Percentage to ATAR Calculator
Convert Your School Assessment Percentages to Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
🎓 Interactive Percentage to ATAR Calculator
Percentage must be between 0% and 100%
📚 Understanding Percentage vs ATAR
📝 What is Percentage?
Percentage scores are the raw marks you receive in school assessments, assignments, and exams, typically ranging from 0% to 100%. These represent your direct performance on specific tasks without any scaling or ranking adjustments.
For example, scoring 85% in a Mathematics exam means you correctly answered 85 out of 100 possible marks. However, this raw percentage is not the same as your ATAR and does not directly determine university entrance.
🎯 What is ATAR?
ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is a percentile ranking from 0.00 to 99.95 that shows your position relative to all students in your age cohort. It's calculated by scaling your subject results based on difficulty and competition.
ATAR is not an average of your percentages. Two students with identical raw percentages can have different ATARs depending on their subject choices, school cohort, and how subjects are scaled by each state's Tertiary Admissions Centre.
Why Can't Percentage Directly Convert to ATAR?
- Subject Scaling: Mathematics Extension 2 scoring 80% scales differently than General Mathematics at 90%
- Cohort Performance: Your rank depends on how well other students performed in the same subjects
- Assessment Difficulty: Some schools have harder exams than others; ATAR accounts for this through moderation
- Internal vs External: School-based percentages are moderated against HSC/VCE external exam results
- State Variations: NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, and TAS each use different calculation methodologies
- Subject Combinations: ATAR is based on your best subjects, not a simple average of all percentages
📊 Percentage to ATAR Conversion Table
⚠️ Critical Disclaimer: This table provides rough approximations only. Actual ATAR calculation is far more complex and involves subject-specific scaling, candidature strength, and moderation processes that cannot be captured by a simple percentage conversion. Use this as a general guide only.
🔢 How ATAR is Actually Calculated
ATAR calculation is a multi-step process that goes far beyond simply averaging your percentages. Understanding this complexity helps explain why direct conversion is impossible and why students with similar percentages can have vastly different ATARs.
The ATAR Calculation Process:
Step 1: Raw Assessment Marks
Your school assigns raw marks (percentages) for all assessments throughout Year 11 and Year 12. These are your internal assessment marks which reflect your performance relative to your school cohort.
Step 2: School Ranking
Your school ranks you against other students in each subject. These rankings are submitted to the state Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC) but not your raw marks.
Step 3: External Examinations
You sit external exams (HSC, VCE, QCE, etc.) set and marked by the state education authority. These external exam marks are used to moderate your internal assessment marks.
Step 4: Moderation Process
Your internal marks are adjusted (moderated) based on how your school cohort performed in the external exams. If your school cohort performs well externally, internal marks are scaled up. This accounts for school difficulty differences.
Step 5: Subject Scaling
Each subject is scaled based on the academic strength of students taking it. Mathematics Extension 2, Physics, and Chemistry typically scale higher than less academically demanding subjects. This reflects subject difficulty.
Step 6: ATAR Calculation
Your best 10 units of scaled marks are summed to create an aggregate score. This aggregate is then converted to your ATAR, which represents your percentile rank among all students in your age group (not just those who completed Year 12).
Mathematical Representation:
Simplified ATAR Formula:
ATAR = Percentile_Rank(Aggregate_Score)
where:
Aggregate_Score = Σ (Best 10 Units of Scaled Marks)
Scaled_Mark = f(Raw_Mark, Subject_Difficulty, Cohort_Performance)
Note: The actual calculation involves complex statistical procedures including normal distribution curves, z-scores, and regression analysis. The functions f() used by TACs are proprietary and not publicly disclosed.
💡 Critical Facts About Percentage and ATAR
Essential Information for Students:
📌 Subject Choice Impact:
A student scoring 85% in Physics (scaled subject) may receive a higher ATAR than a student scoring 95% in a non-scaled subject like General Studies. Subject selection is critical to maximizing ATAR potential.
📌 School Rank Matters More Than Percentage:
Being ranked 1st with 80% is better than being ranked 5th with 85%. Your rank within your school cohort affects moderation more than your raw percentage. Focus on beating your classmates, not just achieving high marks.
📌 The 70% Myth:
Many students believe 70% equals ATAR 70.00. This is false. Depending on subjects and cohort, 70% could yield anywhere from ATAR 60.00 to 85.00. The median ATAR is 70.00, but this does not correspond to a 70% average.
📌 External Exam Weight:
In NSW (HSC), external exams account for 50% of your final mark. In Victoria (VCE), external exams can be worth 33-50% depending on the subject. Your school assessment percentages are only part of the equation.
📌 Year 11 vs Year 12 Percentages:
In most states, only Year 12 results count toward ATAR (except Queensland which includes Year 11). Achieving 90% in Year 11 does not guarantee your Year 12 performance. ATAR is based on your final year only.
📌 State-by-State Differences:
NSW (UAC), VIC (VTAC), QLD (QTAC), WA (TISC), SA (SATAC), and TAS each have different calculation methods. A percentage in one state does not equate to the same ATAR in another state due to different scaling algorithms.
✅ How to Maximize Your ATAR
- Choose Scaled Subjects Strategically: Select at least 2-3 subjects that scale well (Mathematics, Sciences, English Advanced) if you can perform competently in them
- Focus on Rankings, Not Just Marks: Aim to be in the top 10% of your cohort in each subject. Your school rank is moderated against external exams
- Perform Well in External Exams: External exam performance is crucial for both your own marks and your cohort's moderation. Study specifically for these exams
- Understand Your School's History: High-performing schools typically have better moderation. Check your school's average ATAR and Band 6 rates
- Select Your Best 10 Units Carefully: ATAR uses your best 10 units (2 units English + 8 best units). Consider dropping subjects you're struggling in
- Consistent Performance Matters: Maintain high rankings across all Year 12 assessments. One poor assessment task can significantly impact your rank
- Seek Official ATAR Estimates: Ask your school's careers advisor for official ATAR estimates based on your current rankings and subject choices
- Use ATAR Calculators Wisely: Online calculators provide rough estimates only. They cannot account for scaling and moderation complexities
- Balance Subject Load: Taking 6 subjects (12 units) provides a buffer if you underperform in one area, but don't overload yourself
- Master Past Papers: External exams follow predictable patterns. Practice with past HSC/VCE papers extensively
📈 Subject Scaling Examples
Subject scaling demonstrates why percentage alone cannot predict ATAR. Below are real examples showing how different subjects with identical raw marks can scale to vastly different scores.
📐 High Scaling Subjects
Raw Mark: 85%
Subjects: Mathematics Extension 2, Physics, Chemistry
Scaled Mark: 92-95 (approx)
📚 Medium Scaling Subjects
Raw Mark: 85%
Subjects: English Advanced, Economics, History
Scaled Mark: 85-87 (approx)
📖 Low Scaling Subjects
Raw Mark: 85%
Subjects: General Mathematics, Standard English, PDHPE
Scaled Mark: 75-78 (approx)
Key Insight: The same 85% raw mark can result in scaled marks ranging from 75 to 95, a difference of up to 20 points. This scaling difference can change your ATAR by 10-15 points or more.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I calculate my exact ATAR from my percentages?
No, you cannot calculate your exact ATAR from percentages alone. ATAR depends on subject scaling, school cohort performance in external exams, your rank within your school, and complex moderation processes. Only your state's Tertiary Admissions Centre can calculate your official ATAR. The best you can do is get an estimate from your school based on historical data.
If I'm averaging 80%, what ATAR can I expect?
It depends entirely on your subject combination and school performance. An 80% average in scaled subjects (Mathematics Extension, Sciences) at a high-performing school could yield ATAR 90-95. The same 80% in lower-scaling subjects at a weaker school might result in ATAR 75-80. Ask your school for an estimate based on their historical data.
Do trial exam percentages predict my final ATAR?
Trial exams provide rough indicators but are not definitive. Schools often make trials harder than actual HSC/VCE exams. Additionally, trial marks don't account for final external exam performance, which can significantly differ from school assessments. Use trials as practice, but don't assume your trial percentage will be your final ATAR.
How accurate are online ATAR calculators?
Online ATAR calculators that ask for your assessment marks and ranks can provide estimates within ±3-5 ATAR points, but they use historical scaling data which changes annually. They cannot predict your external exam performance or account for your cohort's performance. Treat online calculators as rough guides only. Your school's estimate based on internal data is more reliable.
Does getting 90% in every subject guarantee ATAR 99+?
Not necessarily. If those 90% marks are in lower-scaling subjects, your ATAR might be 92-95. Conversely, 85% across high-scaling subjects could yield 99+. Subject choice and scaling matter more than raw percentages. To maximize ATAR potential, balance high marks with strategically chosen scaled subjects.
When will I know my actual ATAR?
ATAR results are released in mid-December for most states. NSW: mid-December; VIC: mid-December; QLD: mid-December; WA: late December; SA: mid-December. You'll receive your ATAR via your state's TAC website (UAC, VTAC, QTAC, TISC, SATAC). Check your state's specific release dates annually.
Can I improve my ATAR after it's released?
ATAR is final once released and cannot be recalculated. However, you can apply for remark of external exams if you believe there was a marking error (fees apply). If your ATAR is lower than needed, consider alternative pathways: foundation courses, diploma-to-degree pathways, TAFE, or reapplying after completing a different qualification.
⚠️ Critical Disclaimer
The percentage to ATAR conversions provided on this page are rough approximations only and should not be relied upon for university application planning or subject selection decisions. These estimates do not and cannot account for:
- Subject-specific scaling factors (which vary annually)
- School cohort performance in external examinations
- Moderation processes applied to internal assessments
- Your rank within your school for each subject
- State-specific calculation methodologies
- External examination performance (typically 50% of final mark)
Official ATAR calculations are performed exclusively by state Tertiary Admissions Centres (UAC, VTAC, QTAC, TISC, SATAC) using proprietary algorithms that analyze thousands of data points across all Year 12 students.
For accurate ATAR estimates: Consult your school's careers advisor or senior coordinator who has access to historical scaling data and can provide personalized estimates based on your specific circumstances. This calculator is for general informational purposes only.
👨🏫 About the Author
Adam Kumar
Co-Founder @ RevisionTown
Adam is a mathematics education expert with extensive experience in various international curricula including IB (International Baccalaureate), AP (Advanced Placement), GCSE, IGCSE, and Australian state curricula (VCE, HSC, QCE, WACE, SACE). With deep expertise in academic assessment systems, Adam specializes in helping students understand grade conversions, scaling processes, and university entrance requirements.
Through RevisionTown, Adam has guided thousands of Australian students through the complexities of ATAR calculation, subject selection strategy, and university application processes. His expertise spans multiple educational systems, enabling him to provide comprehensive guidance for both domestic and international students.
📧 Email: info@revisiontown.com
💼 LinkedIn: Connect with Adam