ATAR - Australian Tertiary Admission Rank Aggregate and Scaled Scores Questions and Answers

Question 1

A student in NSW has their scaled marks calculated. Their best 2 units of English total 85. Their next best 8 units from other subjects total 330. What is their Tertiary Entrance Aggregate?

Accepted Answer

415

Answer

The aggregate is the simple sum of the scaled marks from the best 2 units of English and the next best 8 units. In this case, it is 85 + 330 = 415.

Question 2

In the ATAR scaling process, what does it signify if a subject's scaled mean is higher than its raw mean?

Accepted Answer

The students taking the subject were, on average, a stronger academic cohort across all their studies.

Answer

Scaling is based on the overall academic performance of the students in a course. If the students in a course perform better, on average, in all their other subjects, it indicates a stronger cohort, and the scaled mean for that course will be higher than the raw mean.

Question 3

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between a student's aggregate score and their final ATAR?

Accepted Answer

The aggregate score is ranked against all other students' aggregates to determine a percentile position, which becomes the ATAR.

Answer

The ATAR is a rank, not a mark. After all aggregates are calculated, they are placed in order from highest to lowest. A percentile rank is then assigned, indicating a student's position relative to all other students in their cohort for that specific year.

Question 4

Two students receive the same high raw mark of 90 in two different subjects. Subject A's cohort is known to be exceptionally strong academically across all their subjects, while Subject B's cohort represents the state average. What is the most probable outcome for their scaled marks?

Accepted Answer

The scaled mark for the student in Subject A will likely be higher than the scaled mark for the student in Subject B.

Answer

A high mark in a subject with a stronger academic cohort (Subject A) is considered a greater achievement. The scaling process will likely adjust this mark to be higher than the mark from Subject B to ensure fairness and comparability across different courses.

Question 5

In the NSW/ACT system, the Tertiary Entrance Aggregate is calculated by summing the scaled marks from 10 units of study. What is the maximum possible aggregate score?

Accepted Answer

500

Answer

The maximum scaled mark for a single unit (e.g., half of a standard 2-unit course) is 50. The aggregate is based on 10 units. Therefore, the maximum possible aggregate is 10 units × 50 marks/unit = 500.

(ATAR) Australian Tertiary Admission Rank Practice Test

(ATAR) Australian Tertiary Admission Rank Practice Test

ATAR - Australian Tertiary Admission Rank Aggregate and Scaled Scores Questions and Answers