The HSC (NSW), VCE (Victoria) and QCE (Queensland) are different certificates with different subjects, assessment and scaling, but they all lead to the same national ATAR. No system is officially harder: each state sets its ATAR bands against its whole age population, so a 90 in one state is meant to equal a 90 in another.
HSC vs VCE vs QCE key facts (2025)
- Students with an ATAR: NSW 60,432, Victoria 49,310, Queensland 30,167.
- 99.95s: NSW 53, Victoria 42, Queensland 37.
- Only 50.35% of Queensland's scaling population was ATAR-eligible.
- 2026 ATAR release: Victoria 10 December, NSW 16 December, Queensland 18 December.
Side by side
| HSC (NSW) | VCE (Victoria) | QCE (Queensland) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum body | NESA | VCAA | QCAA |
| Calculates the ATAR | UAC | VTAC | QTAC |
| Result students see | HSC mark out of 100 and band | Study score out of 50 | Result out of 100 (General) or grade (Applied) |
| Assessment | Moderated school assessment + exam, 50/50 | SACs and SATs, moderated, + exams | Three internal assessments + one external |
| What counts | Best 2 units of English + best 8 other units | Best English + next 3, + 10% of 5th and 6th | Best 5 scaled results |
| Aggregate | Out of 500 | Scaled aggregate (about 230 maximum) | TEA out of 500 |
| English compulsory in the ATAR | Yes | Yes | Pass needed, not counted by force |
| Students with an ATAR (2025) | 60,432 | 49,310 | 30,167 |
Is the HSC harder than the VCE?
There is no official measure that says so. The systems differ in style: the HSC uses a 50/50 split of school assessment and exam per course; the VCE builds study scores from moderated SACs and exams; the QCE uses three internal tasks and one external. Each state's ATAR is calibrated to its own whole age population, which is meant to make the ranks comparable. Which feels harder depends on how you work.
Is QCE easier than VCE?
Queensland ATARs often look higher because only about half of Queensland's Year 12 students were ATAR-eligible in 2025, while the bands are set against the whole age group. That reflects who takes the ATAR pathway, not easier work.
Where IB, SACE and WACE fit
- IB: available in all states. IB scores convert to a notional ATAR using a national table. See the IB to ATAR converter.
- SACE and NTCET: university aggregate out of 90. See the SACE ATAR calculator.
- WACE: best four scaled scores plus a 10% bonus for some courses. See the WACE ATAR calculator.
HSC or IB? VCE or IB?
Both can lead to a strong ATAR or notional ATAR. The IB has a broad six-subject program with compulsory components; the HSC and VCE give more freedom to drop subjects you do not enjoy. Choose the program that suits how you learn and what your school offers. Full state rules are in how the ATAR is calculated, and you can test results in the HSC, VCE and QCE calculators, or convert an IB score with the IB to ATAR converter.
What an ATAR of 90 took in each system (2025)
| System | Aggregate for 90.00 | Same score in every subject (one common mix) |
|---|---|---|
| HSC | about 370.7 of 500 | HSC mark of 85 in English Advanced, Mathematics Advanced, Chemistry, Biology, Economics |
| VCE | 155.19 | Study score of 36 in English, Methods, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology |
| QCE | No published cut-off | Raw result of about 84 in English, Methods, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology (modelled) |
These are not proof that one system is harder: each uses a different scale and different subjects. They show what students in each system were aiming for.
Results day and numbers
| HSC (NSW) | VCE (Victoria) | QCE (Queensland) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ATAR release | Wednesday 16 December, 9am | Thursday 10 December | Friday 18 December, 9am |
| Students with an ATAR (2025) | 60,432 | 49,310 | 30,167 |
| 99.95s (2025) | 53 | 42 | 37 |
| Calculator on this site | HSC calculator (estimate) | VCE calculator (official tables) | QCE calculator (estimate) |
Common comparison myths
- "Queensland ATARs are inflated." They sit higher because only about half of Queensland's Year 12 students take the ATAR, while bands use the whole age group.
- "The HSC is the hardest." No official measure says so. Each system calibrates the ATAR to its own age group.
- "Moving interstate changes my ATAR." Your ATAR comes from the state where you completed Year 12 and is used the same way nationally.
FAQ
Is a 90 ATAR in Queensland the same as a 90 in Victoria?
Yes. The ATAR is designed as a national rank, and universities treat them the same.
Is QCE the same as VCE?
No. They are different state certificates with different subjects and assessment. Both can lead to an ATAR.
Is the ATAR harder than A levels?
They are different systems. A levels are graded per subject; the ATAR is a single rank. Universities that accept both have their own conversion rules.
Which state has the most 99.95 ATARs?
NSW, with 53 in 2025, followed by Victoria with 42 and Queensland with 37.