ATAR Eligibility and Prerequisites 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum English requirement that must typically be met to be eligible for an ATAR in NSW?
- Any English course at any level
- At least one unit of English at an HSC level
- Two units of English at least at Standard level (Correct answer)
- Three units of English including Extension 1
Correct answer: Two units of English at least at Standard level
In NSW, students must complete at least 2 units of English at Standard level or above to be eligible for an ATAR.
Question 2: A student completed Year 12 in Victoria but moved to Queensland for university. Which state's ATAR is used for their application?
- Queensland, because that is where they are applying
- Victoria, because that is where they completed Year 12 (Correct answer)
- They must apply for both states and take the higher score
- The university decides which state's ATAR to use
Correct answer: Victoria, because that is where they completed Year 12
The ATAR is issued by the state where the student completed their senior secondary education, regardless of where they apply.
Question 3: Which of the following vocational education and training (VET) qualifications can contribute to ATAR eligibility in most states?
- Any Certificate I qualification
- Only Diploma-level qualifications
- Certificate III and above qualifications in approved areas (Correct answer)
- VET qualifications never contribute to ATAR eligibility
Correct answer: Certificate III and above qualifications in approved areas
VET qualifications at Certificate III level and above in approved areas can count toward ATAR eligibility in most Australian states.
Question 4: What does 'satisfactory completion' of a course mean in the context of ATAR eligibility?
- Achieving a pass mark of 50% or above in all assessments
- Meeting attendance and assessment requirements set by the Board (Correct answer)
- Receiving a school-based rank in the top half of the cohort
- Submitting all assignments regardless of grades received
Correct answer: Meeting attendance and assessment requirements set by the Board
Satisfactory completion means the student has met the attendance and assessment requirements as defined by the state's Board of Studies.
Question 5: A student who is home-schooled wants to receive an ATAR. What must they typically do to be eligible?
- Home-schooled students cannot receive an ATAR under any circumstances
- They must enrol in a registered school for their final year
- They can register as an external candidate and sit the required examinations (Correct answer)
- They must complete a bridging course at TAFE first
Correct answer: They can register as an external candidate and sit the required examinations
Home-schooled students can typically register as external or non-school candidates and sit the required examinations to be eligible for an ATAR.
Question 6: In the context of ATAR prerequisites, what is the purpose of a university's 'assumed knowledge' for a course?
- It is a mandatory prerequisite that must be met for admission
- It is strongly recommended background knowledge, but not required for entry (Correct answer)
- It is knowledge tested in a separate university entrance exam
- It refers to the knowledge gained during the first year of the degree
Correct answer: It is strongly recommended background knowledge, but not required for entry
Assumed knowledge is strongly recommended background that will help a student succeed, but unlike prerequisites, it is not mandatory for entry.
Question 7: Which of the following correctly describes a 'prerequisite' subject for a university course?
- A subject that boosts the ATAR by 10%
- A specific subject that must be studied in Year 12 to be considered for admission (Correct answer)
- Any subject that is listed on the university's course guide
- A subject completed in Year 10 that qualifies a student for HSC study
Correct answer: A specific subject that must be studied in Year 12 to be considered for admission
A prerequisite is a specific Year 12 subject that must be completed and passed to be eligible for admission to a particular university course.
ATAR Eligibility and Prerequisites 3
What is the minimum English requirement that must typically be met to be eligible for an ATAR in NSW?