Starting Year 12 WACE in 2027: your guide
If you're in Year 11 now, you'll finish the WACE in 2027. Your ATAR comes from TISC, using your best four ATAR course scaled scores plus 10% bonuses for Mathematics Methods, Mathematics Specialist and a language. Each scaled score starts from a 50:50 average of your moderated school mark and your SCSA exam mark. Term 1 starts on 1 February 2027 (WA public schools); ATAR written exams run from 27 October to 18 November 2027; results dates are to be announced.
The series
- How Year 12 WACE assessment works: school assessment, moderation, the exam and the WACE Refreshment changes for 2027.
- Setting up a study system over summer: notes by syllabus, a routine, active recall and rest.
- When to start WACE past papers: where SCSA's papers, marking keys and reports are, and how to use them.
- How the WACE ATAR is calculated: the full TISC method with the 2025 TEA-to-ATAR table.
- Choosing WACE ATAR courses with scaling in mind: what the scaling data does and doesn't tell you.
How is the WACE ATAR calculated?
- School mark. Your school assesses you on Units 3 and 4; SCSA moderates the mark against the exam.
- Combined mark. Your moderated school mark and exam mark (both out of 100) are averaged.
- Scaled score. Each course's combined marks are standardised, then TISC applies Average Marks Scaling.
- TEA. Your best four scaled scores, plus 10% of your Methods, Specialist and best language scaled scores if you have them (maximum 430). You need at least four scaled scores.
- ATAR. TISC converts the TEA into a rank. An ATAR of 70.00 means you did as well as or better than 70% of WA's Year 12 school leaver age population.
TISC's Board has postponed until further notice its proposed change to the TEA calculation, so this method applies to the 2027 cohort as things stand. Model your own scores with the WACE ATAR calculator or browse the other WACE calculators.
Key 2027 dates
| What | Date |
|---|---|
| Term 1 (WA public schools) | Mon 1 February to Fri 9 April 2027 |
| Term 2 | Mon 26 April to Fri 2 July 2027 |
| Term 3 | Mon 19 July to Fri 24 September 2027 |
| ATAR practical exams | Sat 25 September to Sun 24 October 2027 |
| ATAR written exams | Wed 27 October to Thu 18 November 2027 (course timetable to come on SCSA's examination timetables page) |
| SCSA results and TISC ATAR release | To be announced by SCSA and on TISC's important dates page |
These are WA public school dates; check your own school's calendar.
Get your assessment outlines on day one of Term 1 and put every task date into the study planner. Then use today for the daily short list.
Start here
- Your course hubs: English, Literature, Mathematics Methods, Specialist Mathematics, Mathematics Applications, Chemistry, Physics, Human Biology, Psychology.
- Practice: flashcards and the WACE exams hub.
- Looking ahead: uni course finder, career finder and life after school.
Sources & how we know this
- About the ATAR — Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) (2026)
- Marks adjustment process for university admission — Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) (2023)
- Term dates — Department of Education WA (2026)
- Examination timetables — School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) (2026)
- 7to12 Circular, Edition 5, May 2026 (2027 ATAR course examination dates) — School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) (2026)
- WACE requirements — School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) (2026)
Last updated: 2026-09-28. Rules change. For the official source see SCSA.