An increasing number of students in New South Wales (NSW) achieved ATAR scores above 90 in 2024, marking a significant rise compared to five years ago. The total of students scoring above 90 jumped by over 800, reaching a new high of 10,189. Alongside this trend, the number of students with scores exceeding 99 also increased, reflecting broader demographic shifts among Higher School Certificate (HSC) candidates.
Changes in the school-leaving age cohort have led to a higher proportion of academically strong students obtaining ATARs. According to Professor Rod Yager, chair of the committee that calculates these scores, this rise is largely due to a declining number of individuals in the school-leaving age cohort completing courses eligible for an ATAR. “This is just a consequence of a declining proportion of people in the school-leaving age cohort of the NSW population completing a course that makes them eligible for an ATAR,” Professor Yager explained.
In the ATAR system, each rank is standardized across states. An ATAR of 90 indicates that a student outperformed 90 percent of their peers within their jurisdiction. Over the past five years, the cohort of students scoring above 90 has steadily expanded. In 2019, there were 9,343 students who received an ATAR above 90, and by 2024, this figure rose to 10,189.
The number of students achieving scores greater than 99 also saw a noticeable increase, rising from 931 in 2020 to 1,017 in 2024. This upward trend reflects not only the growing number of students but also the changing educational landscape in NSW, where more students are leaving the school system earlier.
Professor Yager noted that the academic strengths of state school populations are likely consistent. The variations in average ATAR scores across different states can be attributed to the overall size of the school-leaving age cohort and the proportion of students studying academic subjects that qualify for an ATAR. Currently, the average ATAR in NSW stands at 71.55, while the average in Victoria was 69.52 last year. Other states do not publicly disclose average ATAR scores.
The increase in students achieving high ATAR scores has significant implications for university admissions and reflects a broader trend in educational attainment. As more students compete for places in higher education, understanding these demographic shifts will be crucial for policymakers and educational institutions in adapting to the changing landscape of student achievement.
