What is ATAR and why is it important?

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank or ATAR plays a significant role for secondary school students who plan to pursue higher education. It is a standard measure of a student’s overall academic achievement that indicates their position relative to all the students in their age group, determining who gets offered a university course.

Large group of high school students having an exam during a class in the classroom. Source: Getty Images/skynesher