ATAR bonus points, officially called adjustment factors, are added to your ATAR by a university to form your selection rank for a particular course. They never change your ATAR itself. They are usually given for strong results in relevant subjects, for living or studying in certain areas, and through equity schemes. Things like the Duke of Ed or being school captain do not come with a standard number of points.
Bonus points key facts
- Bonus points are officially adjustment factors. They change your selection rank, not your ATAR.
- Most common types: subject, location or school, equity schemes, and elite athlete or performer schemes.
- Caps and rules are set by each university; UQ, for example, caps adjustment factors at 5 points.
- Duke of Ed and school captaincy have no standard point value.
What really earns adjustment factors
| Type | What it rewards | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Subject adjustments | Good results in Year 12 subjects related to the course (most common type) | Each university, often per course |
| Location or school adjustments | Living or attending school in particular regions or schools | Each university |
| Equity schemes | Study affected by financial hardship, illness, disability, family circumstances or disadvantage | Applied for through SEAS (VTAC) or EAS (UAC, QTAC, TISC), then each university |
| Elite athlete and performer schemes | High-level sport or performing arts commitments | Some universities |
Schemes and caps differ by institution and often by course. Some courses, especially in law and medicine, offer few or no adjustments. UQ, for example, caps adjustment factors at 5 points.
Myths: Duke of Ed, school captain and Cert III
- Duke of Ed: there is no standard number of ATAR points for Bronze, Silver or Gold. Some institutions may recognise it in specific schemes, but it never changes your ATAR. Check the university directly.
- School captain: the same. Leadership can matter in interviews or scholarships, but there is no fixed bonus.
- Certificate III: in Queensland, a completed Certificate III or higher can count as one of your five results for the ATAR (it scaled to 38.00 in 2025). Elsewhere, VET usually counts through VET exam courses (NSW) or VCE VET study scores (Victoria), not as bonus points.
- Pregnancy, illness or hardship: these are considered through equity schemes, which assess impact on your study, not a fixed number of points.
The one bonus that is part of the ATAR
Western Australia adds 10% of your Methods, Specialist and best language scaled scores into the TEA, so it changes your ATAR. See WA ATAR bonus changes.
How bonus points affect offers
If a course's lowest selection rank was 85 and you have an ATAR of 82 with 3 points of adjustments for that course, your selection rank of 85 puts you in range. The difference between the two numbers is explained in ATAR vs selection rank, and equity schemes in ATAR equity schemes explained.
Questions to ask a university
- Which adjustment factors apply to this course, and to which campus?
- Do I need to apply, or are they added automatically?
- What is the maximum, and can different schemes be combined?
- Do the points apply in every offer round?
Where to apply for equity schemes
| State | Scheme | Through |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) | VTAC |
| NSW and ACT | EAS (Educational Access Schemes) | UAC |
| Queensland | EAS (Educational Access Scheme) | QTAC |
| Western Australia | Educational access schemes | TISC |
Details are in ATAR equity schemes explained.
Try it in the calculator
Each state calculator has an optional Add adjustment points box. Enter the points a course gives you and see your ATAR estimate next to a selection rank estimate.
FAQ
How many ATAR points do you get for Duke of Ed Gold?
There is no standard allocation. Most universities do not give adjustment factors for it; check any specific scheme with the university.
How many ATAR points does a Cert 3 give you?
It is not bonus points. In Queensland a completed Certificate III can be one of your five results, scaled to 38.00 in 2025.
Do bonus point schemes devalue the ATAR?
No. Your ATAR stays the same. Adjustments only change your selection rank for courses that offer them, usually within a cap.
Are bonus points in ATAR calculators?
Ours keep them separate: the ATAR estimate never includes them, and an optional adjustment points box shows a selection rank estimate using the points you enter.