ATAR Study Guide 2026

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).

GDP stands for Gross Domestic Product, and it is a key economic indicator that measures the total monetary value of all finished goods and services produced within a country's borders over a specific period. It serves as a comprehensive gauge of a nation's economic health, productivity, and overall output.

Internal (school) assessment tasks in NSW count for 50% of the final HSC mark, with the external exam comprising the remaining 50%.

Raw HSC marks for a subject reflect a student's performance against others in that same subject. To compare performance across different subjects fairly, these raw marks are adjusted through a process called scaling. This process accounts for the fact that the strength of the competition can vary between subjects, resulting in scaled marks that can be higher or lower than the original HSC marks.

VET courses provide students with nationally recognized qualifications and practical, work-related skills, which can create alternative pathways to university or other tertiary studies, especially if their ATAR doesn't meet the direct entry requirements for a desired course.

In a democracy, the government's primary role is to represent and serve the interests of its citizens. This is achieved through elected representatives who make decisions and create policies on behalf of the populace, ensuring accountability and responsiveness to public needs and desires.