The highest scaling VCE subject is consistently Latin, which dramatically boosts raw scores (e.g., a 35 raw score scaled to 50 in 2024/2025), followed closely by Specialist Mathematics, other languages like Chinese Second Language and French, and Algorithmics (HESS), as these subjects attract competitive cohorts and are challenging, rewarding high performance significantly for the ATAR.
The highest scaling VCE subjects are consistently Languages (like Latin, Chinese Second Language, Hebrew, French) and STEM subjects, particularly Specialist Mathematics, due to their difficulty and competitive cohorts, with Latin often being the top scaler (e.g., a raw 35 scaling to 50). Subjects like Chemistry, Physics, and Math Methods also scale well, while popular subjects like English, Psychology, and Biology generally have smaller adjustments, making strong raw scores crucial for a high ATAR.
The highest scaling ATAR subjects consistently include Specialist Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Physics, and Chemistry, often alongside Languages (like French, German, Chinese) and Economics, due to their challenging nature and strong cohorts, but the exact scaling can vary slightly by state (HSC, VCE, WACE, QCE) and year, with demanding STEM and language subjects typically benefiting students most.
📚✨ Contrary to popular belief, you can achieve an incredible ATAR, even while taking subjects that may not scale as high. Whether you're studying Standard English, Standard Mathematics, Business Studies, Studies of Religion, or Investigating Science – don't let the subject scaling deter you!
The hardest VCE subjects, such as Specialist Maths, Languages and Chemistry, tend to be studied by the most competitive cohort of students; and these subjects are, thus, also some of the highest scaling.
Subjects that typically scale down your ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) are often those with broader student cohorts or less numerical emphasis, such as Foundation Mathematics, Health & Human Development, Business Management, Psychology, and some Arts/Humanities subjects, while higher-level Maths/Sciences often scale up, but performance is key, and subjects you excel in should be prioritized.
Because some subjects are taken by cohorts that perform more strongly across all their VCE studies, raw scores are adjusted to reflect this difference in academic strength. Scaling ensures that a student who performs well in a demanding subject is treated fairly when their scores are combined into an ATAR.
To get into Australian medical schools you need your high school grades to convert to an ATAR. For medicine, you need a 99 ATAR to be very competitive. If you're studying the NCEA curriculum Australian medical schools only take your best 90 credits. To achieve a 99 ATAR you need 90 excellence credits.
What is the minimum aggregate required for an ATAR of 90?
Subjects that scale up for ATAR typically include advanced mathematics (like Specialist Maths, Maths Methods), sciences (Chemistry, Physics), and certain languages (Latin, French, Chinese SL), because students choosing these subjects often perform strongly overall, leading to adjusted scores that better reflect their high achievement, not just difficulty. High-scaling subjects reward top students, while lower-scaling subjects like Business Management often see a dip, though strong raw scores in any subject always matter most for your ATAR.
What is the ATAR for Medicine in NSW and Canberra? For students wishing to study medicine in New South Wales, they will need to achieve an ATAR above 90 and in most cases in the mid-90s or even higher.
A 90 in Modern History might scale up to around 95.7. 👍 So high scores get a slight boost. Overall, Modern History isn't the best choice if you're primarily concerned about scaling and aren't confident in scoring above that 82 threshold. Anything less can significantly impact your final ATAR.
Overall, the highest scaling ATAR subjects in QLD are Specialist Maths, Maths Methods, and the Languages subjects, as the subject cohorts are extremely competitive and the content is difficult to learn.
The content to learn, practise and get right in Methods is roughly double that of General, and much more difficult. So expect to spend a lot of time studying. If that's your thing, great! Maybe you're so good that you can pick up things on the go with little practise.
Psychology usually scales down; by 1-2 points.
The minimum ATAR for medicine is typically around 90-95, but competitive scores are often 99+, as it's highly competitive, with factors like the UCAT score and interviews crucial for entry into both direct-entry and postgraduate pathways. While some pathways (like rural entry) can lower the ATAR, expect to need a near-perfect score for top universities, often combined with high UCAT results and strong interview performance.
Easiest Doctor to Become: Family Doctor
The simple answer is that it takes the least amount of time. After your four years at medical school, (or a 3-year medical school) you can do a three-year family medicine residency, pass your board exams, and that's it, you're a doctor!
A 3.2 GPA is considered low for medical school, as the average accepted GPA is closer to 3.7+, but it's not impossible; you'd need an exceptional MCAT score, strong clinical experience, research, volunteering, and a significant upward trend in grades to compensate and get accepted into DO programs or some MD programs, especially if you have compelling extracurriculars and personal narrative.
The highest scaling VCE subjects are consistently Languages (like Latin, Chinese Second Language, Hebrew, French) and STEM subjects, particularly Specialist Mathematics, due to their difficulty and competitive cohorts, with Latin often being the top scaler (e.g., a raw 35 scaling to 50). Subjects like Chemistry, Physics, and Math Methods also scale well, while popular subjects like English, Psychology, and Biology generally have smaller adjustments, making strong raw scores crucial for a high ATAR.
The average ATAR is around 70.00. This is because an ATAR of 70 places a student in the top 70% of Year 12 students, but only places them in the top 50% of students who actually receive an ATAR.
According to study after study, Algebra 1 is highlighted as the most failed course in America. Some estimates say that as many as 40% of students take the course more than once in order to achieve an acceptable grade.
Some of the toughest courses in the world include Medicine (MBBS/MD), Engineering, Neuroscience, CA, Quantum Physics and Mathematics. The toughest courses in India include MBBS, IIT Engineering, CA, and Architecture (B. Arch).
Year 11 is commonly regarded as one of the most demanding years in secondary school. This is primarily because it culminates in GCSE exams, which serve as a critical milestone in your academic journey.