Where does your ATAR rank in your state?
Your ATAR is already a percentile of your whole age cohort. But that's different from where you stand among ATAR-eligible students, who are the people you're actually competing with for university offers. Enter your ATAR and state to see both figures.
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What is the average ATAR?
See the national distribution by state, sex, and selected universities.
What is a good ATAR score?
An ATAR of 70.00 is a genuinely good score — it sits at approximately the 50th percentile of ATAR-eligible students, meaning you performed better than half of all students who received an ATAR in your state. The ATAR is often misunderstood because it represents two different percentiles simultaneously: your rank within the ATAR-eligible student group, and your rank within the entire school-leaver age cohort including students who did not complete an ATAR pathway.
Is 85 a good ATAR? Yes — an ATAR of 85 places you at approximately the 76th percentile of ATAR-eligible students nationally and in roughly the top 15% of the entire age cohort. Is 91 a good ATAR? A 91 places you in the top 10% of ATAR-eligible students and opens all but the most competitive course options across most universities. What is a good ATAR for university? The threshold depends on your target course and institution. For general undergraduate admission at most universities, an ATAR above 60 is competitive. For selective programmes, 80+ is typically required. For medicine, law, and dentistry at Group of Eight universities, 95-99.95 is the effective range.
State variation matters. The same raw performance can produce different ATARs in different states because ATAR is a relative rank within your state's student cohort, not an absolute score. An ATAR of 90 in New South Wales (where the student population is larger and academically competitive) is not equivalent to a 90 in a smaller state with different cohort characteristics. When comparing ATARs across states, compare the percentile rank rather than the number itself. University admissions offices are aware of these differences and adjust cutoffs accordingly. UAC, VTAC, QTAC, TISC, and SATAC publish state-specific ATAR distribution tables annually.
How ATAR cutoffs vary by course and university
ATAR cutoffs are the minimum ATAR at which the last offer was made in the previous admissions round — they are not a threshold guaranteeing admission, but the competitive floor from the prior year. Cutoffs shift year to year based on demand. A cutoff of 85 in 2024 may be 83 or 87 in 2025 depending on applications. The published cutoff is always last year's data; your offer depends on competition in your specific round.
The most consistent pattern is the difference between Group of Eight universities and other institutions for the same course. For engineering, Go8 universities typically require 85-95, while regional universities and ATN institutions (UTS, RMIT, Curtin, QUT) accept from 65-84. For business and commerce, Go8 cutoffs cluster around 80-92, while most other universities accept from 60-79. The same qualification, leading to the same outcomes in many careers, is accessible across this entire range. An engineering degree from any accredited Australian university produces a registered engineer.
Adjustment factors can effectively increase your competitive ATAR for specific institutions. Most universities offer adjustment points (typically 2-5) for students from regional areas, students who attended schools in low socioeconomic zones, and students who achieved strong results in particular subjects relevant to their chosen course. At most institutions, the adjustment brings your effective ATAR up to 5 points above your raw score for competitive ranking purposes, making courses that appear 3-4 ATAR points above your raw score potentially accessible. Check each institution's adjustment point schedule directly, as schemes differ significantly.
What can you do with a lower ATAR than expected?
A lower-than-expected ATAR is not a closed door. Several well-established pathways lead to the same qualifications and career outcomes through alternative routes. The most commonly used is a pathway or diploma programme: most universities offer foundation or diploma programmes that articulate directly into the second year of a related bachelor's degree for students who complete them successfully. TAFE diplomas in relevant fields also articulate into university programmes at many institutions. These routes take slightly longer but frequently lead to identical outcomes.
Change-of-preference is one of the most underused tools available to ATAR applicants. You can submit preferences through your admissions centre (UAC, VTAC, QTAC, etc.) right up until the change-of-preference deadline, typically in late December. If your ATAR is lower than expected, immediately review which programmes have cutoffs within or near your range and update your preferences. Look at the same course at different institutions — a 73 ATAR that misses a Go8 cutoff may comfortably meet the cutoff at a regional or ATN university for an equivalent programme.
Direct entry from a bridging course, early exit from a diploma into advanced standing, and reapplication in the following year are all viable options. Gap years to develop a portfolio (for creative fields), gain relevant work experience, or prepare for alternative entry schemes are common and well-accepted. Some institutions also use supplementary application rounds with vacancies after the main offer round in January. If you received an offer you are unsettled about, it is worth accepting it to hold your place while exploring other options — you are not obligated to enrol.
NSW/ACT ATAR percentile distribution (UAC 2024)
| ATAR | Among ATAR-eligible students | Your age cohort |
|---|---|---|
| 99.00+ | 99th | Top 1% |
| 95.00 | 93rd | Top 5% |
| 90.00 | 85th | Top 10% |
| 85.00 | 76th | Top 15% |
| 80.00 | 67th | Top 20% |
| 70.00 | 50th | Top 30% |
| 60.00 | 35th | Top 40% |
| 50.00 | 22nd | Top 50% |
Course ATAR cutoffs by subject area (2025 entry, approximate)
| Subject area | Go8 ATAR range | Other universities |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | 98.00-99.95 | 93.00-97.00 |
| Law (combined) | 95.00-99.00 | 80.00-94.00 |
| Dentistry | 97.00-99.00 | 92.00-96.00 |
| Engineering (Go8) | 85.00-95.00 | 65.00-84.00 |
| Commerce/Business | 80.00-92.00 | 60.00-79.00 |
| Nursing | 60.00-78.00 | 50.00-65.00 |
Frequently asked questions
Your raw ATAR is calculated directly from your scaled subject results. An adjusted ATAR includes bonus points added by individual universities for specific applicant characteristics: regional/rural school attendance (typically 2-5 points), educational disadvantage, subject-specific bonuses, and elite athlete status. Adjustment points vary by university and programme and are used for selection purposes only.
An ATAR of 70 is slightly above the national median and opens a substantial range of university courses. At Group of Eight universities, 70 typically meets the minimum for arts, humanities, and some science degrees. At Australian Technology Network universities (UTS, RMIT, Curtin, QUT), an ATAR of 70 is competitive for most courses except high-demand programmes.
First, review your preferences before the change-of-preference deadline. Second, investigate ATAR adjustment schemes. Third, consider pathway programmes: most universities offer diplomas or associate degrees that articulate directly into the second year of a related bachelor's degree. Fourth, explore early entry or school recommendation schemes. Gap year and reapplication is also a valid path.
An ATAR of 70 is above average among ATAR-eligible students. UAC 2024 data shows that 70 sits at approximately the 50th percentile of students who received an ATAR — meaning you achieved better than half of all ATAR recipients. However, this understates your position in the full age cohort because approximately 30-40% of school leavers do not receive an ATAR at all, meaning a 70 places you in roughly the top 35% of the entire age group. In practical terms, an ATAR of 70 provides access to a wide range of undergraduate courses at regional universities, ATN institutions, and several Go8 programmes in fields like arts, social science, education, and some science streams. It does not provide direct access to medicine, law, dentistry, or high-demand commerce programmes at Go8 universities, but these are accessible via alternative entry pathways.
Yes, significantly. Most university merit scholarships for incoming students have explicit ATAR requirements. The most generous scholarships — often covering significant portions of tuition or providing residential scholarships — typically require ATARs of 95 or above. Mid-tier merit scholarships commonly require 90+. Many universities also offer equity scholarships based on circumstances rather than ATAR, and these do not have the same entry requirements. Indigenous scholarships, regional scholarships, and scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds are primarily need-based rather than academically selective. If your ATAR is in the 90+ range, it is worth reviewing every institution you are considering for scholarship eligibility — many students leave significant scholarship money on the table simply because they did not apply. Scholarship deadlines often differ from admission deadlines.
Nursing ATAR cutoffs typically range from 55-78 depending on the institution and state. Regional and some metropolitan universities accept from 55-65. Most ATN and metropolitan universities cluster between 65-75. Some Go8 nursing programmes have cutoffs up to 78. Unlike medicine, nursing courses are available at a broad range of ATARs because the profession's workforce demand means institutions keep admission accessible. Nursing is also a common destination for students using alternative entry pathways — pathway programmes, TAFE diplomas in nursing, and bridging courses can lead into Bachelor of Nursing programmes at many institutions without an ATAR competitive with the direct entry cutoff. Check the specific institution's current published cutoff, as these shift with annual demand.
- UAC (Universities Admissions Centre, NSW/ACT). ATAR Distribution and Cutoff Data 2024. uac.edu.au.
- VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre). ATAR Distribution Data 2024. vtac.edu.au.
- QTAC, TISC, SATAC 2024 distribution data.