1. The ATAR and subject selection 2017
UAC Year 10 Presentation
The ATAR and subject selection
2017

2. Overview ATAR facts and myths How to select HSC courses
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

3. HSC vs ATAR
HSC marks are about a student’s performance against the standards.
The ATAR is about a student’s position against all other students in NSW.
Performance vs Position.
Good performance doesn’t guarantee a high position.
The only thing students can control is their performance.
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

4. ATAR facts
Your ATAR:
allows you to be compared with other students who have completed different combinations of HSC courses
shows your position, or where you are ranked, among all other HSC students
is a rank, not a mark
is provided by UAC.
Like your position
in a race
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

5. ATAR eligibility
To get an ATAR you need at least 10 units of Board Developed courses – these are HSC courses that are examined by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). Your teachers will tell you which courses will count.
Your ATAR is based on your best two units of English and the best eight units from your remaining courses.
English
Math
Science
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

6. The ATAR and scaling
Different HSC courses have very different groups of students studying them. To create an even playing field, actual marks need to be adjusted before they are added. This is called scaling.
Scaling calculates what your mark and your position would be if all courses were studied by all students.
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

7. ATAR – Why scaling ?
Why? So that no student is advantaged or disadvantaged because of their subject choice.
We need to compare fairly all the different courses and combinations of courses.
Remember that a student’s position in a course depends on: - how well they did in that course - the strength of the competition in that course.
A student’s scaled mark for a course is a combination of their position in that course and the scaled mean calculated for that course.
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

8. Fred and Laura: ATAR results
ATARs have been released and, even though they completed the same subjects, Fred and Laura’s ATARs are very different. The percentile column tells us where they are positioned in each course. Remember: the HSC is about performance and the ATAR is about position.
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

9. A couple of myths
‘Don’t choose a VET course such as Information and Digital Technology or Hospitality – you won’t get a good ATAR.’
FALSE – It doesn’t matter what course you do … it is still possible to get a good ATAR. But remember that you can only include two units from Category B (VET) courses.
‘I can only get a high ATAR if I study hard subjects.’
FALSE – What is a hard subject anyhow?
It’s a myth that subjects like physics will give you a high ATAR!
What if you’re not good at physics?
We advise students to choose subjects they are good at and do well in as this is the only way to maximise your ATAR.
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

10. Don’t choose HSC courses based on…
A perceived ATAR – the ATAR is about all courses, not just one or two.
Scaling or scaled marks – you are assuming that a course with a high/low scaled mean means a high/low ATAR, which is not true.
Remember: subject selection is about choosing courses that you are good at, are interested in and that may help you succeed in
tertiary studies.
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

11. Choosing your HSC courses
It’s important to consider:
what you are good at
what you are interested in
what you think you might want to do when you leave school.
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

12. Inspiration
I love watching Myth Busters and it inspires me to want to know more.
I like finding out how things work.
I think science is my passion.
Questions to help you make decisions about courses and your future:
Who and what inspires you?
Do you like:
helping others?
being creative?
working with technology?
finding out how things work?
working indoors or outside?
working alone or with others?
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

13. What next? Research your study options:
university, TAFE, private college, work.
Explore the different study areas and courses.
Consider all institutions that offer the tertiary course you are interested in.
Keep your options open.
Choose HSC courses that will set you up for success.
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

14. Going to uni There are many pathways but most involve the HSC.
Your selection for most uni courses will be based on:
ATAR
bonus points
additional selection criteria.
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

15. Tertiary study and subject selection
Always check for course:
Prerequisites
HSC courses you have to have studied before a uni will offer you a place in the course.
Assumed knowledge
HSC courses the uni assumes you have studied before you start the uni course.
Not a requirement for entry, but without the assumed knowledge you may have difficulties coping with your studies.
Recommended studies
HSC courses the uni suggests will prepare you for core first-year uni courses.
Not a requirement for entry.
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

16. Question
What if I haven’t chosen the right subjects for the course I decide to apply for?
6 December 2018
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17. Don’t panic! Answer You can still get an offer to most institutions.
Institutions list any course prerequisites in the Year 10 booklet.
You may need to catch up on background knowledge through:
bridging courses
extra subjects within the course structure.
Remember, you must be ATAR eligible regardless of the HSC courses you choose.
Don’t panic!
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

18. And what if … ?
What if I don’t get a high enough ATAR for entry into university?
6 December 2018
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19. Answer
There are many pathways to where you want to be:
preparation courses at uni
TAFE (TPC, Cert IV or Diploma)
uni colleges
private colleges.
All is not lost!
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au

20. And finally…
Remember that the ATAR is only a rank used for uni selection.
Choose courses you like and are good at - this is the best way to maximise your ATAR.
Study hard.
Explore all your options.
My interests
My ability
My future
6 December 2018
uac.edu.au