ATAR Selection Rank vs. ATAR 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student achieves an ATAR of 72.00 and applies to a course with a selection rank cutoff of 75.00. What is the minimum EAS bonus they would need to receive an offer based on rank alone?
- 2.00 points
- 3.00 points (Correct answer)
- 5.00 points
- 7.20 points
Correct answer: 3.00 points
To reach a selection rank of 75.00 from an ATAR of 72.00, the student needs at least 3.00 bonus points.
Question 2: Which of the following is a key difference between an ATAR and a selection rank when applying to university?
- The ATAR is used for private universities, while the selection rank is used for public ones
- The ATAR is a standardised national score; the selection rank is institution-specific and may include adjustments (Correct answer)
- The selection rank is calculated by the student's school, while the ATAR is calculated by the state authority
- Only the ATAR is used in the admissions process; selection rank is an informal term
Correct answer: The ATAR is a standardised national score; the selection rank is institution-specific and may include adjustments
The ATAR is a standardised percentile rank; selection ranks are derived by individual universities by adding adjustment factors to the ATAR.
Question 3: A student hears that a course had a selection rank cutoff of 95.00 last year but enrolments are expected to double this year. What should the student anticipate?
- The cutoff will likely drop because more students are being accepted (Correct answer)
- The cutoff will likely rise because more applicants will compete for proportionally fewer competitive places
- The cutoff will stay the same as universities must honour published figures
- The cutoff is irrelevant when enrolments expand
Correct answer: The cutoff will likely drop because more students are being accepted
If a university doubles its intake, more students are accepted and the selection rank cutoff typically falls as the course becomes less competitive.
Question 4: An institution offers a 'bridging course' to a student whose selection rank is slightly below the cutoff. This is best described as:
- A penalty applied for not meeting the minimum rank
- An alternative pathway that bypasses the ATAR system entirely
- A structured academic preparation route that can lead to entry into the main degree (Correct answer)
- A compulsory remediation program for all low-ATAR students
Correct answer: A structured academic preparation route that can lead to entry into the main degree
Bridging or enabling courses are alternative pathways that allow students below cutoff to demonstrate readiness for tertiary study and potentially progress to a degree.
Question 5: Why might two students with the same ATAR receive different selection ranks at the same university?
- Because universities secretly adjust ranks based on the school's reputation
- Because different EAS adjustments may apply to each student based on individual circumstances (Correct answer)
- Because the ATAR calculation differs by state and one student is from interstate
- Because the university uses a lottery system when ranks are tied
Correct answer: Because different EAS adjustments may apply to each student based on individual circumstances
EAS adjustments are assessed individually, so two students with the same ATAR can receive different bonus points and thus different selection ranks.
Question 6: A student who left school early and gained work experience applies to university five years later. Which pathway most directly bypasses the ATAR selection rank requirement?
- Sitting a special ATAR exam for mature-age applicants
- Applying as a mature-age applicant assessed on work and life experience (Correct answer)
- Asking the university to recalculate their original ATAR with current scaling
- Requesting a selection rank waiver from the state education authority
Correct answer: Applying as a mature-age applicant assessed on work and life experience
Most Australian universities have mature-age entry pathways that assess applicants on criteria other than the ATAR, such as work experience, interviews, or portfolio.
Question 7: A student's ATAR is reported as 65.00. What does this tell us about their academic standing relative to their age cohort?
- They scored 65% on their exams
- They performed better than 65% of all students in their age cohort (Correct answer)
- They are in the bottom 35% of exam sitters
- They answered 65 out of 100 questions correctly on average
Correct answer: They performed better than 65% of all students in their age cohort
An ATAR of 65.00 means the student performed better than 65% of their entire age cohort, not just those who sat the exam.
ATAR Selection Rank vs. ATAR 5
A student achieves an ATAR of 72.00 and applies to a course with a selection rank cutoff of 75.00.
What is the minimum EAS bonus they would need to receive an offer based on rank alone?