Your ATAR is your overall rank from your Year 12 results; your selection rank is your ATAR plus any adjustment factors a university gives you for a specific course. Adjustment factors never change your ATAR, so you can have one ATAR but a different selection rank for each course you apply for. Course cut-offs are usually set on selection ranks.
ATAR vs selection rank key facts
- ATAR: one number from your Year 12 results, the same on every application.
- Selection rank: your ATAR plus adjustment factors for one course, so it can differ by course.
- Offers are usually made on selection ranks, compared with the course's lowest selection rank.
- WA's 10% subject bonus is the exception: it is part of the ATAR itself.
The difference in one example
You receive an ATAR of 85. A course gives you 3 points for a relevant subject and 2 points for living in a regional area. Your selection rank for that course is 90. For another course that offers no adjustments, your selection rank stays at 85. Your ATAR is 85 on every application.
| ATAR | Selection rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Set by | Your admissions centre | Each university, for each course |
| Based on | Your Year 12 results | Your ATAR + adjustment factors (or another rank, such as a diploma result) |
| Changes by course? | No | Yes |
| Maximum | 99.95 | Set by each institution's rules |
What counts as an adjustment factor
- Subject adjustments for good results in subjects related to the course.
- Location or school-based adjustments for students from regional areas or particular schools.
- Equity schemes such as SEAS in Victoria and EAS through UAC, QTAC and TISC, for students whose study was affected by disadvantage. See ATAR equity schemes explained.
- Elite athlete and performer schemes at some institutions.
Common myths about which activities earn points, such as Duke of Ed or being school captain, are covered in ATAR bonus points.
Lowest ATAR vs lowest selection rank
Course guides often show a "lowest selection rank": the lowest selection rank that received an offer last year, including adjustments. Some also show the lowest ATAR before adjustments. If the lowest selection rank was 80, students with ATARs below 80 may have been admitted because adjustments lifted them to 80 or higher. Nursing shows the gap clearly: RMIT's 2026 lowest selection rank was 72.90, but its lowest ATAR before adjustments was 52.90 (see ATAR for nursing).
UAC notes that lowest ATARs and selection ranks are only known after all offers are made, so last year's figure is a guide, not a promise.
One exception: WA's subject bonus
Western Australia's 10% bonus for Mathematics Methods, Mathematics Specialist and languages is built into the TEA, so it changes your ATAR itself, not just your selection rank. See WA ATAR bonus changes.
One ATAR, several selection ranks
A student with an ATAR of 82.00 applies for four courses:
| Course | Adjustments offered to this student | Selection rank | Last year's lowest selection rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course A | None | 82.00 | 80.00 |
| Course B | 3 points for a relevant subject | 85.00 | 84.50 |
| Course C | 2 points regional + 3 points equity scheme | 87.00 | 88.00 |
| Course D | No adjustments for this course | 82.00 | 92.00 |
These are made-up courses to show the arithmetic. The student is in range for A and B, close to C and well short of D, all with the same ATAR. Real adjustments and caps come from each university's course page.
Estimate your own selection rank
Every state calculator on this site has an optional Add adjustment points box. Enter the points a course offers you and the result shows your ATAR estimate and a selection rank estimate side by side. Start with the VCE, HSC, QCE, SACE or WACE calculator.
Common mistakes
- Calling a selection rank an "adjusted ATAR". Your ATAR never changes. Only your selection rank for a course does.
- Adding points that do not apply. Adjustments are course-specific. Points for one course may not apply to another.
- Ignoring caps. Universities limit the total points, and some courses offer none.
- Comparing your ATAR with a lowest selection rank. Compare like with like: your selection rank with the course's lowest selection rank.
FAQ
What is the difference between selection rank and lowest ATAR?
The lowest selection rank includes adjustment factors; the lowest ATAR does not. The lowest selection rank is the figure that decides offers for most courses.
How do adjustment points affect selection rank?
They are added to your ATAR for the courses they apply to, usually up to a cap set by the institution. They never change your ATAR.
Do calculators include selection rank?
Ours estimate your ATAR, and an optional adjustment points box adds a selection rank estimate. You enter the points, because they differ by course and university.
Is there a limit on adjustment points?
Yes. Each institution sets its own maximum, and some courses offer no adjustments at all. Check the course page before you rely on them.
Can my selection rank be higher than 99.95?
That depends on each institution's rules for combining adjustments. Check the course page or ask the university.