ATAR - Australian Tertiary Admission Rank Eligibility and Prerequisites Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following is a mandatory requirement for a student in New South Wales to be eligible for an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)?

Accepted Answer

Satisfactory completion of at least 10 units of HSC Board Developed courses, including 2 units of English.

Answer

Completion of a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.

Answer

Achieving a minimum raw score of 50 in all HSC subjects.

Answer

Studying at least one mathematics subject.

Question 2

A student in Queensland is planning their senior secondary studies to ensure they are eligible for an ATAR. Which combination of subjects would meet the eligibility criteria?

Accepted Answer

Four General subjects (Units 3 and 4) and one completed VET qualification at Certificate III level or higher.

Answer

Three General subjects and two Applied subjects.

Answer

Five Applied subjects at Units 3 and 4.

Answer

Four General subjects without a satisfactory completion of an English subject.

Question 3

In the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), how are the fifth and sixth permissible subjects treated in the ATAR calculation?

Accepted Answer

10% of their scaled study scores are added to the aggregate.

Answer

They are not included in the ATAR calculation at all.

Answer

Their full scaled scores are added to the primary four subjects.

Answer

Only the higher scoring of the two is added to the aggregate.

Question 4

A student receives an ATAR of 85.00. What does this rank signify?

Accepted Answer

The student's performance places them in the top 15% of their age cohort.

Answer

The student achieved an average mark of 85% across their subjects.

Answer

The student is in the bottom 15% of their age cohort.

Answer

The student scored 85 out of a possible 99.95 points.

Question 5

A university admissions offer refers to a 'Selection Rank' that is higher than a student's ATAR. What is the most likely reason for this difference?

Accepted Answer

The student was eligible for adjustment factors.

Answer

The university made a calculation error.

Answer

The student's raw scores were used instead of scaled scores.

Answer

The student's ATAR was automatically rounded up to the nearest whole number.

Question 6

What is the primary purpose of subject scaling in the ATAR calculation process across all Australian states?

Accepted Answer

To ensure students are not advantaged or disadvantaged based on their subject choices.

Answer

To penalize students for choosing subjects perceived as less difficult.

Answer

To directly convert raw exam marks into a percentage score for university entry.

Answer

To rank schools based on the collective performance of their students.