Your Subjects & Unit Scores
Enter unit scores 0–130. Leave blank if not yet completed.
Add your subjects and scores, then press Estimate My ATAR to see your result.
📋 Course Score & Scaling Breakdown
🏛 ACT University Cut-off Comparison
How the ACT BSSS ATAR is Calculated
The ACT’s ATAR system is unique in Australia — run by the Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) and aligned with NSW. Here’s exactly how your rank is determined.
Step 1: Unit Scores
At the end of each semester (or session), your assessments produce a unit score out of 100–130. These reflect your performance relative to other students in your scaling group at your college. You accumulate 2–8 unit scores per subject depending on whether it’s a minor (2 units) or major (4 units).
Step 2: Course Score (Best 80%)
The BSSS calculates a course score by taking the best 80% of your unit scores in each subject. For a major (4 units), the lowest unit score is dropped. For a minor (2 units), 80% applies proportionally. Double majors use the combined best 80% of all units across both subjects.
Step 3: Scaling (OCS)
Course scores are scaled using the Other Course Score (OCS) method. This adjusts scores to reflect the academic ability of your scaling group — determined by their AST results. Your ranking within the group is preserved, but the absolute scores are adjusted. Strong AST results from your college lift everyone’s scores; weaker AST results moderate them.
Step 4: Aggregate (Best 3.6)
Your aggregate score = your best 3 scaled major scores + 0.6 × your next best course score (major or minor). Double majors count as 2 majors when in your top 3. If a double major is your 4th best, it contributes 0.6 × its score. Only T or H level courses count.
Step 5: ATAR Ranking
All ACT students’ aggregates are ranked from highest to lowest. This ranking is converted to an ATAR using a table from the NSW Technical Committee on Scaling — so ACT students are ranked as if they were part of the NSW age cohort. This makes ACT ATARs directly comparable to NSW, meaning the same university cut-offs apply.
AST: What It Does & Doesn’t Do
The ACT Scaling Test (AST) does not directly contribute to your ATAR — your score is never added to your aggregate. Instead, it influences how all T course scores are scaled across your college. A higher AST performance from your cohort means higher scaled course scores for everyone at your school. Sit the AST seriously — it affects your entire college’s results.
BSSS Subject Types & T Package Requirements
Understanding subject types is essential to planning your BSSS package and maximising your ATAR. Here are all the course types and requirements for a Tertiary Package (TES).
| Course Type | Units | Semesters | ATAR Contribution | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | 2 units | 2 semesters | 0.6 × scaled score (4th best) | Minimum T/H study for a subject |
| Major | 4 units | 4 semesters | Full scaled score — top 3 count | Standard full-course commitment |
| Double Major | 8 units | 8 semesters | Counts as 2 majors in top 3 | e.g. Specialist Maths + Methods |
| Major-Minor | 6 units | 6 semesters | Counts as major for ATAR | e.g. English + Literature |
| Requirement | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total units of study | ≥ 20 standard units | Across Year 11 and Year 12 |
| T or H level units | ≥ 14 T/H units | From T or H classified courses |
| T/H majors and minors | ≥ 3 T/H majors + 1 T/H minor | Or 3 majors + 3 minors from T/H |
| English course | ≥ 1 minor (2 semesters) | Must include T English; not required in ATAR calculation |
| Different course areas | ≥ 3 distinct areas | e.g. Maths, Science, Humanities |
| ACT Scaling Test (AST) | Compulsory | Held Term 3, Year 12 — influences scaling, not aggregate |
| H courses (ANU) | Max 1 H course | From 2025, ANU H-courses no longer available to ACT students |
What Your ACT ATAR Score Means
Your ATAR is a percentile rank — not a percentage. It shows where your academic performance sits relative to the entire ACT eligible age cohort, including those who did not complete Year 12.
| ATAR Score | What It Means | Top % of Cohort | ACT Students/Year (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.95 | Highest possible — approximately 2 students in ACT | Top 0.05% | ~2 students |
| 99.00+ | Outstanding — eligible for all courses nationally | Top 1% | ~38 students |
| 95.00+ | Excellent — most competitive courses open | Top 5% | ~190 students |
| 90.00+ | Very good — access to most ANU and UC programs | Top 10% | ~380 students |
| 80.00+ | Good — majority of university programs accessible | Top 20% | ~760 students |
| 70.00+ | Above average — broad range of courses available | Top 30% | ~1,140 students |
| 50.00 | Median — performance better than 50% of eligible cohort | Top 50% | — |
| 30.00 | Minimum reported ATAR in Australia | — | — |
ACT aligned with NSW: The ACT ATAR is calculated using NSW cohort tables — meaning your rank is as if you were competing with NSW students. This makes ACT ATARs directly comparable to NSW ATARs. The same university cut-offs apply at ANU, UNSW, and other interstate universities regardless of whether your ATAR came from ACT or NSW.
ACT University ATAR Cut-offs — 2025 Entry
Indicative minimum ATAR cut-offs for popular courses at ACT universities for 2025 entry. Cut-offs change each year depending on applicant demand — always check directly with the university.
| University | Course | 2025 ATAR Cut-off (indicative) |
|---|---|---|
| ANU | Medicine (MBBS) | 99.00+ |
| ANU | Law (LLB) | 98.00 |
| ANU | Engineering (Hons) | 90.00 |
| ANU | Bachelor of Science | 80.00 |
| ANU | Arts / Humanities | 75.00 |
| ANU | Commerce / Economics | 82.00 |
| UC | Medicine (shared pathway) | 99.00+ |
| UC | Law / Justice | 80.00 |
| UC | Nursing | 70.00 |
| UC | Education | 65.00 |
| UC | Business | 60.00 |
| UNSW Canberra (ADFA) | Engineering (Defence) | 80.00 |
| UNSW Canberra (ADFA) | Science | 70.00 |