).
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT a recognized category of disadvantage under the Educational Access Scheme?
- Financial Hardship
- Commitments as an elite athlete or performer (Correct answer)
- Disrupted Schooling
- Severe Family Disruption
Correct answer: Commitments as an elite athlete or performer
While being an elite athlete or performer can impact studies, it is generally not covered under EAS. Universities often have separate schemes or consider these circumstances through other pathways, but it's not a standard EAS category for disadvantage.
Question 5: An applicant successfully applies for EAS and is deemed eligible by their state's Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC). What is the direct outcome of this eligibility?
- The applicant's ATAR is automatically increased by a set number of points.
- The applicant's selection rank may be adjusted by participating institutions, potentially improving their competitiveness for a course offer. (Correct answer)
- The applicant is guaranteed to receive an early offer for their first preference course.
- The applicant's university tuition fees are waived for the first year of study.
Correct answer: The applicant's selection rank may be adjusted by participating institutions, potentially improving their competitiveness for a course offer.
EAS eligibility does not change an applicant's ATAR. Instead, it allows individual universities to apply adjustment factors to the applicant's selection rank for specific courses. This can make the applicant more competitive, but does not guarantee an offer or financial aid.
Question 6: To be considered for EAS, an applicant must typically submit an application through the relevant Tertiary Admissions Centre (e.g., UAC, QTAC, VTAC) and provide which of the following?
- A personal reference from a teacher.
- Their most recent academic transcript only.
- A formal application for financial aid.
- Supporting documents and statements relevant to the claimed category of disadvantage. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Supporting documents and statements relevant to the claimed category of disadvantage.
A crucial part of the EAS application process is providing evidence to support the claim of disadvantage. This involves submitting specific supporting documents, such as medical reports, school statements, or financial records, depending on the category of disadvantage being claimed.
ATAR - Australian Tertiary Admission Rank Educational Access Schemes (EAS) Questions and Answers
Which of the following statements most accurately describes the primary function of the Educational Access Scheme (EAS)?