Entry options Entry pathways Understanding ATARs and OPs

Understanding ATARs and OPs

An Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) allows tertiary admissions centres to compare students from across Australia when they apply for tertiary study. The ATAR is a number between 0 and 99.95, in increments of 0.05. ATARs below 30 are not reported.

From 2020 the Australian Tertiary Access Rank (ATAR) replaces the Overall Position (OP) in the Queensland secondary education system. This aligns Queensland with other Australian states who have been using the ATAR for a number of years.

ATAR General Information

As Unit 1 and 2 of your high-school subjects do not contribute towards your ATAR, they are not suitable to meet JCU's Subject Prerequisites.

To meet subject prerequisites, applicants will need to achieve a grade of C or higher in the applicable Unit 3 and 4 of the subject.

The Queensland tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) calculates the ATAR and issue results to Queensland Year 12 students.

QTAC will calculate your ATAR and you will be assigned a separate selection rank for your VET qualification. For most courses, your application to study at JCU will be assessed for entry on whichever rank is higher.

JCU will consider and accept AQF VET qualifications as a basis of tertiary admission.  JCU allocates the following selection ranks to completed qualifications (either competency based or with a GPA of 4.0 for graded qualifications).

AQF VET QualificationSelection Rank
Certificate III68
Certificate IV74
Diploma82
Advanced Diploma91

The assigned selection rank can change for graded qualifications depending on your GPA, or how many subjects completed as part of an incomplete Diploma or Advanced Diploma.

JCU will consider and accept Commissioned Officers qualifications as a basis of tertiary admission. JCU allocates the following selection ranks to Commissioned Officers.

Commissioned Officer Qualification

Selection Rank

Lieutenant-Colonel or higher rank

Commander or higher rank

Wing Commander or higher rank

Air (or Airline) Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)

Senior Commercial Pilot Licence

Air traffic controller (Civil Aviation Safety Authority qualified)

Merchant marine - Master Class 1 or 2 certificate of competency

88

Lieutenant Commander

Squadron Leader

Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)

Flight service officer (Civil Aviation Safety Authority qualified)

Merchant marine - certificate of competency (Deck Officer) Class 2

Merchant marine - Engineer Class 1 or 2 certificate of competency

87

Captain (Army)

Lieutenant (Navy)

Flight Lieutenant

Inspector of Police or higher rank

86

Lieutenant (Army)

Sub-Lieutenant

Flying Officer

Senior Sergeant of Police or equivalent

85

Sergeant of Police or equivalent

TAFE Advanced Course for Police (Police Arts and Sciences) completed

Armed services experience/examinations to rank of sergeant or equivalent

84

Armed Services general training and 2 years’ experience

Police Academy probationary training completed and 2 years’ experience

Merchant marine - Engineer Watchkeeper or Engineer Class 3 certificate of

competency

Merchant marine - Master Class 3 or 4 certificate of competency

Merchant marine - Skipper Grade 1 or 2 certificate of competency

82

Ambulance and fire service officers with 2 years’ experience

Merchant marine - Marine Engine Driver certificate of competency

Merchant marine - Master Class 5 certificate of competency

Merchant marine - Skipper Grade 3 certificate of competency

80

*QTAC Professional & Postsecondary Schedules from 2024/2025 Admissions Schedule P2011: Commissioned Officers and Related Qualifications.