Quick answer: Victorian students get their ATAR first, on Thursday 10 December 2026. NSW and ACT ATARs follow on Wednesday 16 December at 9am, and Queensland ATARs on Friday 18 December at 9am. Western Australian ATARs are expected on Sunday 20 December. South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania have not announced their 2026 dates yet.
2026 ATAR release key facts
- Victoria: Thursday 10 December 2026 (official).
- NSW and ACT: Wednesday 16 December 2026, 9am (official). NESA releases HSC results from 6am.
- Queensland: Friday 18 December 2026, 9am (official).
- Western Australia: Sunday 20 December 2026 (reported by Curtin University; check TISC).
- South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania: not yet announced.
2026 ATAR release dates by state
| State | 2026 release | Status | Released by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria (VCE) | Thursday 10 December 2026 | Official data VTAC Year 12 Guide 2026 | VCAA and VTAC Results and ATAR service |
| NSW (HSC) | Wednesday 16 December 2026, 9am (HSC results from 6am) | Official data UAC key dates | UAC (ATAR), NESA (HSC results) |
| ACT | Wednesday 16 December 2026 | Official data UAC key dates | UAC, with the ACT Board statement |
| Queensland (QCE) | Friday 18 December 2026, 9am | Official data QTAC | QTAC ATAR Portal |
| Western Australia (WACE) | Sunday 20 December 2026 | Being checked reported by Curtin University | TISC |
| South Australia and NT (SACE, NTCET) | Not announced (2025: Monday 15 December) | Being checked | SATAC, via SACE Students Online |
| Tasmania (TCE) | Not announced (2025: mid December) | Being checked | University of Tasmania |
Admissions centres say their dates can change, so check the official page in early December. We update this table as each date is confirmed and record it in the update log at the bottom.
Why the dates differ
Each state runs its own Year 12 exams, marking and scaling, and the ATAR can only be calculated once every result in the state is final. Victoria's exams finish first, so its results usually come out first. The ATAR itself is the same national rank everywhere, which is why universities in one state can compare students from another.
How to get your ATAR on the day
- Victoria: register for the separate VCE Results and ATAR service before results day. Its login is not your VTAC login.
- NSW and ACT: log in to UAC with your application number or the details you registered with. NESA releases HSC results separately from 6am.
- Queensland: create a QTAC ATAR Portal account in advance. You do not need a QTAC application to see your ATAR.
- South Australia and NT: your Tertiary Entrance Statement, with your university aggregate and ATAR, comes through SACE Students Online.
- Western Australia: log in to TISC. SCSA released 2025 WACE results the day after the ATAR, so expect a similar gap.
What to do in the days after
- Check your ATAR against your preferences. Remember that offers use your selection rank, which can be higher than your ATAR. See ATAR vs selection rank.
- Change preferences if you need to. Every admissions centre has a change of preference window after results. In Victoria in 2026 it closes on 12 December for the December round.
- Not what you hoped? There are many routes into uni. Getting into uni with a lower ATAR walks through them.
Before results day: estimate your ATAR
If you already know your study scores or marks, our calculators estimate your ATAR from the official 2025 tables: VCE, HSC, QCE, SACE and WACE.
Results day checklist
Before results day
- Set up the right login. Victoria uses a separate Results and ATAR service; Queensland uses the QTAC ATAR Portal; NSW and ACT use UAC; SA and the NT use SACE Students Online; WA uses TISC.
- Test it. Log in once before the day so a forgotten password does not cost you the morning.
- Know your course cut-offs. Write down the recent lowest selection rank for each preference. What ATAR do I need shows where to find them.
- Estimate your ATAR. If you know your results, the calculators give a range from the 2025 tables.
On the day
- Check your results first. Make sure every subject is there and the numbers look right.
- Compare with your preferences. Your selection rank, not just your ATAR, decides offers.
- Talk it through. Schools, careers advisers and admissions centres run help lines around results day.
Common results day problems
| Problem | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| No ATAR shown | You were not ATAR-eligible, for example too few subjects or no qualifying English. See how the ATAR is calculated. |
| "30 or less" | Centres report any ATAR up to 30.00 this way rather than as an exact number. |
| Lower than a calculator said | Scaling changed, an input was wrong, or English counted when you expected it not to. See how accurate ATAR calculators are. |
| Cannot log in | Many services use a separate account from your application. Use the reset link on the official site. |
| Missed a cut-off by a little | Adjustment factors or an access scheme may lift your selection rank. See ATAR equity schemes explained. |
Why Victoria is first
Victoria's exam period usually finishes earliest, so the VCAA and VTAC can finalise results and scaling sooner. Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia release later in December after their own marking and scaling are complete.
ATAR release FAQ
What time does the ATAR come out?
In 2026 UAC releases NSW and ACT ATARs at 9am and QTAC releases Queensland ATARs at 9am, local time. Other centres publish their time closer to the day.
When do VCE results come out in 2026?
Thursday 10 December 2026. VCE study scores and the ATAR are released on the same day through the Results and ATAR service.
When do QCE ATARs come out?
Friday 18 December 2026 at 9am, through the QTAC ATAR Portal.
When does the WACE ATAR come out?
Curtin University lists Sunday 20 December 2026. TISC confirms the date on its own site, so check there too.
Why does my ATAR say "30 or less"?
UAC and several other centres report any ATAR from 0.00 to 30.00 as "30 or less" rather than an exact number.
Can I get my ATAR before the release date?
No. Admissions centres release ATARs to all students in a state at the same time on results day. A calculator can give you an estimate before then.
Is the WA ATAR released on a weekend?
Curtin University lists Sunday 20 December 2026 for the WA ATAR. TISC confirms the date and time on its own site.
Update log
- Page published with VTAC, UAC and QTAC 2026 dates. SA, NT, TAS and IB dates not yet announced.