With a 60 ATAR, you can access various university foundation courses, diploma programs, Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, or apply for degrees with lower entry requirements in fields like Arts, Business, or Education, often by using pathway programs, alternative entry schemes, or by studying related degrees and transferring later, as many pathways exist beyond the ATAR score.
17.3% of the students received an ATAR of 90.00 or above, 34.6% received an ATAR of at least 80.00, 51.3% at least 70.00, and 66.8% at least 60.00. The median ATAR was 70.75, slightly lower than in 2024. The median ATAR for females was 71.60 whereas the median ATAR for males was 69.80.
If you don't get the required ATAR, many universities offer short courses that will develop your skills in prerequisite areas of your chosen study path. Bridging courses are also helpful if you didn't study a prerequisite subject for your final exams.
An ATAR of 65 is considered a solid, above-average score that meets entry for some university courses, especially foundation programs, but limits choices for highly competitive degrees, with options opening up significantly around the 70-80+ range for many popular programs, though alternatives like SEAS or STAT tests can broaden opportunities. It means you performed better than 65% of your age cohort, providing access to many universities but requiring strategic course selection.
A good ATAR is subjective, but generally, 70+ is considered good for many university courses, 80+ is very strong, opening most options, and 90+ is excellent, needed for competitive degrees like medicine or law. A good ATAR is simply the score that gets you into your desired course, which can range from around 60 for some pathways to 99.95 for the highest achievers, with the average being around 70.
Getting a 70 ATAR is surprisingly achievable, as it's around the median for students who complete Year 12 (not 50), meaning you only need to be in the top 30% of your cohort, not get 70%. You generally need roughly average scaled study scores of about 30 across your best subjects, which often translates to consistent B+ or around 60-70% on internal assessments (SACs) and exams, though scaling and subject choice play a big role.
ATAR 80-89: Very strong performance, qualifying for most courses in fields like business, science, and arts. ATAR 70-79: Slightly above average and acceptable for various courses in universities across Australia. ATAR 50-69: Meets entry for some tertiary education pathways and foundation programs.
What grade is 60 percent in Australia? In university settings, it will be considered as Pass (P) which pretty average score in Australia.
No, a 70 ATAR is generally too low for direct entry into an undergraduate medicine degree in Australia, as competitive scores are usually 95+, but you can use it as a stepping stone through pathways like completing a science degree (e.g., Biomedical Science) and applying for postgraduate medicine, aiming for high grades (WAM 70+) and strong GAMSAT/UCAT scores, or exploring rural/Indigenous entry schemes, as some universities (like UWA with specific criteria) might offer adjustments or pathways.
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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.
Most universities offer bonus ATAR points for achieving a particular grade or higher in specific Year 12 subjects. You'll need to check out the university's website to see what Year 12 subjects they give rank adjustments for, and how many adjustments you can receive.
There isn't one single "lowest ATAR degree" as cutoffs vary yearly and by university, but courses like Arts, Education, Social Work, and some sciences often have lower entry points, with some offers dipping into the 30s or 40s (e.g., Federation Uni Education at 36.15), though many common degrees start around the 50s to 70s, with Bachelor of Arts or some general Bachelor of Science often being accessible with moderate ATARs, but always check specific university course pages for current minimum selection ranks.
High-scaling ATAR subjects, which boost your overall score by increasing your marks more than average, consistently include Specialist Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Physics, Chemistry, and languages like French/German, alongside challenging humanities like Economics, because they attract competitive student cohorts and have high difficulty, with STEM subjects often leading. Remember, scaling changes yearly, so focus on subjects you excel in, as a high raw mark in any subject can still yield a great ATAR.
A very small number of students achieve the perfect 99.95 ATAR each year, typically ranging from the low 40s to low 50s across Australia, with specific numbers varying by state and cohort size (e.g., 53 in NSW/ACT 2025, 42 in Victoria 2025, 37 in Queensland 2025). This top rank signifies performance in the top 0.05% of the age group, making it exceptionally rare.
A passing grade is the score you need to show that you've learned enough to move on to the next level. In most high schools, this usually means you've earned at least a D, which is about 60% or higher. So if you get 60 out of 100 points on your assignments, quizzes, and tests, you're most likely passing the class.
Yes, a 70 WAM (Weighted Average Mark) is generally considered good to very good, often placing you in the 'Credit' or 'Distinction' range, making you competitive for many jobs and a strong candidate for some honours programs, though elite finance roles might still prefer higher marks. It's above average (which is often around 60-70) and signifies solid academic performance.
To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1580 SAT or a 36 ACT. You should also have a 4.2 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.
A letter grade of a D is technically considered passing because it not a failure. A D is any percentage between 60-69%, whereas a failure occurs below 60%. Even though a D is a passing grade, it's barely passing.
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.
Most reputed universities offer a plethora of courses at 70–90 ATAR. For instance, at Bond University, general admission begins at 65+ ATAR, whereas many courses offer admission at 75+ ATAR at Monash University. Additional Criteria of Admission: ATAR isn't the only gateway to tertiary study.