Only a very small number of students achieve the top 99.95 ATAR each year, typically ranging from about 30 to over 50 students across Australia, depending on the state and specific cohort, with examples showing 51 in NSW (2024) and 42 in Victoria (2025). This top rank is extremely rare, signifying exceptional academic achievement, with figures highlighting the vast majority of students scoring significantly lower.
A very small number of students achieve a 99.95 ATAR each year, typically ranging from around 30 to 50 students nationally, with specific figures varying slightly by state and year (e.g., 49 in NSW in 2023, 53 in NSW in 2025, 37 in QLD in 2025). The 99.95 is the highest possible rank, meaning you've performed better than 99.95% of your age cohort, and it's achieved by exceptional students from diverse backgrounds, notes UAC.
In the 2025 NSW HSC, 53 students achieved the perfect ATAR of 99.95, including notable students like Jaden Gargya (Sydney Grammar), Jio Yim & Emma Zhang (PLC), James Mao, Murphy Xi, & Nicholas Chen (The King's School), and Rahul Desai (Baulkham Hills High), with James Ruse Agricultural High School producing the most top scorers (9). While many individual names were highlighted in media, the full list isn't centralized, but key performers and schools were celebrated for their extraordinary efforts in the top 0.05% of candidates.
The percentage of Year 12 students achieving top ATAR scores above 90 has increased from 17% to 17.8% since 2020, with marks over 99 also rising. Education experts think this trend is because of fewer students enrolling in ATAR courses, as more choose to leave school early to pursue career opportunities.
The average ATAR is usually around 70.00.
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.
There isn't one single "number 1" high school, as rankings vary by source and criteria, but James Ruse Agricultural High School (NSW) consistently appears at or near the top, often cited as Australia's best public school based on academic results like the HSC. Other top contenders frequently mentioned include North Sydney Boys/Girls High Schools, Sydney Grammar School, Melbourne High School (VIC), and Perth Modern School (WA), with rankings shifting slightly depending on the year and specific metrics used (e.g., ATAR, university placements).
A respectable ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) depends on your goals, but generally, 80+ is very strong, getting you into most courses, while 90+ is excellent for competitive fields like Law or Medicine, with 70-79 being above average for many other degrees. Essentially, a "good" ATAR is the specific rank that unlocks entry to your desired university course, with higher ranks opening more selective options, but anything above 70-80 offers significant choices.
Nobody can receive an ATAR of 100, and that's because the ATAR is a rank (not a percentage or mark), measured in increments of 0.05.
While the system worked to unify the process for Australian school students to get into their preferred university courses, it has been under scrutiny from many students, principals, education authorities and teachers alike for putting too much emphasis on exams, as well as not recognising students' achievements and ...
An ATAR of 80 is not extremely rare but is a very respectable achievement, placing you in the top 20% of your Year 12 age group, meaning you performed better than 80% of your peers nationally. While the median ATAR is around 70, achieving an 80 is difficult and requires strong performance, though it's considered achievable with consistent effort, unlike very high ATARs (90+) which are much rarer.
The hardest high schools to get into are highly selective public schools, often in Australia (like North Sydney Boys/Girls, James Ruse, Baulkham Hills, Hornsby Girls) or major US cities (like NYC's Stuyvesant High School), known for extremely low acceptance rates (under 15% in NSW) and requiring exceptional scores on competitive entrance exams (like the SHSAT in NYC) for their academically focused environments.
The highest possible ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is 99.95, not 100, because it's a ranking indicating performance better than 99.95% of the cohort, not a perfect score. Many students achieve this top score annually across Australia, with recent examples from Perth Modern School's Class of 2025 and A.B. Paterson College, highlighting it as a significant but attainable goal for top performers.
No, the school's overall ranking doesn't directly change your ATAR; the ATAR is based on your individual scaled marks, but your school rank within a subject and your cohort's performance significantly affect your moderated internal assessment marks, which then influence your final ATAR. A strong cohort performance can boost your moderated scores, while a weaker one can pull them down, making high achievement in a competitive school potentially easier to translate into a high ATAR than in a less competitive environment, even if you rank highly.
Ranking: The aggregate is positioned on a state-wide bell curve, determining the student's final ATAR as a percentile rank within the eligible student population.
Most of the universities in Australia will consider anywhere between 70 and 84 score as a Distinction which is equivalent to A in the states.
Parents choose private schools for better academic outcomes (smaller classes, specialized teaching, better facilities) and holistic development (stronger discipline, moral/religious values, extensive extracurriculars), seeking more personalized attention and a nurturing community to give their children a perceived edge in a competitive world, often driven by aspirations for superior future prospects and a sense of accountability from paid education.
An 89.5 is usually a high B+ or a low A-, but it often rounds up to an A (90+) depending on the specific grading scale and if the instructor rounds up, so it's right on the cusp between a solid B and an A. Always check the syllabus for the exact cutoffs, but expect a strong B+ or a potential A if rounding occurs.
Indeed, a common criticism of the ATAR is that it doesn't tell universities enough about potential students, and doesn't do enough to ensure diversity. Our research suggests students also see it as unfair.
The University of Melbourne is a truly unique environment. We're creating a range of sustainable facilities and precincts to enable ground-breaking discoveries, now and into the future.
Yes, you can absolutely go to university without an ATAR by using various alternative pathways like TAFE diplomas, foundation courses, bridging programs, experience-based entry, or STAT tests, as most universities offer multiple routes to entry beyond just high school results, recognizing skills from work, vocational training, or life experience.
Yes, an ATAR of 90 means you are in the top 10% of your year level in Australia, indicating excellent performance that opens doors to many university courses, though highly competitive ones like Medicine or Law may need higher scores. The ATAR is a percentile rank, so a 90 means you performed better than 90% of your peers.
Competitive ATAR ~99.75 (2025). Requires UCAT ANZ for Medicine, Dentistry, Oral Health. Very competitive (ATAR ~99.95 for standard places). Provisional entry, very high ATARs required.
It's important to note that ATARs are released only to individual students. Schools do not receive ATAR information and students can keep their ATAR completely confidential if they wish.
17.3% of students received an ATAR of 90.00 or above. 34.6% of students received an ATAR of at least 80.00. 51.3% of students received an ATAR of at least 70.00. The median ATAR this year was 70.75, slightly lower than in 2024 (71.55).