A study score of 30 is about average, 35 is a strong result and 40 or more is excellent: on the VCE scale, roughly 8% of students in a study reach 40. What counts as good for you depends on the study (scaling changes what a score is worth) and on the ATAR you are aiming for.
Study score key facts
- 30 is about average, 35 is about the top 24% and 40 about the top 8%.
- In 2025 a 35 scaled to 48 in Specialist Mathematics and 32 in Business Management.
- 35 in English, Methods, Chemistry, Biology and Psychology gave an ATAR estimate of 90.25.
- Each extra study score point in a primary-four study added about 0.55 to an ATAR in the mid 80s.
What each study score means
| Study score | Rough position in the study | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 45 and above | About the top 2% | Outstanding |
| 40 | About the top 8% | Excellent |
| 35 | About the top 25% | Strong |
| 30 | About the middle | Average for the study |
| 25 | About the bottom 25% | Below average |
These positions come from how study scores are built: a scale with a middle of about 30 where most students fall between 23 and 37. Real distributions vary a little by study and year.
What study scores scaled to in 2025
A "good" score is worth different amounts in different studies. A study score of 35 scaled to:
- 48 in Specialist Mathematics, 41 in Mathematical Methods, 39 in Chemistry
- 37 in Physics, 36 in Biology and Literature
- 34 in Psychology, 33 in English, 32 in Business Management
See every study on VCE scaling 2025.
Is 35 a good study score?
Yes. It puts you in roughly the top quarter of the state in that study. Five or six 35s land an ATAR between about 80 and 90 on 2025 scaling, depending on which studies they are in.
Is a 40 study score good?
Very. Roughly the top 8% of the study. A 40 in English scaled to 39 in 2025, a 40 in Methods to 46.
What study scores do you need for a 90 ATAR?
In 2025 a 90 needed a scaled aggregate of 155.19. With English, Methods, Chemistry, Biology and Psychology, that was about a study score of 36 in each. With lower-scaling studies you need more. Estimate a study score with the study score calculator, or try your own studies in the reverse ATAR calculator or the VCE ATAR calculator.
Same study score in every study: the ATAR
For English, Methods, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology and Legal Studies with the same study score in all six, on VTAC's 2025 tables:
| Study score in every study | Aggregate | ATAR estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 107.60 | 60.40 |
| 30 | 133.60 | 78.80 |
| 35 | 155.80 | 90.25 |
| 40 | 177.90 | 96.95 |
With studies that scale lower, the same scores give a lower ATAR: 35s in English, Psychology, Business Management, Legal Studies and Health and Human Development gave 80.20.
How much is one more study score point worth?
In the worked example on the VCE ATAR calculator page (an estimate of 85.05), one extra study score point in any of the four primary studies added about 0.55 to the ATAR. One extra point in a fifth or sixth study added about 0.10, because those count at 10%.
Common study score mistakes
- Confusing a SAC percentage with a study score. A SAC average of 80% is not a study score of 40.
- Comparing raw study scores across studies. A 35 in Specialist is worth far more after scaling than a 35 in Business Management.
- Ignoring English. Your best English always counts in full, so it deserves as much attention as any other study.
FAQ
What study score is average?
About 30. Study scores are designed so the middle of each study sits near 30.
How hard is it to get a 40 study score?
Hard: roughly the top 8% of students in a study. It usually needs consistently high SAC rankings and a strong exam.
What is a good study score for English?
Above 30 is above average. Because English scaled slightly down in 2025 (35 to 33), a strong English score matters, as your best English always counts.
How many people get a 50 study score?
Very few: 50 is the top of each study. The exact number varies by study and is published by the VCAA each year.
What study score will I get?
Your teachers' SAC rankings and your exam result decide it. Use realistic estimates in the calculator and update them as your results come in.
Is 30 a good study score?
It is about average. With 30 in every study across English, Methods, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology and Legal Studies, the 2025 estimate was 78.80.