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For HSC students, the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is one of the most critical aspects of their academic journey, shaping their university admission prospects. With the release of the Preliminary Report on the Scaling of the 2024 NSW HSC, students can gain valuable insights into how ATARs are calculated and how subject scaling affects their final rank.
Key Takeaways for HSC Students:
No Changes to the Scaling Process
The scaling system in 2024 remains unchanged from previous years, meaning ATAR calculations still rely on the best 10 eligible units. This ensures consistency in ranking students across various subjects.
The HSC Breakdown:
- Total Students with an ATAR: 57,194, an increase of 1,671 from 2023.
- Gender Distribution: 46.3% were male, 53.6% female, and 0.1% non-binary.
- Median ATAR: 71.55, slightly higher than in 2023.
- ATAR Achievement Levels:
- 17.8% of students scored 90.00 or above.
- 35.5% achieved 80.00 or higher.
- 52.6% obtained at least 70.00.
- 68.4% received at least 60.00.
- Top Score (99.95): Awarded to 51 students, with a disproportionate majority being male (42 vs. 9 females).
Understanding Subject Scaling
One of the biggest concerns for HSC students is how subject scaling works and how it impacts their ATAR. The report highlights key points:
- HSC marks and scaled marks serve different purposes:
- HSC marks reflect the standard achieved in a subject.
- Scaled marks adjust for comparability across different subjects based on how all 74,291 students would have performed in that course.
- Scaling tends to reduce most raw HSC marks, except for top-performing students.
- Subjects with lower candidatures can experience greater variability in scaled marks from year to year
Course Selection and ATAR Contribution
The report reassures students that there is no systemic disadvantage for certain subjects in ATAR contribution. However, students should be aware that:
- Subjects with higher scaling (e.g., Mathematics Extension 1 & Mathematics Extension 2, Physics, Chemistry) may contribute more significantly to the ATAR.
- Even subjects with lower scaling can lead to high ATARs if students perform exceptionally well.
- The best-performing students across various courses achieved ATARs above 95.00, indicating success is possible in any subject with strong results.
💡Find out more about HSC Scaling Report here!
Participation Trends and ATAR Distribution
A decline in participation rates in the HSC has contributed to a slight increase in the median ATAR. It is important to note that ATARs are not directly comparable to average HSC marks, as they are calculated using different reporting methods.
HSC Students Based on Number of Enrolments
The dataset provides insights into the number of students enrolled in various HSC subjects, their ATAR eligibility, and gender distribution. Below is a summary based on key trends:
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Top 5 Most Popular HSC Subjects (by total enrolments)
- English Standard – 33,366 students
- Mathematics Standard 2 – 31,501 students
- English Advanced – 25,518 students
- Business Studies – 20,050 students
- Biology – 19,478 students
ATAR Eligibility Trends
- Subjects with the highest ATAR eligibility percentage include English Advanced (98.7%), Mathematics Extension 1 & 2 (~97%), and Science-based subjects like Chemistry (97.6%).
- Subjects with lower ATAR eligibility percentages include English Studies Exam (45%) and Industrial Technology (69.1%).
Gender Representation
HSC subjects with the highest proportion of females
Below are the top 10 subjects that have the highest female representation:
These subjects tend to be social sciences, creative arts, and health-related fields, which traditionally attract a higher number of female students.\
HSC subjects with the highest proportion of males
Below are the top 10 subjects that have the highest male representation:
These subjects are mostly STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related, highlighting a trend where more male students pursue engineering, programming, and industrial technology fields.
This gender distribution pattern reflects long-standing trends in subject selection, often influenced by societal norms and career pathways. However, increasing efforts are being made to encourage more gender diversity in traditionally male- or female-dominated fields.
Key Takeaways
- STEM and technical subjects such as Engineering, Physics, and Software Development have significantly more male students.
- Creative and social sciences subjects such as Textiles, Family Studies, and Society & Culture are highly female-dominated.
- Despite increasing efforts to encourage gender diversity, traditional subject selection patterns still persist.
ATAR Distribution Table
The table provides insights into the distribution of ATAR scores from 99.00 to 99.95, showing:
- The number of students achieving each specific ATAR.
- The cumulative number of students scoring at or above that ATAR.
- The percentage of students who achieved that ATAR or higher.
Key Takeaways:Top ATAR Achievers:
- 51 students received the highest possible ATAR of 99.95.
- In total, 1,017 students (1.8% of all ATAR recipients) scored 99.00 or above.
Cumulative Distribution:
- The number of students scoring 99.90 or above is 100 (0.2%).
- Those with 99.80 or above number 203 students (0.4%).
- The median for this group appears to be between 99.30 and 99.40, where around 1.2% of students have reached these scores.
Consistent ATAR Distribution:
- The number of students at each ATAR interval (99.00–99.95) is fairly stable, averaging between 47 and 54 students per ATAR score.
- The distribution remains evenly spread, suggesting no significant shifts in how top scores were awarded this year.
This table confirms that high ATAR scores remain highly competitive, with less than 2% of students achieving 99.00 or above. The small incremental differences in student numbers at each level show a gradual spread of top performers rather than a sudden concentration at any one ATAR level.
ATAR Percentiles: 2020–2024
The graph presents the ATAR scores corresponding to selected percentiles from 2020 to 2024. It provides insight into how the ATAR has slight changes from year to year in the HSC.
Key Takeaways:
- Top Percentiles Remain Stable:
- The 100th percentile (top rank) remains 99.95 every year, indicating consistency at the highest ATAR level.
- The 99th and 98th percentiles have also remained stable at 99.40 and 98.80–98.85, suggesting that the competition among top-performing students has not changed significantly.
- Gradual Increases at Middle Percentiles:
- ATARs at the 90th percentile have increased slightly from 94.10 in 2020 to 94.35 in 2024.
- The 50th percentile (median ATAR) increased from 70.15 in 2020 to 71.55 in 2024, reflecting a small but noticeable improvement in the middle-ranking students.
- Similar trends are observed at the 75th and 85th percentiles, where ATARs have gradually risen.
- Bottom Percentiles Show Consistent Growth:
- The 30th percentile increased from 56.90 in 2020 to 58.85 in 2024, meaning lower-performing students have slightly higher ATARs compared to previous years.
- The 40th percentile also increased from 63.75 to 65.40, showing a positive trend in overall student performance.
How Things Have Changed Over 5 Years:
- Small but steady increases across most percentiles suggest a slight improvement in student performance or minor adjustments in scaling.
- Top-performing students remain consistent, indicating that the difficulty of achieving elite ATARs has not changed significantly.
- Middle and lower ATAR percentiles show improvement, possibly due to changes in subject selection, teaching methods, or cohort abilities.
Final Thoughts
The HSC and ATAR system remain competitive, but trends suggest small but positive shifts in student performance. For those aiming for high ATARs, subject mastery, effective exam preparation, and a well-balanced subject selection remain the most crucial factors for success.
