But really, what IS an ATAR? HSC for dummies: your questions answered

From tomorrow, Year 12 students will find out their HSC and ATAR results. Here’s all your questions answered, including what’s the highest and lowest ATAR you can receive.

HSC, ATAR, IB, NESA and UAC are acronyms with the power to determine futures.

On Wednesday students across NSW will receive their final results and many will achieve an ATAR, which is their passport to tertiary study.

Here are some of the most-searched queries online to demystify the process.

WHAT TIME DO HSC RESULTS COME OUT?

by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) will release results at 9.00am on Wednesday December 18 2024.

WHAT IS THE HSC?

HSC stands for Higher School Certificate and is the highest educational qualification available to students in NSW, unless they have decided to pursue the International Baccalaureate. HSC is administered by NESA. To achieve an HSC students must meet coursework requirements and sit for statewide exams.

WHAT IS AN ATAR?

ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank and can be achieved by undertaking the HSC. ATAR is the mainstream way for school graduates to gain university admission. An ATAR is a number awarded to students on a sliding scale from 99.95 to 0.00.

WHAT IS THE HSC VS. ATAR?

The HSC is a qualification, whereas the ATAR is a ranking that tertiary institutions use to allow admission to prospective students.

CAN YOU GET A 100 PER CENT ATAR?

An ATAR of 99.95 is equivalent to 100 per cent, or a ‘perfect’ ATAR.

WHAT’S THE LOWEST ATAR YOU CAN GET?

According to the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) any student receiving an ATAR between 0.00 and 30.00 will be recorded as ‘30 or less’. It is possible to receive university offers with an ATAR of 30.00 or lower. depending on the institution and course.

WHAT IS A GOOD ATAR?

A ‘good’ ATAR is one that will allow you access to the course you want to study.

HOW IS AN ATAR CALCULATED?

Students must complete at least 10 ‘units’ of HSC courses, which includes two units in an English subject. The remaining eight units are calculated from three Board Developed courses of two units or greater, from four subject areas.

The UAC says an ATAR “indicates a student’s position relative to all the students in their age group”.

“If every school student went on to achieve an ATAR, the average ATAR would be 50.00. But because some students leave school early and the ones who stay on to receive an ATAR are a smaller, more academically able group, the average ATAR is higher.”

WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON ATAR?

According to the UAC an ATAR of 70.00 is ‘average’.

WHICH SCHOOLS DID BEST IN HSC IN NSW

In 2023, 69 per cent of the 955 HSC-eligible entries from North Sydney Boys High School (Crows Nest) achieved ‘distinguished achiever’ status. It took the mantle from James Ruse Agricultural High School (Carlingford), which had held the top spot for 27 years.

WHAT IS THE IB?

The IB – or International Baccalaureate diploma – is a qualification administered by the International Baccalaureate Organisation and is an alternative to the mainstream HSC program. In NSW there are 28 schools offering the IB diploma program, such as Ravenswood, King’s, Cranbrook and Kambala. Public schools do not offer the IB as a study option. ATARs are not awarded to IB students.

IF I DON’T COMPLETE THE HSC, WHAT WILL I RECEIVE WHEN I FINISH SCHOOL?

Students will receive a Record of School Achievement (RoSA), which shows their achievement at school until their point of exit.

WHAT IF I DON’T GET THE RESULT I WANT?

The Daily Telegraph interviewed three people who didn’t get the results they wanted but have found success regardless of their ATAR.