The BSSS ATAR Calculator assists ACT students in estimating their ATAR according to BSSS scaling procedures, majors/minors, and subject scores. Students aiming for universities such as the Australian National University (ANU), the University of Canberra, UNSW Canberra, and others can use this tool to understand their ranking and admission chances.
T/H courses • Scaled scores • Accurate ACT scaling (ANU, UC, interstate)
| Course / University | 2025 ATAR | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine (Provisional) - ANU | 99.95 | UCAT + Interview |
| Law (Honours) - ANU | 98.00 | High English |
| Flexible Double Degree - ANU | 98.00 | Top program |
| Engineering (R&D) - ANU | 95.00 | Specialist Maths |
| Commerce/Finance - ANU | 92.00 | Strong results |
| Science - University of Canberra | 80.00 | Flexible entry |
| Nursing - UC | 75.00 | Lower entry |
The BSSS ATAR Calculator helps ACT senior secondary students estimate their ACT ATAR using their BSSS course scores, majors/minors, and subject mix. It gives you an indicative ATAR range, helping you understand how your subjects and scaling might influence your final rank for university entry.
This tool is not an official BSSS algorithm. Instead, it uses the structure of the ACT system—majors, minors, scaling, and best-3.6 subjects—to show how your ATAR could look based on your current results and study plans.
The Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) is the authority responsible for:
ACT Senior Secondary Certificate
Moderation and scaling of course scores
Determining ATAR aggregates and issuing ATARs
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a percentile rank used by Australian universities to select students. Your ATAR shows how your academic performance compares with the full ACT Year 12 cohort.
The ACT ATAR is aligned with NSW, meaning ACT and NSW students sit on a comparable scale so interstate universities can reliably interpret your rank.
This calculator and guide are designed for:
Year 11–12 ACT students completing a Tertiary (T) package
Students aiming for an ACT Senior Secondary Certificate
Students preparing for university pathways
Parents, tutors, and advisers supporting subject choices
Students exploring pathways to universities such as:
Australian National University (ANU)
University of Canberra (UC)
UNSW Canberra
Interstate universities across Australia
If you’re planning to study at ANU, UC, or elsewhere, understanding how ACT ATAR works gives you a real advantage.
The ACT ATAR is based on a structured process that considers the courses you take, your school assessments, and how your cohort performs on the AST (ACT Scaling Test).
Here is the simplified workflow:
You complete Tertiary (T) courses in Years 11–12.
You earn unit scores in each semester from school assessments.
You sit the AST, which helps BSSS scale results across the ACT.
BSSS scales course scores using statistical comparisons and AST results.
BSSS selects your best 3 scaled majors + 0.6 of your next best course → this becomes your aggregate score.
Your aggregate is compared against the ACT cohort → converted to an ATAR aligned to NSW.
Your ATAR is NOT an average of your marks. It is a rank, based on where your aggregate sits compared to other students’ aggregates in the ACT.
Understanding course types is essential:
Usually 4 units over two years
Counts as a full course in your ATAR calculation
Usually 2 units
Can contribute as the “0.6” course
Extended sequence
Still counted as a major for ATAR purposes
Most students complete at least 3–5 majors, but only 3.6 courses contribute directly to the ATAR.
A BSSS ATAR Calculator is a tool that estimates a student’s ACT ATAR based on their BSSS subjects, majors/minors, unit scores, and approximate scaling. It gives an indicative ATAR range but is not an official BSSS prediction.
The ACT ATAR is calculated by scaling course scores using AST and cohort data, selecting your best 3 majors plus 0.6 of your next best course, forming an aggregate, and ranking students across the ACT. The final rank is then aligned with NSW to produce an ATAR.
Yes. Your ATAR is based on your best 3 majors and 0.6 of your next best course (major or minor). Minors can still contribute but only as the 0.6 course.
No. The AST does not contribute as a separate mark. Instead, it is used in the scaling process that adjusts course scores across the ACT.