One is a course result; the other is an overall rank
Your HSC mark describes your result in a particular course. Your ATAR is a rank that compares your overall academic achievement with the age group used for NSW ATAR ranking. It is not a mark out of 100, and it is not the average of your HSC marks.
That distinction matters because a student can have strong marks in several courses without those marks translating directly into the same number as their ATAR. The ATAR is calculated after course results are scaled and combined under UAC rules.
How course marks feed into the ATAR
For most HSC courses with an exam, the reported HSC mark is the average of the exam mark and the moderated assessment mark. UAC then uses raw HSC marks supplied by NESA in the scaling process. The scaled marks from eligible courses are combined to form an aggregate, which is used to determine an ATAR rank.
The number shown beside a course on your HSC record and your ATAR therefore describe different stages of the process. Scaled marks are not usually shown on the student results notice.
A simple way to read your results
Use HSC marks to understand how you performed in each course and use your ATAR to understand your relative overall position. Neither number by itself explains every strength, skill or future pathway. University selection ranks and adjustment factors can also differ from an ATAR, so check the entry requirements for the specific course you want.
Sources and editorial notes
Founder of ATAR Forecast. These guides explain school ranks, HSC results and the assumptions behind the forecasting tool, with links to NESA and UAC sources. These guides explain the process; NESA and UAC remain the official authorities.
- NESA: how HSC results are determined
- UAC: what the ATAR means
- UAC: report on the scaling of the 2025 NSW HSC
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An experimental estimate, not an official ATAR calculation.