What is a good ATAR?

What is the ATAR used for?

The Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank, or ATAR, is a rank that shows a student's achievement in relation to other students. Universities use the ATAR as a minimum entry requirement for various courses, alongside other criteria such as portfolios, auditions, interviews and more – depending on the course.

Learn more about ATARs

What is considered a good ATAR?

The ATAR required is specific to each course, however most sit somewhere between 60 to 80. High demand courses may require an ATAR of 90+. While 99.95 is the highest ATAR rank a student can achieve, what makes a good ATAR is subjective and can be determined by a number of factors beyond the ranking itself.

These factors include:

Course entry requirements

Some courses have prerequisities alongside an ATAR, such as a specific score in a maths subject or they may require a portfolio submission and interview. However, some courses may not use the ATAR as part of the entry requirements at all.

Course competitiveness

Some courses are in high demand, attracting many applicants for limited spots. A higher ATAR can increase your chances of admission, but you must still meet all other entry requirements.

Personal goals

A good ATAR is one that helps you pursue your passions and sets you on a path towards achieving your future ambitions.

Find a course by ATAR

How to get a good ATAR

Rather than focusing on a specific number, you should aim to do your best to get into your dream course.

Set realistic, personalised goals that reflect individual strengths and interests, and seek help when you need it. Staying organised and managing time effectively will also help maintain balance and reduce stress.

And always remember, your success is not defined by numbers.

ATAR Schemes

Guaranteed ATAR courses

RMIT offers a range of courses with Guaranteed ATARs (excluding adjustment factors), which allows you to know the likelihood of receiving an offer into specific courses in advance. This means that if you receive an ATAR equal to or above this and meet the course prerequisites, we will guarantee you an offer in this course.

Learn more about RMIT's Guaranteed ATAR courses

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Early Offer Program

As a Year 12 student, RMIT's Early Offer program allows you to use your real-world and extracurricular skills to secure an early conditional offer before your final exams. With a variety of RMIT courses to choose from, this will give you peace of mind and ensures your experiences are recognised.

Learn more about RMIT's Early Offer program

What if my ATAR is lower than expected?

Sometimes life gets in the way and you may not receive the ATAR ranking you were expecting. Fortunately a high ATAR isn’t the only way to get into the university course you want and there are still a range of pathways that can help you.

Learn more about pathways

Study a vocational/TAFE diploma or certificate

RMIT's certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas provide the skills and knowledge to seamlessly pathway into your dream degree or graduate with an internationally recognised, career-ready qualification.

Learn more about the vocational study

Equity access schemes

If your circumstances have impacted on your academic performance, you may be eligible to apply for equity access. Eligible applicants can receive an adjustment to the calculation of their selection rank, which can increase the chances of receiving an offer.

Learn more about equity access schemes

Use our pathways tool to find the right pathway to your dream degree.

Explore pathways

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How you can get into uni without an ATAR

The perfect exam score isn’t the only way into a uni course. You may be wondering how to get into uni without an ATAR, without even realising that some of the university pathways provide more benefits.

Soft skills

Soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are crucial for success in university and future workplaces, going beyond what an ATAR can measure.

Motivation

Motivation drives your progress and achievement, helping you stay focused and resilient despite challenges, surpassing the value of any numerical ranking.

Portfolios/selection tasks

Portfolios and selection tasks showcase your talents and achievements, often making a decisive impact on course acceptance beyond your ATAR.

Experience

Experience through volunteering, internships, or part-time work enhances your development by applying knowledge and building practical skills.

Have more questions?

Our friendly staff at Study@RMIT are available five days a week to assist you.

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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What is a good ATAR?