QCE ATAR calculator

How this calculator works

The QCE ATAR is calculated by QTAC. It works like this:

1. Each General subject result (0-100, combined from IA1, IA2, IA3, and the EA) is scaled by a per-subject offset that reflects the academic strength of that subject's cohort. Specialist Maths, Methods, Physics and Chemistry typically scale up; General Maths, Health and PE typically scale down.
2. Your top 5 scaled subject scores (one of which must be General English, Literature or EAL) are summed into an aggregate out of 500.
3. The aggregate is mapped to a percentile rank. The maximum aggregate maps to ATAR 99.95; roughly the bottom is mapped to ATAR 30.

What this calculator is not

This is an estimator, not QTAC's official tool. Real scaling shifts year-to-year. For your official ATAR, refer to QTAC.

How to use this calculator

• Estimate after IAs.By mid-Term 3 of Year 12, your three IAs are locked in. Enter the subject result you'd have if your EA went as expected.
• Plan target results. Enter your target subject results and check what ATAR they hit. Adjust until the estimate matches your goal.
• Test subject choices. Methods vs General Maths is a meaningful scaling swing. Compare combinations to see which produces a higher estimated ATAR for the same effort.

Want to understand the maths in depth?

Read our explainers on how the QCE ATAR is calculated, IAs vs EA, and how QCE credits work.

Common questions

How is the QCE ATAR calculated?

QTAC takes your QCE subject results (combined from your three IAs and the External Assessment for each subject), scales each subject for the academic strength of its cohort, sums your best 5 General subject scaled scores (with at least one General English subject required), and converts the aggregate into a percentile rank. That percentile is your ATAR.

What counts as a General subject for ATAR?

General subjects are externally moderated and end in an External Assessment. They are designed to support tertiary study. Common General subjects include English, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Modern History, Economics, and Visual Art. Applied subjects (including Essential English and Essential Maths) satisfy QCE credit requirements but generally do not count for ATAR.

Why does the calculator require General English?

QCE ATAR eligibility requires you to have completed and passed a General English subject (English, Literature, or English as an Additional Language). Essential English satisfies QCE literacy but does not count for ATAR aggregate. If you do not include a General English, the calculator cannot produce an ATAR estimate.

What is QCE scaling?

QTAC scales each subject result by an offset that reflects the academic strength of the subject's cohort. Specialist Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Physics and Chemistry typically scale up. General Mathematics, Health and Physical Education typically scale down. Scaling is recalculated each year against the actual cohort.

How is the QCE different from HSC and VCE?

QCE counts top 5 General subjects. HSC counts top 10 units (extension subjects are 1 unit each). VCE counts top 4 study scores at 100% plus next 2 at 10%. All three end in an aggregate that maps to an ATAR percentile, but the aggregate structure differs.

Can I use this calculator before the EA?

Yes. Enter your projected subject result for each subject (based on your three IAs plus an estimate for the EA). The calculator will tell you what your ATAR would be at those projections. Most QCE students have their IAs locked in by mid-Term 3 of Year 12, so the EA estimate is the main variable.