New era for state Students to graduate with ATAR score

IGNATIUS Park College Year 12 student Kai Simmons is looking forward to being one of the first Queensland students to graduate with an ATAR score this year.

The Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) will replace the previous Overall Position (OP) for entry into tertiary education.

Kai, 17, said he understood his obligations under the new ATAR curriculum.

“You have to be more prepared and organised … because transitioning from Year 11 to Year 12 doesn’t exist anymore,” he said.

“It is very scary knowing that you have to retain two years of knowledge for one exam but we are prepared, you can never really get rid of those exam nerves.”

Kai said he was preparing to take a gap year when he finished school but hoped to graduate with an ATAR score of 85 or above.

Ignatius Park College principal Shaun Clarke welcomed the new uniform system.

“We still have the same requirements we did before with the OP in terms of that knowledge, what has changed is how they are assessed,” he said.

“It is a common assessment for university, which is really important because our students not only enrol in Queensland but Australia wide as well.”

ATAR scores rank students between 0.00 and 99.95 instead of the OP 1-25 score.

Students undertake internal assessments as well as an exam that will be marked by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

An ATAR score will be calculated using a student’s best five general subject results. Subjects are structured into four units, one and two are undertaken in Year 11 and three and four are completed in Year 12. ATAR was rolled out last year in Queensland and 2020 will see the first students graduate with the new score. Education Minister Grace Grace said the new system would redefine Queensland education.

“There are new subjects coming on board like psychology and I know a lot of students have picked that up (as well as) design and literature is part of the curriculum,” she said.

“It is a great move and we are now part of the national scheme and I think the QCAA has done a great job in preparing students and teachers and schools.”