How your HSC ranks affect your final marks and ATAR

The short answer

NESA uses your school assessment rank and the gaps between students when it moderates assessment marks using your cohort's HSC exam performance. Your final HSC mark then combines the moderated assessment mark and exam mark equally. UAC scales eligible course marks and calculates your ATAR from your best 10 units, including two units of English.

The process from rank to ATAR

1. Your school submits assessment marks.These establish the rank order and relative gaps in each course.
2. NESA moderates the assessment marks.Your cohort's exam performance sets the scale while preserving the school rank order and relative gaps.
3. Your HSC mark is calculated.It is the average of your exam mark and moderated assessment mark.
4. UAC scales eligible marks.Scaling compares course performance so marks from different courses can contribute to one aggregate.
5. Your ATAR is ranked.Your best 10 units are used, including two units of English. The ATAR is a rank, not a mark.

What your rank does and does not tell you

A rank of 5 out of 40 does not mean an HSC mark of 87.5. The same rank can lead to different results at different schools and in different years because cohort exam performance and the gaps between students differ. Rank is useful evidence, but it is not enough to know the final result exactly.

How ATAR Forecast uses that information

ATAR Forecast compares your school, course rank and cohort size with historical school course results. It estimates a mark range first, then applies historical UAC scaling scenarios. The result is an experimental range, not an official calculation or a guaranteed outcome.