How the ATAR is calculated? This powerpoint presentation shows the relationship between course scores, AST results and ATAR

Step 1: This is an example of a student’s possible Raw scores for each Tertiary course and their AST results Maths English Physics IT Art AST Raw Score 90 75 92 85 80 185  

Step 2: Multiply each raw course score by 2 and add 10 to get an initial scaled score Maths English Physics IT Art AST Raw Score 90 75 92 85 80 185 Scaled Score 190 160 194 180 170  

Step 3: Calculate Initial Vi or Scaling Score Average of best 3.6 course scores plus 0.8 of AST Maths English Physics IT Art AST Raw Score 90 75 92 85 80 185 Scaled Score 190 160 194 180 170 3 best major course scores: 194 Physics 190 Maths 180 IT Plus 0.6 of next best major or minor x 170 102 Art Plus 0.8 x 185 148 AST total: 777 divide total by 4.4: 176 Vi (1st scaling run)

Step 4: Recalculation of Scaled Scores From calculations involving each course separately new multiplying and adding factors are calculated using the data from all colleges. A new scaled score is then calculated from the raw scores using these parameters. Add 30 10 20 40 -1 Multiply 1.8 1.9 1.6 2.2 Maths English Physics IT Art AST Vi 1st Raw Score 90 75 92 85 80 185 Scaled Score 1 190 160 194 180 170 176 Scaled Score 2 192* 153 195 175 177 *90 x 1.8 + 30 = 192

Step 5: Calculate a new Vi (2nd scaling run) Average of the best 3.6 courses (scaled score 2) plus 0.8 of AST 3 best major course scores: 195 Physics 192 Maths 176 IT Plus 0.6 of next best major or minor x 175 105 Art Plus 0.8 x 185 148 AST total: 779 divide total by 4.4: 177 Vi (2nd scaling run)

….and so the process continues until the scaled scores stop changing. Maths English Physics IT Art AST Vi (final) Raw Score 90 75 92 85 80 185 Scaled Score 192 153 195 176 175 186

To calculate the Tertiary Entrance Score (TES): Take the best 3.6 final scaled course scores ie 3 best majors plus either 0.6 of next best major or minor. 3 best major course scores: 195 Physics 192 Maths 176 IT Plus 0.6 of next best major or minor x 175 105 Art TES: 668  

The ranking of this score against all other scores gives a Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) (e.g. 668). The Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) (e.g. 97.0) is obtained by combining the cohort who completed a Tertiary package and the age cohort of the same students who started Year 10.