How to Get a 99.95 ATAR with the A Levels

24/04/202312 minute read
How to Get a 99.95 ATAR with the A Levels

Did you know that achieving a 99.95 ATAR - the pinnacle of academic success for high-achieving students in Australia, can be attained through various high school curricula from around the world? That's right - you don't need to study HSC, VCE, QCE, WACE or SACE to obtain an ATAR.

What does this mean for you? Before embarking on Year 11 and committing to a specific curriculum, it's worth exploring all your options, including alternative curricula that can allow you to achieve a 99.95 ATAR with just four subjects.

What is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)?

The ATAR is a rank calculated based on high school results in Australia, ranging from 0.00 to 99.95, indicating a student's relative position to all other students in the same age group. It is not a curriculum or mark, but a ranking system used for university placements.

Although there is no official conversion from A Levels to ATAR, most universities have their own conversion scale, which can be found in the international entry requirements. Examples of conversion scales can be found below.

How is the ATAR calculated?

The ATAR is calculated using a student's moderated assessment marks (before alignment with the standards) and total exam marks (before alignment with the standards). Calculation of an ATAR is optional, and students who do not intend to apply for university entry in the following year may not request an ATAR.

To be eligible for an ATAR, students must complete a minimum of 10 units of specified Board Developed Courses with formal examinations. Scaling, which varies by subject, can impact students' results. Scaling is determined by considering the performance of all students who took a subject in relation to their performance in other subjects. This can result in certain subjects having better scaling than others, which may affect the potential of students who choose niche subjects. However, scaling does not change significantly every year.

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Limitations of the Australian Curriculum

The local Australian curriculum such as HSC, VCE, QCE, SACE, WACE, etc., is often the default choice for many students due to school offerings or limited awareness of other options. However, while it has advantages, studying in the local curriculum may have limitations if you intend to apply to an international university.

The main issues are:

  • Narrow focus - Frequent internals combined with the Australian curriculum focus on covering every detail of a narrow segment within each subject means that students tend to be more focused on studying for the test, especially in STEM classes, rather than retaining the information needed for further studies.
  • Lack of global recognition - Due to its focus on Australia, the VCE does not have the same global recognition as the IB or A Levels. While it is certainly not impossible to gain admission to top global universities through studying VCE, admissions officers are far more used to evaluating students who have studied common international curricula.
  • Lower PISA scores - The OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) measures 15 year old’s around the world for their ability to use their reading, math and science knowledge. In recent years, Australia’s scores compared to other countries have lowered and the government has introduced changes to the curriculum in response. Many people believe the curriculum is too overloaded and the subject matter is not as rigorous as that taught in other countries.
  • Lack of subject choice - ATAR calculation requires subjects to be scaled and students are rewarded for studying more difficult subjects. To score higher, many students end up taking subjects that they may not be interested in.
  • Heavy workload and length of study - The HSC is a two year program with major exams at the end of the second year. This means that the final year is often very stressful with a heavy workload.
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What are the International GCSEs and A Levels?

The International GCSEs and A Levels are popular curricula worldwide, based on the UK high school system. They have a structured syllabus with clear learning goals for students to master over their qualification period.

The GCSE pathway is fairly straightforward and starts in Year 10 or earlier with students sitting up to 6 International General Certificate of Secondary Education (International GCSE) subjects. These subjects are structured as first introductions to the specific topic areas that they cover.

In Year 11, students move on to the A Levels that are further broken down into two parts: the AS Level, called “Advanced Subsidiary”, (usually done in Year 11) and A2 Level (typically done in Year 12). Traditionally, students take 4-5 AS Level subjects and then go on to take 3-4 of those subjects at the A2 Level. If you choose to take an AS Level subject and its exams without sitting the A2 Level the next year, you won’t complete the A Level qualification and instead receive just the AS qualification. The AS qualification also counts towards university entrance in Australia.

How to get an ATAR with A Level results?

A Levels are graded on an alphabetical scale. All universities in Australia accept A Level results for international students when looking at applicants. For domestic students universities will convert the three best A Level grades to points that will correspond to an ATAR score for admissions purposes. Usually points are awarded as follows:

A Level GradeUniversity Points
A*6
A5
B4
C3
D2
E1

Using this grade-to-point conversion and considering the three best grades, a student’s ATAR is calculated by universities. For example, at the University of Western Australia, their ATAR conversion is as follows:

A Level GradesUniversity PointsATAR
A*A*A*1899.95
AAA1598
AAB1496
ABB1392
BBB1290

*Individual universities might use a different point assignment system so please check with your institution’s website for the most up-to-date information. Some universities like USYD Medical School requires students to score 4 A* which is equivalent to a 99.95 ATAR.

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Why study A Levels in Australia?

There are several benefits to studying A Levels with CGA:

  • Global recognition - International GCSE and A Levels are studied in over 10,000 schools by over a million students in 160 countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, Vietnam, Korea, India and Germany! Over 1,400 universities worldwide recognise A Level qualifications. They are accepted by all Australian and UK universities, and 600 universities in the US (including all the Ivy League universities) and in many other major student destinations, such as Canada, Singapore, South Africa, Germany and the Netherlands.

  • Better ATAR – In the Australian high school system, most students are assessed on five to six subjects for their ATAR score. However, when taking A Levels, universities only consider the three best grades, increasing the chances of achieving a higher ATAR. This is crucial for admission into top universities and programs like medicine and engineering.

  • Flexibility of subject selection - A Levels offer flexibility in subject selection, allowing students to choose up to six subjects in Year 11 based on their interests. There are no requirements like the International Baccalaureate (IB), and each school may have its own entry requirements. This allows students to have a wider range of subjects based on their interests, and allows them to take subjects without worrying about scaling to get better grades in more difficult subjects.

  • Exam model - A Levels are externally assessed, and students have the option to sit exams at two or three different dates during the year. As part of Edexcel's modularized International A Levels, students can sit exams at the end of every module three times a year, rather than one set of examinations at the end of the year covering all the year's content. Additionally, students are allowed to resit exams and individual modules, providing more opportunities to score higher marks on exams.

    Edexcel also offers the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) which is designed to develop learners’ critical, reflective, problem-solving and independent learning skills, and supports students with the transition to higher education.

Still unsure whether A Levels is for you? At Crimson Global Academy our counselors work in concert with our academic staff in order to provide the most tailored individual guidance for our students. Speak to one of our admissions officers for expertise and support.

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How can you take A Level courses in Australia?

No matter whether you’re in your final years of school or are just starting to decide which high school curriculum is best for you, if you’re looking for the support you need to get into a top international university, we can help!