Does your ATAR really matter?
And is it the end of the world if you don't get the score you wanted? Find out why the ATAR doesn't hold as much weight as it once did.
Years 11 and 12 can be the most stressful period of your school career. Perhaps you’re feeling the pressure to get the right ATAR—from your parents, teachers or even yourself.
In the grand scheme of things though, no one will ask or care about your ATAR once you’re at uni and after you graduate.
But does it matter when you’re applying to uni? Well, the answer is a nuanced one.
Do universities care about your ATAR?
In most cases, your ATAR is just one of several criteria a university will consider when reviewing your application. Depending on the course you’re interested in, you may also have to write a personal statement or essay, attend an interview or assessment, or even submit a portfolio.
That’s because universities know that ATARs are only an indication (not a guarantee) of how well you’ll handle the rigours of academic study. Essays, interviews and portfolios can provide a more well-rounded view of your character, critical thinking and communication abilities, as well as your passion for learning.
- Related reading: How to get into uni without an ATAR
There are some universities, like Torrens University, that no longer consider your ATAR as their primary entry requirement. Others, like Curtin University, La Trobe University and Griffith University, offer alternative pathways into their courses through their relationship with us at Open Universities Australia.
In an op-ed piece for the Sydney Morning Herald, Verity Firth, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney said, “Only 30% of first-year Australian students gain their place at university based solely on their ATAR.”
That’s a comforting fact, we think—and a significant sign that the ATAR is becoming less relevant.
There are some exceptions. If you’re hell-bent on entering a competitive field (like engineering, law or medicine) and want to immediately join your degree after finishing school, then yes, your ATAR will matter to the universities you apply to.
But even then, a high entry ATAR does not mean that a course is ‘better’, only that the course is popular (lots of people are applying for admission). As places are capped in most courses, universities have to raise the cut-off point to ensure that they don’t accept more students than they can teach.
It’s a bit like waiting to get onto a Ferris wheel that can only seat twenty. If you’re the twenty-first person in line, you may not be able to get on as soon as you’d like.
Why is the ATAR becoming less relevant?
There’s a strong correlation between how well-off someone’s family is and how well they do in their school-leaving exams. It isn't always about how hard you study—and the universities are starting to acknowledge that.
“Data from the Universities Admissions Centre shows that 57% of students who achieved ATARs of 90 and above were from the highest socioeconomic status quartile," says Verity. "For the students from the lowest SES quartile, only 7.6% achieved an ATAR of 90 and above.”
“There are many factors that affect educational outcomes that have nothing to do with the ability of the individual student.
"Results are influenced by the economic circumstances of the family, the resources available to that young person’s school and community, whether the student is from a regional or remote area, lives with a disability, has caring responsibilities, is from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background or a non-English-speaking background,” she continues.
She sums it up best by saying, “Not taking account of these factors is like setting up a 100-metre race and allowing a quarter of the athletes to start at the 50-metre mark."
Take this into consideration when comparing yourself with your friends. We don’t always get the same start in life as those sitting at the desks around us. The good news is, an ATAR is just one way to get into university study.
What's another way to get into a degree without an ATAR?
Through Open Universities Australia, you can start studying towards your future with no entry requirements. In other words, no ATAR score. Yes, really.
You can actually qualify for entry into certain undergraduate degrees by completing 2 to 4 subjects from that degree online through us. We have an agreement with participating universities that lets us remove the entry requirements from these subjects.
- Related reading: The best no ATAR courses you can study in 2025
Once you successfully pass your subjects, you can use them to secure your place in the full qualification. You also don’t have to wait until you’re in the degree to have your studies covered by a HELP loan, so you don't have to pay for anything upfront.
Check out the degrees that you can start through single subjects with leading universities.
Who can I speak to about getting into uni?
Our friendly student advisors are experts in getting students working towards their chosen career path.
Whether you’re about to finish Year 12, graduated in years gone by, or are mature-aged and never received an ATAR —our student advisors are ready to chat. You can even book a consultation to have them call you at a date and time that suits you best.
At the end of the day, it truly doesn’t matter which path you take to get into your degree. Rest assured knowing that you can always activate Plan B (C, D or E!).
Learn more about getting into university without an ATAR, or book a free phone chat with a student advisor to ask us about this entry pathway.
