QCE and ATAR Guide

Blog Study Everything You Need to Know About the QLD ATAR

Everything You Need to Know About the QLD ATAR Are you working towards an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) through the QCE? With the ATAR QLD having only been introduced in 2020 in Queensland (QLD), you might have some questions about how the system actually works.

Read on to find out more about the ATAR in QLD!

In order to attain a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), students must achieve 20 credits of learning, following the set standard, set pattern and satisfying literacy and numeracy requirements.

The 20 credits can come from:

• QCAA-developed subjects or courses
• Vocational education and training qualifications
• Non-Queensland studies
• Recognised studies

The set standard equates to satisfactory completion, achieving a grade of C or higher, competency or qualification completion, pass or equivalent.

To fulfil the set pattern means to complete 12 credits of Core Courses as well as 8 credits from:

• Core
• Preparatory (max. 4)
• Complementary (max. 8)

What is an ATAR? The ATAR, otherwise known as the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, provides a standardised system that indicates your rank and overall academic achievement, in relation to other students.

ATARs can range between 0.00 and 99.95, with increments of 0.05.

Just remember, it's a percentile rank - not a mark. So if you manage to achieve an ATAR of 80.00, this doesn't mean that your results equate to 80%. The ATAR demonstrates that you've placed in the top 20% of students in Queensland in your Year 12 cohort.

The ATAR is typically used to assist universities with selecting students for their courses. For example, a university may require an ATAR of 75.00 for a humanities degree - for guaranteed entry into the course, you'll need an ATAR of 75.00 or above.

There are 5 subject types that students can choose from in order to achieve a QCE. These include:

QCAA General Subjects (Core) These subjects set students up for tertiary study, further education and training and employment. Each subject may contribute up to four credits towards a QCE, as well as an ATAR in QLD.

Here are the various subjects you can study:

Subject Areas

General Subjects

English - English (4 credits)
- English and Literature Extension (2 credits)
- English as an Additional Language (4 credits)
- Literature (4 credits)

Health and Physical Education - Health (4 credits)
- Physical Education (4 credits)

Humanities and Social Sciences - Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies (4 credits)
- Ancient History (4 credits)
- Business (4 credits)
- Economics (4 credits)
- Geography (4 credits)
- Legal Studies (4 credits)
- Modern History (4 credits)
- Philosophy & Reason (4 credits)
- Study of Religion (4 credits)

Languages - Chinese (4 credits)
- Chinese Extension (4 credits)
- French (4 credits)
- French Extension (4 credits)
- German (4 credits)
- German Extension (4 credits)
- Italian (4 credits)
- Japanese (4 credits)
- Spanish (4 credits)

Mathematics - General Mathematics (4 credits)
- Mathematical Methods (4 credits)
- Specialist Mathematics (4 credits)

Sciences - Agricultural Science (4 credits)
- Biology (4 credits)
- Chemistry (4 credits)
- Earth & Environmental Science (4 credits)
- Marine Science (4 credits)
- Physics (4 credits)
- Psychology (4 credits)

Technologies - Aerospace Systems (4 credits)
- Design (4 credits)
- Digital Solutions (4 credits)
- Engineering (4 credits)
- Food & Nutrition (4 credits)

The Arts - Dance (4 credits)
- Drama (4 credits)
- Film, Television & New Media (4 credits)
- Music (4 credits)
- Music Extension (Composition) (4 credits)
- Music Extension (Musicology) (4 credits)
- Music Extension (Performance) (4 credits)
- Visual Art (4 credits)

The following areprerequisites for Extension subjects:

General subject: Units 1 & 2 (Prerequisite to the Extension subject)

General subject: Units 3 & 4 (May be studied with or before Extension subject)

If you choose to study Applied Subjects, these have a greater focus on practical skills. Students can work towards further education and training, and each subject may contribute up to four credits towards a QCE. Though if you would like an ATAR in QLD, you may only study one Applied subject, alongside four General subjects.

These are the different subjects you can select from:

Subject Areas

General Subjects

Health and Physical Education - Early Childhood Studies (4 credits)
- Sport & Recreation (4 credits)

Humanities and Social Sciences - Business Studies (4 credits)
- Religion & Ethics (4 credits)
- Social & Community Studies (4 credits)
- Tourism (4 credits)

Mathematics - Essential Mathematics (4 credits)

Sciences - Agricultural Practices (4 credits)
- Aquatic Practices (4 credits)
- Science in Practice (4 credits)

Technologies - Building & Construction Skills (4 credits)
- Engineering Skills (4 credits)
- Fashion (4 credits)
- Furnishing Skills (4 credits)
- Hospitality Practices (4 credits)
- Industrial Graphics Skills (4 credits)
- Industrial Technology Skills (4 credits)
- Information & Communication Technology (4 credits)

The Arts - Arts in Practice (4 credits)
- Dance in Practice (4 credits)
- Drama in Practice (4 credits)
- Media Arts in Practice (4 credits)
- Music in Practice (4 credits)
- Visual Arts in Practice (4 credits)

QCAA Short Courses (Preparatory or Complementary) Studying Short Courses can provide you with pathways to vocational education and training, as well as further education and work.

A Short Course may only contribute one credit to a QCE and doesn't apply for an ATAR in Queensland.

These are the short courses on offer:

Subject Areas

General Subjects

English Literacy (1 credit)

Languages Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Languages (1 credit)

Humanities and Social Sciences Career Education (1 credit)

Mathematics Numeracy (1 credit)

Vocational Education and Training (VET) (Core, Preparatory or Complementary) By choosing VET courses, you'll primarily prepare for the workforce through practical learning. With a VET course under your belt, you may progress to further education and training, andeach course may contribute up to eight creditsto a QCE.

If you'd like to be eligible for an ATAR in Queensland, you're in luck because a VET qualification at Certificate III or above may contribute to one.

Other Courses (Core, Preparatory or Complementary) These courses refer to studies of a particular area of interest, through recognised certificates and awards. They may also be universities subjects that have been completed while still at school.

However, depending on the courses studied, QCE credit and ATAR eligibility can vary. If you've chosen to do the IB or have completed courses interstate, these also come under this category.

Check out some of our other articles related to the QCE below:

Which subjects apply for an ATAR in QLD? If you're seeking an ATAR in QLD, QTAC will calculate it based on one of the following subject combinations:

• Your best results in four General Subjects and one Applied Subject
• Your best results across four General Subjects including one VET qualification at Certificate III or above

You'll also need to successfully complete an English subject. Your English result will only contribute to the ATAR calculation if it's considered to be one of your best five scaled results.

How many subjects should you take? Since your ATAR in QLD is calculated based on your best five scaled results, it is generally recommended that you study 6 subjects across both Years 11 and 12. I

Depending on your school, you may start off in Year 11 with 6 subjects and then drop down to 5 subjects in Year 12. However, completing 6 subjects in Year 12 will give you a safety net, in the instance that you don't do as well as in one of your subjects.

Questions you should ask yourself when choosing subjects include:

• Are there any prerequisites for the degree you're thinking about pursuing?
• Will you enjoy this subject?
• Have you been successful studying similar subjects?
• Does this challenge you adequately?
• Will you develop useful skills and knowledge from studying this subject?

What assessments count towards my ATAR in Years 11 and 12? Your senior subjects are divided into 4 units of work - Units 1 to 4 . You can think of Units 1 & 2 as Year 11, and Units 3 & 4 as Year 12 . click apply for full job details