ATAR vs selection rank vs GPA

These three numbers get mixed up constantly, but they answer different questions:

• ATAR is your raw percentile rank from your Year 12 results — it never changes once calculated, regardless of what course you’re applying for.
• Selection rank is your ATAR plus any adjustment factor points you’re eligible for (equity schemes, language/literacy/maths bonuses, and similar), used by universities to decide course entry. Your ATAR itself stays the same; only the rank used for that specific application changes.
• GPA is a university-style average used for postgraduate or international entry, and isn’t directly comparable to an ATAR at all — if you completed the IB rather than an Australian Year 12 certificate, use the IB to ATAR converter for the closest equivalent, since SATAC converts IB results to a Combined Rank rather than a GPA.

If you’re estimating your own numbers, start with the calculator for your certificate — SACE, HSC, VCE, QCE or WACE — and add adjustment points afterwards to see your selection rank separately from your ATAR.