YOU WONT BELIEVE: Atar - You Need To See This

How does subject scaling work for Year 12? And why is it unfair?

Year 12 subject scaling is back in the news with reports Victorian students who scored a perfect Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 99.95 in 2025 all did the two hardest maths subjects, which scale up.

The Conversation · Sep 4

We desperately need skilled workers. So why is vocational education treated as the ‘back-up plan’ for school leavers?

At the end of each school year, we see the same ritual play out. Year 12 results are released and newspapers publish league tables, ranking schools by their exam results.

The Conversation · Jun 8

Only eight girls among 41 students who received highest VCE rank in 2024

But female students performed slightly higher than average than males overall

The Guardian - AU · Dec 11, 2024

Atar results: when can students expect their university admission rank and what does it mean?

Getting your Atar can be a significant milestone – but it’s only one of many possible pathways to Australia’s higher education system

The Guardian - AU · Dec 9, 2023

Testing time: what to know about Australia’s year 12 exams in 2023

There are new challenges such as the use of artificial intelligence and old ones like performance anxiety – but experts stress it’s only ‘one measure on one day’

The Guardian - AU · Sep 23, 2023

Students think the ATAR is 'unfair' but we need to be careful about replacing it

Many students spend their final years of school working toward the highest Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) they can get. But after many years of concerns, there is a renewed debate about whether we should scrap this university entrance ranking altogether.

The Conversation · Mar 16, 2023

The most popular courses at Canberra universities this year

Early and direct entry schemes are a growing trend in higher education.

The Canberra Times · Jan 15, 2023

Esperance's Wally Byrne failed high school exams but had an esteemed career in medicine

As young people around the country worry about recently announced ATAR results and their futures, Mr Byrne brings words of encouragement: If you work hard and have a passion for something, "anything is possible".

ABC News · Jan 5, 2023

Madonna King: ATAR is becoming increasingly useless, despite student sacrifices

Every discipline has a different ATAR requirement, but it’s becoming increasingly useless, for a variety or reasons, Madonna King writes.

The New Daily · Dec 15, 2022

Year 12 students open to all possibilities in life after ATAR

From gap years to early uni offers, school leavers have more options than ever.

The Canberra Times · Dec 15, 2022