ATAR Pathway - University Admission

Applicants must:

• Meet the requirements for WACE

• Obtain a sufficiently high ATAR for the university and course

• Satisfy any prerequisites for particular courses

• Achieve competence in English; generally a final scaled mark of at least 50 in an ATAR English course.

ATAR calculation

50% Year 12 school mark + 50% ATAR course examination mark

Moderated, standardised, scaled score

Four best scaled scores count (any four)

TEA (Tertiary Entrance Aggregate) plus any bonus marks

ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranking)

Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA)

83 + 85 + 83 + 82 = 333

TEA = 333.00 ATAR = 97.95

COURSE Scaled score

English ATAR 83

Mathematics Applications ATAR 85

Biology ATAR 83

Accounting & Finance ATAR 82

Physics ATAR 72

Physical Education Studies General N/A

Sum of best four courses

Best 4

ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank)

• A ranking between 0 and 99.95 (not a %)

• Student’s rank is relative to all other Year 12 students of the Year 12 school leaving age population in WA

• An ATAR of 75.0 is equal to or better than 75% of students of Year 12 age

TEA conversion to ATAR

• Converting TEA to ATAR is done each year by TISC (Tertiary Institution Services Centre)

• Minimum ATAR* for University entry in WA:– UWA 80 – Curtin 70 – Murdoch 70 – ECU 70 *Some courses require significantly higher ATAR (eg Law at ECU is 85)**These averages may change slightly from year to year.

TEA ATAR *These averages change slightly from year to year.

ATAR Minimum TEA for ATAR Average* Scaled %60.0 198.5 49.6370.0 219.4 54.8575.0 230.2 57.5580.0 243.4 60.8585.0 259.2 64.8090.0 278.2 69.5595.0 305.0 76.2598.0 334.5 83.6399.0 353.1 88.28

99.95 408.5 102.13*

TEA ATAR *These averages change slightly from year to year.

ATAR Minimum TEA for ATAR Average* Scaled %60.0 198.5 49.6370.0 219.4 54.8575.0 230.2 57.5580.0 243.4 60.8585.0 259.2 64.8090.0 278.2 69.5595.0 305.0 76.2598.0 334.5 83.6399.0 353.1 88.28

99.95 408.5 102.13*

TEA ATAR *These averages change slightly from year to year.

ATAR Minimum TEA for ATAR Average* Scaled %60.0 198.5 49.6370.0 219.4 54.8575.0 230.2 57.5580.0 243.4 60.8585.0 259.2 64.8090.0 278.2 69.5595.0 305.0 76.2598.0 334.5 83.6399.0 353.1 88.28

99.95 408.5 102.13*

TEA ATAR *These averages change slightly from year to year.

ATAR Minimum TEA for ATAR Average* Scaled %60.0 198.5 49.6370.0 219.4 54.8575.0 230.2 57.5580.0 243.4 60.8585.0 259.2 64.8090.0 278.2 69.5595.0 305.0 76.2598.0 334.5 83.6399.0 353.1 88.28

99.95 408.5 102.13*

Other university options

• Melbourne, Bond, UNSW, Monash, Sydney and Queensland, for example

• Many students consider interstate universities that offer undergraduate Medicine e.g. Adelaide, JCU

• UK, USA • NB – bonus marks may not count interstate /

overseas.

University of Notre Dame• Completely different entry process: based on

– Application– Personal Statement and– Interview.

• Early Offer Program is competitive plus the Personal Statement and Interview

• Early entry based on Trial exam marks, grades, reference, interview• Increasingly popular option for CCGS boys – compulsory to attend

lectures (not web-based)

Blend of General and ATAR ?

• Students can choose some General and some ATAR subjects - but need a minimum of 4 ATAR courses to achieve an ATAR

• Year 11 students can change from a full ATAR course to a full General course after one semester, timetable/class sizes allowing

• Six ATAR courses is a heavy load for some. Consider 5 ATAR and 1 General or a Certificate course.

Year 11 at CCGS: considerations

– Genuine interest in subject (enjoyment, work ethic)and– Year 11, Year 12 and beyonde.g.University/TAFE/Work Prerequisites Yr12 courses Yr11 courses.

Uni prerequisites – check carefully• Engineering at Curtin

– Prerequisite: Methods; one of Physics, Chemistry or Engineering Studies.

– Desirable: Specialist• Civil Engineering at ECU

– Prerequisite: Methods, Physics OR Engineering Studies– Desirable: Specialist

• Electrical Engineering at Murdoch– Recommended: Methods, Specialist, Physics

• Engineering at UWA– Prerequisite: Specialist, Methods, Chemistry and Physics OR

Methods plus additional units in first year– Desirable: Specialist, Methods, Chemistry and Physics

Important documents

All of these will be helpful for you:

• SCSA – Year 10 Information Booklet (when available)

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/560162/Year-10-Information-Handbook-2019.PDF

• CCGS – Judgements of suitable subjects from teachers (through parent portal)

• CCGS - Course Selection Information Booklet

Important documents contd.

• CCGS - Course Selection Form

• TISC - University Admissions (when available)

• University prospectuses (websites are fantastic too).

The CCGS Timetable• All students in Year 11 are required to undertake 6 courses

• The timetable grid is constructed from initial course choices

• Where there are insufficient students choosing a course, it will not run

• Some courses will be combined with MLC – advised in Term 4

• Year 11 and 12 General classes may be combined to provide a viable class size

LIST A (arts/languages/social sciences) LIST B (mathematics/science/technology)

Ancient History ATAR Accounting and Finance ATAR

Business Management and Enterprise ATAR Applied Information Technology ATAR*Business Management and Enterprise General Biology ATAR

* Career & Enterprise General Chemistry ATAR

† Chinese: Second Language ATAR Computer Science ATAR

Drama ATAR Computer Science ATAR Year 12 (accelerated)

Economics ATAR *Computer Science General

† English as an Additional Language ATAR Design ATAR

CERTIFICATE English ATAR * Design General* Certificate III in Fitness * English General Engineering Studies ATAR

† French: Second Language ATAR Food Science & Technology ATAR

Geography ATAR Human Biology ATAR

* Geography General Marine & Maritime Studies ATAR

† Japanese: Second Language ATAR * Marine & Maritime Studies General

Literature ATAR Materials Design & Technology ATAR

Media Production & Analysis ATAR * Materials Design & Technology General (Wood)

Modern History ATAR * Materials Design & Technology General (Metal)

Music ATAR Mathematics Applications ATAR

Philosophy & Ethics ATAR Mathematics Methods ATAR

Politics & Law ATAR Mathematics Specialist ATAR

Visual Arts ATAR * Mathematics Essential General

* Visual Arts General Physical Education Studies ATAR

* Physical Education Studies General

Physics ATAR

Psychology ATAR

*Contributes towards WACE but does not contribute to an ATAR calculation. Only one can be undertaken

† The study of this course is subject to SCSA eligibility requirements

Other certificate courses will be available in Year 12 for boys who are following a non-ATAR Pathway

English options

Year 11 and Year 12English GeneralEAL/D ATAR (eligibility approval required)English ATAR (contemporary focus: diverse range incl. media)Literature ATAR (traditional focus: poetry, drama, fiction)

Options for changes between Year 11 and Year 12English ATAR (Year 11) English General (Year 12)Literature ATAR (Year 11) English ATAR (Year 12)

Mathematics Options

10 Advanced

Methods ATAR & Specialist ATAR

MethodsATAR

Could change to Applications in

Year 12, although Applications in Year 11

would be better preparation.10

MainstreamApplications

ATARCould change to

Essentials inYear 12.10 Support Essentials

General

Year 11 Methods• Methods is significantly more difficult than

Applications• Historically, a large number of boys have chosen

Methods against our advice• Many soon want to change to Applications but

not all can be accommodated• About 25% of those who initially choose Methods

either change to Applications or achieve only a D or an E grade in Methods in Year 11

Mathematics Prerequisites

Year 11 Specialist Year 11 Methods Year 11 Applications Year 11 Essential

Year 10 Extension

Prerequisite met Prerequisite met Notappropriate

Notappropriate

Year 10 Advanced

A grade A or B grade

C grade – need to discuss with HoD

C grade Notappropriate

Year 10 Mainstream

Not appropriate A grade – need to discuss with HoD

A or B grade

C grade – need to discuss with HoD

Prerequisite met

Year 10 Support

Notappropriate

Notappropriate

Need to discuss with HoD

Prerequisite met

Bonus marks for Maths Methods and Specialist

• Curtin, ECU, Murdoch and UWA award a Tertiary Entrance Aggregate bonus to encourage students to undertake the more challenging Mathematics ATAR course options:– Mathematics Methods and – Mathematics Specialist

Bonus marks for Maths Methods and Spec

• The bonus will apply to the calculation of the Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA).

• Ten percent of the final scaled score/s in Mathematics Methods ATAR and Mathematics Specialist ATAR will be added to the TEA, from which the ATAR is derived.

• Bonuses from both courses will count even if the scaled score from the course is not one of the student’s best four scores.

Unacceptable combination rules for Maths

Unacceptable combination rules will apply to Mathematics ATAR courses: • Mathematics Applications ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR

are an unacceptable combination. • Mathematics Applications ATAR and Mathematics Specialist

ATAR are also an unacceptable combination. Only one scaled score from the unacceptable combination can be used in the calculation of the ATAR.

*Interstate universities may not include bonus marks in their calculations.

CCGS advice in regard to Maths

• Students should choose the highest level of Mathematics of which they are capable.

• Their level of achievement in Year 10 is the best way for us to judge this capability, as it reflects the skills and understandings that they have demonstrated.

• It is extremely challenging to try to consolidate skills from Year 10 and earlier in Year 11 Methods, owing to the level of difficulty and pace of that course.

Languages (Chinese, French, Japanese)

• Study of all languages (and EAL/D) is subject to being approved for eligibility – SCSA mandated

• Languages teachers run this process – contact Head of Department if you have queries.

• LOTE bonus from UWA, Curtin, Murdoch and ECU: 10% of LOTE scaled score added to TEA even if the subject is not one of the top four

• *Interstate universities may not include bonus marks in their calculations.

General Advice in the selection process

• Talk to your son’s tutor, Head of House, teachers

• How is he doing in English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities? Consult past reports and current live marks record.

• Generally, it is unlikely that marks and grades will improve in Year 11 and 12, no matter how many new leaves are turned! (Past performance is the best predictor of future performance.)

• Unless your son is really committed to doing well in the courses he chooses for next year, expect his marks to drop.

General Advice (contd.) • Avoid becoming paralysed by the choice process! No single

‘best’ combination• Remember it is him doing Year 11• Academic achievement - choosing the most challenging course

of which your son is capable will leave options open for further study

• Interests and motivation rather than scaling/friends/likely teachers etc

• Aspirations - university or TAFE?

• Personality – resilience, anxiety issues

• Course prerequisites

General Advice (contd.) Beware: • the scaling furphy• the ‘80 effect’ (or the ‘70 effect’…)• the easy route now / bridging courses later• the belief that university is the best/only/most

secure pathway to successStay informed – lots of developments in tertiary education e.g. Curtin’s direct entry Medicine; Notre Dame’s BA in Architecture.

joboutlook.gov.au

And (almost) finally…

• General Exhibition calculations (top 50 in state) – 2 List A + 2 List B + next best i.e. 5 subjects counted

• All Exhibitions and prizes are now calculated on ATAR course exam mark only

• A few highly capable and hard-working students study 7 subjects in Year 11 and/or Year 12

• Trust teachers’ advice – their experience and insights are invaluable

• Trust the School – we really want each boy to make progress and achieve success.

Websites

• School Curriculum and Standards Authority – (SCSA)http://wace1516.scsa.wa.edu.au

(All course outlines freely available)

• Tertiary Institutions Services Center (TISC)www.tisc.edu.au

• TAFE WAwww.tafecourses.com.au/courses/western-australia/