Derived IB Rank

VTAC calculates a Derived IB Rank for some International Baccalaureate (IB) students who do not meet the requirements for the IB Diploma. Some institutions may consider this rank when assessing eligibility for an offer. This differs from the Notional ATAR, which is awarded to passing IB Diploma students and is accepted by all tertiary institutions as equivalent to an ATAR for selection purposes.

Eligibility for a Derived IB Rank

Students who have completed IB studies but have not met the requirements for the IB Diploma may be eligible for a Derived IB Rank if they meet all of the following criteria:

  • Completed the full IB Diploma Programme or were a retake candidate.
  • Received a total combined score of 20 or more points.
  • Completed Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE), and at least six HL/SL subjects.
  • Did not receive the grade ‘N’ or ‘P’ for any subject or result, including award status and TOK/EE matrix points.

For more details on the Derived IB Rank, including the conversion from IB scores, refer to the IB students guide. Since acceptance of the Derived IB Rank is at the discretion of each institution, you may wish to contact institutions directly for further advice.

How the Aggregate and ATAR Are Calculated

VTAC commences the ATAR calculation process after study scores are scaled. For more information on scaling, please see the “How does scaling work?” article.

There are two steps to producing the ATAR: 

  1. Calculating the aggregate

  2. Converting aggregates to ATAR

Step 1: Calculating the Aggregate

VTAC first calculates your aggregate, which is the sum of your primary four scaled study scores plus up to two permissible increments.

A maximum of six studies can contribute to your aggregate, which may include:

  • VCE Unit 3 and 4 sequences
  • VCE VET (Vocational Education and Training) programs with Unit 3 and 4 sequences
  • Approved VET studies (VE3)
  • One approved higher education study

Only certain studies count toward your primary four, while others may be used as increments.

 
Primary Four Aggregate

The primary four aggregate is the sum of:

  • Your VTAC Scaled Study Score in one of the following:
    • English, English (EAL), Literature, or English Language
  • The next three highest permissible scaled study scores

Increments

If applicable, a maximum of two increments can be added to your primary four. Increments may include:

  • 10% of a fifth or sixth scaled study score
  • A permissible non-scored VCE VET or VE3 increment
  • A permissible higher education study increment
  • Year 12 credit for studies completed interstate

If you have more than six results, only the highest-scoring six will be used for your ATAR calculation. All studies remain visible to selection officers.

Step 2: Converting Aggregate to ATAR

Once aggregates are calculated for all students, they are ranked and placed on a percentile scale, converting them into ATARs.

Your aggregate is the total of your permissible scaled study scores, which can range from 0 to over 210 (in exceptional cases).

  • Students with the highest aggregates receive the highest ATAR of 99.95.

  • ATARs below 30.00 are reported as "less than 30" on ATAR statements. However, your exact ATAR can be accessed via the online results service.

VTAC publishes an Aggregate to ATAR Table on the results release day. Previous years' tables are available on the Reports and Statistics page on the VTAC website.

For a comprehensive explanation of how the ATAR is calculated, refer to the ATAR and Scaling Guide.

Accessing Your ATAR Statement

Eligible Victorian students will receive a digitally secured ATAR statement via My eQuals. Access details will be sent to the email address listed in your VTAC account.

Eligibility Criteria

To receive your ATAR statement, you must have:

  • Completed VCE Year 12 in the current year
  • Qualified for an ATAR or Notional ATAR
  • Created a VTAC account and submitted a course application

Requesting a Hardcopy or Reprint

If you completed Year 12 in Victoria in a previous year or require a hardcopy, you can request a statement of your ATAR (or Notional ATAR for Victorian IB students) by submitting an order through the ATAR reprint service on the VTAC website.

Interstate ATARs

If you studied an interstate curriculum, your local Tertiary Admission Centre will issue your ATAR statement. 

  Overseas ATAR Statements   VTAC does not convert overseas results into an ATAR. For information on how your overseas studies will be assessed by VTAC, please see the “How will VTAC assess my overseas study?” article.   More Information   Please visit the ATAR page on the VTAC website for further information.

Interstate ATAR and Results

When you apply through VTAC, we will attempt to electronically match your interstate results and include them in your application. You will only need to provide your results to VTAC if we specifically request them.

Victorian institutions may consider your interstate ATAR and results when assessing your eligibility for their courses. This applies to all domestic applicants with an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).   For more information, please visit the Interstate and NZ applicants page on the VTAC website.

Understanding Scaled Study Scores and Their Role in ATAR Calculation

A scaled study score is calculated by VTAC to ensure a fair comparison of students’ achievements across different subjects. Scaling ensures fairness in the ATAR ranking process when comparing students that have sat different combinations of VCE studies. It ranges from 0.00 to 55.00 and reflects how a student performed in a study relative to all students across all subjects.

Why Study Scores Are Scaled

  • Scaling accounts for differences in subject competition, as some subjects attract a more competitive cohort than others.

  • In some subjects, it's more difficult to achieve the average study score of 30, and in others it is less difficult to achieve the average.

  • It ensures that students are not advantaged or disadvantaged based on their subject choices.

  • The process maintains fairness by making study scores comparable across all subjects.

How Study Scores Are Scaled

  1. Initial Study Scores

    • VTAC receives VCE study scores from VCAA assessment results.

  2. Comparison Across Subjects

    • VTAC reviews how students perform in their other subjects to assess the overall competitiveness of each study.

    • If students in a subject tend to perform better across their other studies, it indicates the subject is more competitive, and the study scores are scaled up.

    • If students in a subject tend to perform worse in their other studies, it indicates the subject is less competitive, and the study scores are scaled down.

  3. Final Scaled Study Scores

    • After scaling, the scaled study scores are used in ATAR calculations.

    • Some subjects, like Mathematics and Languages, have additional scaling rules.

See the below image for a visual representation on the scaling process. For more information please see the ATAR and Scaling Guide.

Understanding the ATAR and Its Role in Tertiary Admissions

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a percentile ranking that reflects a student’s Year 12 achievement compared to their age group in a given year. It is used by tertiary institutions to competitively rank applicants who have completed different combinations of VCE (or equivalent interstate/IB) studies.

It is calculated by VTAC solely for use by institutions for admission into some tertiary courses.   What the ATAR Number Means   The ATAR is reported as a number between 0.00 and 99.95 with increments of 0.05. A student with an ATAR of 75.00 has achieved VCE results above 75 percent of the Year 12 age group.   The ATAR isn’t a reflection of you as a person, and there’s no pass or fail ATAR. Everyone who receives an ATAR has passed the VCE. The ATAR is simply a rank used by institutions for some of their courses. In most cases, it is only one of many criteria and factors considered in the selection process.   More information:   For more information on the ATAR, visit the ATAR page.   For information about how VTAC calculates the ATAR, see the “How does VTAC calculate the ATAR?” article.

How Equity Schemes (SEAS) Affects Your Application

Equity Schemes (SEAS) helps compensate for educational disadvantage by making your application more competitive. It increases your selection rank but does not change your ATAR.

Selection Rank and Equity Schemes (SEAS) Adjustments

Your selection rank is your ATAR plus any adjustments, such as SEAS adjustments or subject adjustments. These adjustments are added to your aggregate score, and your new selection rank is calculated using the ATAR conversion table (found on the Reports and Statistics page on the VTAC website).


For example, if your ATAR is 70.00 and your aggregate is 120.41, receiving 5 SEAS adjustment points could increase your aggregate to 125.41, which converts to a selection rank of 73.40 according to conversion table. However, SEAS points vary by institution and course, meaning your selection rank may be different for each course on your preference list.

The following image represents how a SEAS adjustment can affect your selection rank.

image showing SEAS as a ratio to ATAR and its small contribution to overall selection rank

Meeting Course Entry Requirements

A SEAS application does not exempt you from meeting course entry requirements. You must still complete all requirements listed under ‘Essential Requirements and Admission Criteria’, including prerequisites for each course you apply to.

Overseas and Post-Secondary Qualifications

VTAC does not convert overseas or post-secondary qualifications into an ATAR. Institutions will evaluate applicants based on their level of achievement against selection criteria and compare it with all other applicants. Selection ranks vary between courses and are impacted by adjustment factors such as Equity Schemes (SEAS) and subject adjustments. Selection ranks are used internally for admissions purposes are not disclosed to applicants.

  If you have read the published course content are still unsure about your eligibility for a specific course, it is recommended to contact the institutions you are applying to directly for guidance.   For more information on how VTAC assesses overseas study, please see the “How will VTAC assess my overseas study?” article.

Notional ATAR for Victorian IB Students

VTAC calculates the Notional ATAR for Victorian IB students using detailed results data provided by the IB, including subject performance and grades. The IB Admissions Score (IBAS) incorporates decimal points into the IB diploma score, which is then used to determine the Notional ATAR.

How Your Notional ATAR is Calculated

Your Notional ATAR is based on your IB Admissions Score (IBAS), which refines your IB diploma score by considering the average performance within each grade band.

For example, if you achieve an IB diploma score of 39, your IBAS may be 39.25, reflecting your standing relative to other students in the same grade band.

More Information

For further details on how VTAC converts your IBAS into a Notional ATAR, including the IBAS/Notional ATAR conversion table, please refer to our International Baccalaureate (IB) Students Guide.

How VET Studies Contribute to the ATAR

Your VET studies can contribute to your ATAR if they are studied through the VCE, or are an approved study for block credit.

VCE VET studies

There are two types of VCE VET studies: scored and unscored VCE VET studies.  

  1. Scored VCE VET studies refer to VCE VET Unit 3 and 4 sequences that have a scored assessment.  When calculating your aggregate, these scored sequences are treated the same as other Unit 3 and 4 VCE studies. However, if you choose not to take the scored assessment for a study when it's available, that study cannot be included in the calculation of your aggregate.
  2. Unscored VCE VET studies are VCE VET Unit 3 and 4 sequences where no scored assessment is available. Since no scores are available for unscored sequences, VTAC may include these studies as an increment (the fifth and/or sixth study). The value of the increment is determined by calculating 10 percent of the score for your fourth study in the primary four. Up to two unscored VCE VET increments can contribute to your aggregate.

Block credit (VE3)

VE3 studies (formerly known as VFE studies) are VET courses that are not part of the VCE VET program but have been approved for block credit at Unit 3 and 4 level by the VCAA. VE3 studies may count towards your ATAR as an increment (the fifth and/or sixth study). The amount of the increment is determined by calculating 10 per cent of the fourth study score of your primary four.

VCE and VCE VET results will take precedence over VE3 block credit results in the calculation of your aggregate. VE3 block credit can only be used in the calculation of an aggregate if there are fewer than six VCE or VCE VET studies available for calculation. Up to two VE3 increments can contribute to the aggregate.

More information:

For more information on the rules and restrictions on what can make up the ATAR go to our VTAC ATAR and Scaling guide.