Ep 58 - How Are ATARs Calculated?

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How is an ATAR calculated in Victoria?

Your ATAR is calculated from your VCE study scores, which are combined to create an aggregate score. Your aggregate is then compared with the results of other students in your age group to produce an ATAR between 0.00 and 99.95. Your English study score (or an approved English equivalent) must be included, along with your next three highest study scores and 10% of your fifth and sixth highest study scores where applicable.

Key takeaways

By the end of this episode, you'll understand:

  • how VCE SAC results contribute to study scores

  • how SACs are moderated

  • how VCE study scores are calculated

  • what scaling means

  • how study scores contribute to your aggregate

  • how your aggregate becomes an ATAR

  • which parts of the process you can actually influence

What we’re talking about:

In this solo episode I’m answering the question “How are ATARs calculated?” because it’s so relevant to all students from Year 10 through to the end of Year 12, and there’s a lot of misinformation out there about how it all works, which causes significant stress and anxiety for students. By explaining how it really works, my aim is to empower you and remove some of that stress, helping you focus on what you can control and worry less about what you can’t.

1:45 - How do SAC rankings affect your VCE study score?

Understand how your Unit 3&4 SAC results contribute to your study scores for each of your VCE subjects. Spoiler alert: your initial SAC marks aren’t directly used in your study score. Your ranking within your school’s moderation group is important in this step.

6:26 - How are VCE SACs moderated?

Learn how VCAA uses the external exam results for your VCE subjects to calculate the SAC results they will use to work out your study score. This is how they fix the issue that students at different schools do different SACs.

11:29 - How does VCE scaling affect your study score?

You’ve likely heard about scaling of VCE study scores because it seems to be something that students really focus on when they’re choosing subjects. It’s important to know that subjects are scaled based on how well the cohort of students in one subject do in all of their other subjects, and it’s done to make a study score of 30 equivalent to a study score of 30 in any other subject.

13:45 - How are study scores used to calculate an ATAR?

Find out how your study scores are added together to calculate an aggregate score, and then how that number is converted to a ranking, comparing your results to everyone else who has completed VCE in the same year.

15:36 - What does your ATAR actually mean?

Now you know how it works, you can focus on the things that will actually help you get a better ATAR and let go of the things you can’t control.

Frequently Asked Questions About ATARs in VCE

Do SAC marks directly affect your ATAR?

Your SAC results are important because they are used to create a ranking of the students in your school doing each subject. Your actual marks aren’t directly used, but your ranking and your school’s exam results in the subject are used to create a moderated SAC result for you that is used in the calculation of your ATAR. This happens because SACs are different at every school and written by the teachers at that school, and moderating SACs makes it more fair across different schools.

Does my SAC ranking matter?

Your SAC ranking matters because it is used to work out what your moderated SAC result will be, and this moderated SAC result is what’s used to calculate your study score for the subject.

How does VCE scaling work?

Scaling is how VTAC tries to make a study score of 30 in one subject the same as a study score of 30 in another subject. They look at how the entire cohort of student who have studied the subject in that year has performed across their other subjects. Then they use this to work out if the raw study scores should be shifted up or down slightly to make it equivalent to a study score of 30 in another subject. Scaling isn’t linear, so the better you do in a subject, the more it will be scaled up (or the less it will be scaled down).

Does choosing a scaled-up VCE subject give you a higher ATAR?

Not necessarily. You will get the best ATAR by doing subjects that you enjoy and that you’re good at. Remember that scaling isn’t linear, so getting a 38 in a subject you like that gets scaled down slightly is still a better study score than getting a 27 in a subject that you don’t like that gets scaled up slightly. Doing a subject that you’re less motivated in may also take time and effort away from your other subjects.

How many VCE subjects count towards your ATAR?

Up to 6 subjects can be included in the calculation of your ATAR. Your VCE English (or equivalent English subject) study score plus your best three study scores are added together, plus 10% of a 5th and 6th score are added together to create your aggregate score, and then that’s turned into a ranking to calculate your ATAR.

Can I get a good ATAR without getting high marks in every subject?

Yes. Remember that your 5th (and 6th if available) subjects only get 10% added to your study score. That means that the most that you can add for these subjects is 5 points each (10% of 50), and there’s not much difference between adding 5 (for a study score of 50) or 2 (for a study score of 20) to your aggregate. My advice is to do your best, get your ATAR and then we can work out a plan to get into the course and career you’re interested in.

Does a higher ATAR mean I will have a better career?

No. A high ATAR means that you have more choice about what course you can get straight into after you finish school. It relies on your ability to do well academically in the VCE school system. A great career depends on your abilities, interest and motivation in a particular industry or role. You can have an amazing career no matter what ATAR you get.

Links mentioned:

Related podcast episodes:

Ep 88 – How Many VCE Subjects Should You Do?

Ep 91 – Do Year 11 Results Matter in VCE?

Ep 96 – How Do SACs Work in VCE?

Ep 100 – How to Feel Confident About VCE...

Ep 105 – The Truth About ATAR Focused Tutoring Ads

Ep 108 – Why ATAR Goals Can Backfire

Ep 110 – VCE Results Are Coming: Understanding Your ATAR and Finding the Right Pathway

My website: https://www.roadmapeducation.com


VCE Study Designs: https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/curriculum/vce/vce-study-designs/Pages/vce-study-designs.aspx

Instagram post - How your ATAR is calculated: What you need to know

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Prefer reading?
I've also written a detailed guide explaining how ATARs are calculated, including how VCE study scores, SACs and scaling fit together: How are ATARs calculated?

Last updated: September 2026

This episode was originally recorded in May 2023. The core explanation remains useful, but some VCE and ATAR processes can change over time. The information on this page has been updated to reflect the current Victorian VCE and ATAR system. Always check the latest information from VCAA and VTAC for current requirements.

VCE, ATARKim WhittyRoadmap Education