Students spend the majority of their school years chasing the perfect 99 ATAR. This selection rank holds a significant place in a student’s life. It puts an end to their school journey and paves the way towards undergraduate degrees. Let us explore how to get a 99.95 ATAR with effective study strategies.  

ATAR

Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) evaluates students’ year 12 performance across the country. It is a percentile rank that compares students’ academic achievement. It can range from 0.00 to the highest score of 99.95. ATAR involves a complex mechanism to determine a subject’s complexity and evaluate students’ results relatively. It sets a systematic standard for high-school education and tertiary studies. Moreover, it helps universities to assess student profiles and assign cut-offs for admission.  

Do We Need 99 ATAR?

If you are wondering what is the highest ATAR you can get, it’s 99.95. While that’s the greatest study score one can achieve, it’s pointless for everyone to aim so high. Only students with specific career plans and aspirations require a high ATAR. Most course’s cutoff ranges from 70 to 90 ATAR. University study of English Advanced, History, Fine Arts etc may not require a score above 85.  A rank above 97 is usually required for a Bachelor’s in Law, Medicine, Engineering and other technical courses. Moreover, international students or domestic students who want to study abroad or have other skills to compensate need not fret over the elusive 99+ ATAR!  

How to Get a High ATAR?

  • Study Strategy A solid study strategy for the year 11 and 12 strengthen the chances of scoring a 99+ ATAR. Having a set plan for each day of the year keeps the student consistent in their efforts. A successful strategy accounts for students’ interests, weaknesses, holidays, resources, and study space. Since the goal is to work smarter not harder, the study plan should be comprehensive. It must include an effective learning technique, unique to the student’s learning style.
  • Strengths and Weaknesses To devise a full-time study plan, students need to know what works best and worst for them. A single subject’s marks can dwindle their overall performance and ATAR. Instead of ignoring a weak subject, students should seek extra help for their exam preparation. Selective studying can help them excel at more scoring portions of different subjects. For instance, if a student can’t perform well in Trigonometry, they can practice other Maths topics they find easier and perform well. Students can take mock tests to ascertain where they score low or high and prepare accordingly.
  • Consistency is the Key Behind each successful student lies months and years of consistent efforts. It confirms the fact that the successful student’s journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Cramming and staying up the night before the finals won’t work either. Instead, a continuous routine must be followed diligently for a great result. Gaps in knowledge need to be filled and doubts should be cleared. Moreover, students should adapt to spaced repetition and multiple revisions to ensure higher recall in the exam papers.
  • Health Considerations An unwell child can neither learn efficiently nor perform well in exams. High school years are extremely stressful for the students and often lead to higher dropouts, low ATAR scores or failures. Thus, parents, teachers, and tutors need to make sure that students remain physically and mentally fit. A healthy diet and an active schedule with plenty of space for exercise and relaxation can work wonders. Lots of study breaks should be added to each day and the year for quality time with family and friends.
  • Resources to Refer School provides a plethora of resources to its students for a premier learning experience. It’s up to the student how they utilize the given opportunities. For instance, actively participating in classes can help students clear their doubts and study efficiently. Thus, students need to make the most of each resource available. They shouldn’t hesitate to ask for help from a teacher, parent, or a tutor to study. They can also have group study sessions with peers and friends for in-depth discussions. In addition, online resources, booklets, and mock papers can be used to study efficiently.

Things to Avoid to Get a Good ATAR

  • Avoid Procrastination The bane of any study session is the accompanying laziness. The flickering attention and overpowering urge to scroll the web or chat with friends is quite common. However, it’s easily preventable as well. Students should keep their study time short to stay refreshed. They can employ the Pomodoro technique by taking a short 5–10 minute break after studying for 30–50 minutes. One can also make use of various apps available to block social media during the study period to avoid distraction.
  • Curb Stress & Anxiety Exams are often an anxiety-ridden period for students. For the final ATAR score, students have to invest multiple years of preparation with innumerable tuitions, class tests, assignments, and projects. This puts the pressure off the roof. They need to realize that at the end of the day it’s just a rank that doesn’t dictate their whole future. Especially for students who want to pursue international or vocational education. ATAR requirements vary for each child and have limited relevance. For example, admission to postgraduate courses doesn’t need an ATAR. Some time to de-stress and relax should be added to their routine. In case of debilitating anxiety, students can approach school counsellors or psychologists for guidance.
  • Too Many Resources While there is a wide variety of study resources available online and offline, not all of it is reliable. Moreover, referring to an exceeding amount of resources for the same subject overburdens students. They keep hoarding study material without actually studying anything. A balance needs to be maintained throughout the process. A limited number of teacher-recommended books and notes should be studied. Instead of increasing the number of resources, increase the number of revisions for better results.
  • Stop The Comparison While ‘how to get a good ATAR’ is a valid question, unhealthy competition could be toxic for students. Excessive rivalry ruins the purpose of ATAR. It doesn’t set students against each other, instead, the results are collaborated and assessed according to each subject’s relative difficulty. Instead of tearing each other down, students should uplift their peers. Studying, discussing, and clearing doubts together helps in better understanding and revision.

Study Tips

  • Practice makes perfect. Humans tend to forget information within a week. ATAR achievers diligently follow spaced revision, written practice, and tests to ensure greater learning outcomes.
  • Don’t stick to a single study method. Experiment with different techniques and stick with what works the best for you.
  • Make use of mnemonics, mind maps, and other tools to boost your learning capacity and memory.
  • Students should adopt different exam techniques for different subjects. For instance, study tips effective for an English course may not work well for the Geography exam.
  • Use active recall techniques such as flashcards, teaching others, mock tests, etc. It enhances students’ comprehension and helps them revise the studied material.
  • Make short yet comprehensive notes for quick revision in exams. Try different note-taking methods like Mapping, Outlining, or the Cornell method.
  • Keep your study space clean, bright, organized, and distraction-free.
  • Make a habit of sleeping and eating at the appropriate time. Stay hydrated and alert during the actual exam.

ATAR is the zenith point of school life. It plays an important role in university admissions. And often, it’s the sole deciding factor that can get you into your dream institute. With this guide on how to get a 99 ATAR, you are all set to achieve that goal! For additional help, get in touch with our brilliant tutors at EzyMathTutoring.