Choosing TCE Level 3 and 4 courses with scaling in mind (2026)
TASC publishes each course's scaled score range for every award. In 2025 the highest average course scores among courses with 150+ students were Mathematics Specialised (19.0), Chemistry (17.9), Mathematics Methods (17.0), Economics (16.9) and Physics (16.4). But TASC says course choices should not be based on previous years' scaling, and the data shows why: the award you achieve matters more than the course. An Exceptional Achievement in Sport Science (23.6 to 25.4) scored higher than a High Achievement in Chemistry (17.2 to 22.4).
What TASC publishes
Every December TASC releases a table of course score ranges for each award in every scaled course: Satisfactory (SA), Commendable (CA), High (HA) and Exceptional Achievement (EA). It also shows the average course score. The 2025 table carries a warning that it "should not be used to try to predict scaling outcomes in future years".
2025 average course scores (150+ students)
| Course | Students | Average course score | EA range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics Specialised | 197 | 19.0 | 25.3 to 26.0 |
| Chemistry | 436 | 17.9 | 22.9 to 24.2 |
| Mathematics Methods | 621 | 17.0 | 22.3 to 23.1 |
| Economics | 212 | 16.9 | 23.6 to 24.8 |
| Physics | 273 | 16.4 | 21.7 to 23.1 |
| Biology | 717 | 15.7 | 22.2 to 23.4 |
| English Literature | 418 | 15.0 | 22.2 to 23.7 |
| Physical Sciences | 1,105 | 14.8 | 21.0 to 22.0 |
| Sport Science | 481 | 14.4 | 23.6 to 25.4 |
| Legal Studies | 367 | 13.7 | 21.2 to 22.7 |
| English | 1,482 | 13.2 | 20.8 to 21.7 |
| Mathematics Methods Foundation | 1,227 | 12.9 | 18.0 to 19.0 |
| Psychology | 602 | 12.2 | 20.2 to 21.5 |
| General Mathematics | 1,165 | 11.4 | 18.0 to 19.4 |
Student numbers include those who received Limited or Preliminary Achievement, which doesn't attract a course score.
The award matters more than the course
The ranges overlap heavily. In 2025:
- EA in Sport Science (23.6 to 25.4) was above HA in Chemistry (17.2 to 22.4).
- EA in English (20.8 to 21.7) was above CA in Mathematics Methods (11.7 to 18.2).
- HA in Mathematics Methods (18.7 to 21.8) overlapped EA in General Mathematics (18.0 to 19.4).
So a course you can reach HA or EA in will usually do more for your TE Score than one where you'd get a CA, whatever its average.
Planning your courses
- Aim for five Level 3 or 4 courses across your two years. Your TE Score uses the best 60 to 75 points, so a fifth course gives you a replacement if one result is weaker.
- From 2025, results from either year count, so a strong Year 11 Level 3 result is as useful as a Year 12 one.
- HAP and UCP units from the University of Tasmania can count (all HAP units; only UCP units marked as counting towards the ATAR).
- Check prerequisites for the degrees you're considering before choosing.
Choosing a course because it had a high average score last year. TASC's scaling reflects how hard it was to achieve each award relative to other courses that year, and it changes from year to year.
For how course scores become a TE Score and ATAR, see how the Tasmanian ATAR is calculated.
Sources & how we know this
- 2025 TASC course scaling information — Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC) (2025)
- Focus on: course scaling — Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC) (2026)
- Focus on: TE Score and ATAR calculation — Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC) (2026)
Last updated: 2026-09-23. Rules change. For the official source see TASC.