"How To Maximise Your ATAR and the Top 5 Uni Degrees to Study Next Year" Presented by Overflow Education. Copyright All Rights Reserved.

2. PART 1:
HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR
&
PART 2:
THE TOP 5 UNI DEGREES TO STUDY
IN 2016-2017

3. PART 1:
HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR

4. WHAT IS THE ATAR?
• A numerical measure of a student’s overall
academic achievement in the HSC in relation
to that of other students. It’s about POSITION.
• A number between 0.00 and 99.95 (only
ATARs above 30 are reported)
• Intended for use by universities to rank and
select school leavers for admission to
university

5. WHY IS IT GOOD TO MAXIMISE YOUR
ATAR?
• More course options
• Better scholarship opportunities
• Source of self-esteem and accomplishment
• Make your family and loved ones proud

6. HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR
1. Plan
2. Percentiles
3. Pinpoint
4. Proactivity
5. Provisions

7. HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR
1st “P” - PLAN
 Have an idea of your course’s ATAR cut-off and
then add 4 to it
 If you are unsure about your course, seek to
maximise your ATAR as much as possible
UNSW B MedSci Course Cut-Offs
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
97.1 95.1 95.1 94 93.25

8. “3.85” ATAR POINT SWING IN 5 YEARS
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
ATAR
ATAR

9. HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR
1st “P” - PLAN
Summary
– The ATAR cut-off can change year to year.
– Planning 4 points ahead can buffer you from any
ATAR point swings.

10. HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR
2nd “P” - PERCENTILES
• The ATAR is a percentile calculated by
percentiles. Percentile means POSITION.
– If you achieve an ATAR of 99.95, you performed
better than 99.95% of your NSW cohort. Equally, it
means you were in the Top 0.05%.

11. Bill Bob
Source: UAC
ATAR 57.05 80.15

12. HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR
2nd “P” - PERCENTILES
Summary
– Marks do not matter. POSITION matters.

13. HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR
3rd “P” - PINPOINTING
• Pinpointing your weaker units and building a
solid ‘overall’ POSITION is the smart way to
maximise your ATAR.
• POSITION is calculated by percentiles.

14. SUBJECT MARK PERCENTILE
English Adv 60 <30
Anc History 90 92.55
Biology 80 81.9
Biz Studies 80 76.25
Economics 80 66.75
ATAR 70.4

15. SUBJECT MARK PERCENTILE
English Adv 60 <30
Anc History 90 92.55
Biology 80 81.9
Biz Studies 80 76.25
Economics 80 66.75
ATAR 70.4
SUBJECT MARK PERCENTILE
English Adv 70 53.6 (+23.6)
Anc History 85 84.35 (-8.2)
Biology 80 81.9
Biz Studies 80 76.25
Economics 80 66.75
ATAR 77.4
(+7)
DROP 5 IN ANC HISTORY AND
ADD 10 FOR ENGLISH ADV

16. HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR
3rd “P” - PINPOINTING
Summary
– Aggregate percentile matters more the individual
subject marks.
– Always look to improve your aggregate percentile
by pinpointing the lowest subjects and doing
‘trade-offs’ or seeking extra support.
– The ATAR difference can be huge.

17. HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR
4th “P” - PROACTIVITY
• Be proactive about maximising your ATAR
– Realise that it is only a measurement tool based
on POSITION of the total of your best 10 units
– Set yourself individual subject goals with the ATAR
in mind
– Seek advice and mentorship by those who have
achieved your ATAR goals in the years before you
– Look for early offer opportunities

18. HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR
4th “P” - PROACTIVITY
Summary
– Think POSITION
– Set your goals
– Create a supportive network

19. HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR
5th “P” - PROVISIONS
• Provisions include:
• Also includes “elite athletes”, “educational access
schemes” etc.
Regional bonus
points based on
school
Regional bonus
points based on
address
Subject bonus
points based on
subject

20. Regional bonus
points based on
school
Subject bonus
points based on
subject
Regional bonus
points based on
address
Example AT ANU, if you are a
graduate of a
partner school, you
will be awarded 5
“bonus points.”
At UNSW, if you are
wanting to study
Medical Science
and if you received
a Band 6 or Band 5
in HSC Biology, you
will be eligible for 4
“HSCPlus Bonus
Points.”
At Macquarie
University, you will
be eligible for 5
“Rural Bonus
Points” if you live in
Orange.

21. HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR ATAR
5th “P” - PROVISIONS
Summary
– Always factor in BONUS POINTS
– Know that some BONUS POINTS (such as school
based) are automatic and
– Some are not automatic, meaning that you will
need to apply for them (such as Educational
Access Scheme based)

22. PART 2:
THE TOP 5 UNI DEGREES TO STUDY
IN 2016-2017

23. CRITERIA
• Starting salary
• Industry growth
• Job growth
• First year graduate employment

24. TOP 5 FOR STARTING SALARY
0 20 40 60 80 100
Earth Sciences / Secondary
Education
Engineering
Medicine
Optometry
Dentistry
Average
Average

25. TOP 5 FOR INDUSTRY GROWTH
1. Health care (e.g. nursing, medicine,
physiotherapy)
2. Technology (e.g. business, information
systems, information technology, computer
science)
3. Education (e.g. secondary education,
business)
4. Agribusiness (e.g. earth science, business)
5. Wealth management (e.g. finance, business)

26. TOP 5 FOR JOB GROWTH

27. TOP 5 FOR FIRST YEAR EMPLOYMENT

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