How to calculate your ATAR (WACE)

To discover how to calculate your ATAR, you must first ensure you have a minimum of four scaled scores to build your TEA. The ATAR is then derived from your Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA).

An ATAR represents your rank position compared to all other students and ranges from 99.95 to 0. It considers the number of students who take the WACE examinations each year and the total population of Year 12 school leavers.

For example, if you have an ATAR of 75.00, it means you have achieved equal to or better than 75% of the Year 12 school leaver age population in your state.

The ATAR allows direct comparison of results for any WA student applying for university admission in other states.

For a technical explanation of how the ATAR is calculated, visit the TISC site - click here.


Distinguishing WACE marks from the ATAR:

It is crucial to understand that WACE marks and the ATAR serve distinct purposes:

  • WACE marks indicate a student's performance in individual courses, with no limit on the number of students achieving top marks.
  • ATAR, conversely, provides a ranking of a student's overall performance relative to others in WA, considering all WACE courses completed. Its sole purpose is to assist universities in selecting applicants for their courses.

WACE marks:

  • Are presented as scores out of 100.
  • Indicate a student's performance in each course, aligned with standards set by SCSA (School Curriculum Standards Authority).
  • It can only be compared to the marks of students who took the same WACE courses.
  • Are provided by SCSA.

ATAR:

  • Is a rank and not a mark or percentage.
  • Represents a student's overall position relative to their peers.
  • Compares students who completed different combinations of WACE courses.
  • Is provided by TISC.


Now, let's understand TEA 

A TEA (Tertiary Entrance Aggregate) is the sum of your best four scaled scores, following these rules:

  • It is based on the best four scaled subject scores you achieve in Year 12 (4 x 100 = 400).
  • Each subject score combines 50% from your school results and 50% from the WACE examination.
  • If you have a scaled score in a Language Other than English (LOTE), 10% of your LOTE scaled score is added to the aggregate of your best four scaled scores. If you have multiple LOTE scores, only the best LOTE scaled score will be used as the LOTE bonus. You will receive the LOTE bonus even if your LOTE course wasn't among your best four.
  • If you have a scaled score in Mathematics Methods ATAR and/or Mathematics Specialist ATAR, 10% of your scaled score(s) in these subjects will be added to your Tertiary Entrance Aggregate. You will receive this Mathematics bonus even if the course(s) aren't part of your best four.
  • The maximum TEA is set at 430.


Example 1: Without LOTE or Maths
Subject Score Result used? Result used for ATAR
Biology 71 Y 71
English 80 Y 80
Chemistry 89 Y 89
Psychology 72 Y 72
Modern History 67 N 0


TEA 312


Example 2: With LOTE & two Maths
Subject Score Result used? Result used for ATAR
Maths Specialist 71+7.1 Y 78.1
English 80 Y 80
Psychology 72 N 0
Maths Methods 80+8 Y 88
Chinese 67+6.7 Y 73.7


TEA 319.8

Your TEA will be calculated and then converted to an ATAR using our calculator.