In Western Australia, 10% of your scaled scores in Mathematics Methods, Mathematics Specialist and your best language other than English is added to your TEA, and this applied to 2025 ATARs. TISC planned to remove the bonus from 2026, then postponed the removal to 2027 at the earliest, and published an update on its proposal on 26 March 2026. Check TISC for the rules that apply to your year.
WA bonus key facts
- 10% of your Methods, Specialist and best language scaled scores is added to your TEA.
- It applied to 2025 ATARs; removal is postponed to 2027 at the earliest.
- With scaled scores of 65, all three bonus courses lifted an estimate from 87.50 to 92.20 in 2025.
- The bonus changes the ATAR itself, unlike university adjustment factors.
How the bonus works
- Your TEA is your best four scaled scores.
- Then 10% of your Methods scaled score, 10% of your Specialist scaled score and 10% of your highest language scaled score are added.
- The bonus applies even if the course is not in your best four.
- Only your highest language attracts the bonus. The maximum TEA is 430.
Example: scaled scores of 72, 70 (Methods), 68 and 65 in the best four, plus French at 60, gives a TEA of 275 + 7 + 6 = 288. In TISC's 2025 results that is an ATAR of 93.75, compared with about 91.25 without the bonus. Try it in the WACE ATAR calculator.
Bonus vs adjustment factors
This bonus is part of the TEA, so it changes your ATAR itself. University adjustment factors elsewhere only change your selection rank for a course. See ATAR vs selection rank.
Timeline of the proposed change
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 2024 | TISC released a discussion paper on Year 12 course incentives and invited submissions |
| 2024 | The TISC Board decided to remove the bonuses starting with Year 12 students in 2026 |
| After feedback | TISC postponed the removal to 2027 at the earliest |
| Early 2026 | TISC told schools it was consulting further on Year 12 incentives |
| 26 March 2026 | TISC issued a public notice updating its proposed change to WA ATAR calculations |
We could not read the full text of the March 2026 notice, so this page does not state its details. If you finish Year 12 in 2027 or later, check the TISC website for the confirmed rules before choosing courses for the bonus.
Should you choose Methods or a language for the bonus?
For 2025 and 2026 students, the bonus is a real advantage on top of the high scaled scores these courses already earn: in 2025 the mean scaled score was 64.6 in Methods and 69.2 in Specialist, against an average of 60 across all courses. But the bonus should not be your only reason. Choose courses you can do well in and that you need for prerequisites. Scaled scores for every course are on WACE scaling 2025.
What the bonus was worth in 2025
Four courses at the same scaled score, adding bonus courses one at a time. Results from TISC's 2025 TEA to ATAR data:
| Scaled score in each course | No bonus courses | With Methods | Methods + Specialist | Methods + Specialist + a language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 72.00 | 74.55 | 76.95 | 79.40 |
| 65 | 87.50 | 89.20 | 90.80 | 92.20 |
| 75 | 95.55 | 96.40 | 97.10 | 97.65 |
The bonus is worth most in the middle of the range: about 7.4 ATAR points at 55 with all three, but about 2.1 at 75, because the ATAR scale tightens near the top. The language in the last column was taken as a fifth course, outside the best four.
Common bonus mistakes
- Counting two languages. Only your highest language earns the bonus.
- Forgetting it applies outside the best four. A language or Methods result can add 10% even when it is not one of your four counted scores.
- Assuming the rules for later years. If you finish in 2027 or later, check TISC.
FAQ
Is the WA LOTE bonus part of the ATAR?
Yes. It is added to the TEA, so it changes your ATAR, not just your selection rank.
Is the WA ATAR bonus being removed in 2026?
TISC postponed the removal to 2027 at the earliest. Check TISC's latest notice for your year.
Do I get the bonus for two languages?
No. Only your highest language scaled score attracts the 10% bonus.
How much does the WA bonus add to my ATAR?
It depends on your scores. With four scaled scores of 65 in 2025, adding Methods lifted the estimate from 87.50 to 89.20, and Methods, Specialist and a language together lifted it to 92.20.
Update log
- Page published. TISC's 26 March 2026 notice could not be read in full; status shown as postponed to 2027 at the earliest.