SATAC publishes the one table a SACE ATAR calculator needs, the university aggregate to ATAR conversion, every December, and nothing a calculator cannot be given: there are no subject scaling tables, because a grade maps to a range of scaled scores rather than a number. So this calculator works from scaled scores (the ones on a Tertiary Entrance Statement, or a school's predictions), builds the 90-credit aggregate under SATAC's rules including the half-subject and pair options, and reads the ATAR from the 2025 table exactly.
Download the SACE aggregate and ATAR table (PDF) (SATAC's 2025 aggregate to ATAR table at every whole and half point, the 90-credit rule with the flexible option and a worked example, the aggregate each ATAR needed, and a planner; two pages, free).
The calculator
ATAR calculator (2025 scaling tables):
How the SA and NT ATAR is built
The raw score. For scaling, SATAC uses a raw score out of 15 for each 20-credit subject: the moderated school assessment (70 percent of the subject) contributes out of 10.5 and the external assessment (30 percent) out of 4.5. A Biology result might be a raw score of 10.4.
The scaled score. SATAC scales the raw scores of every Tertiary Admissions Subject onto a scale out of 20.00 (out of 10.00 for a 10-credit subject) using the results of all students in all their subjects, so that the scaled score reflects the student's position among everyone. A grade does not convert to a scaled score: SATAC's example is that a B- in Legal Studies might scale to anywhere from 12.4 to 14.2, depending on the raw score behind it and the cohort. A subject without its publicly assessed component completed scores 0.0.
The university aggregate. The best 90 credits: the three best 20-credit subjects (60 credits; a valid pair of two 10-credit subjects can replace one), plus the flexible option, the best 30 credits from a combination of a 20-credit subject, 10-credit subjects, half of a 20-credit subject (10 credits at half its scaled score) and up to 20 credits of Recognised Studies. Maximum 90.00. Results can come from a maximum of three attempts, which need not be consecutive years.
The ATAR. SATAC gives each aggregate a percentile rank from the share of the cohort at or above it, adjusts for the participation rate using the ABS population of 16-to-20-year-olds in SA and the NT, and publishes the aggregate-to-ATAR table. SATAC's own examples: an aggregate of 78.00 held by the top 10 percent gives an ATAR of 90.00; 71.00 held by the top 25 percent gives 75.00.
The 2025 table: aggregate to ATAR
| University aggregate (out of 90) | ATAR, 2025 |
|---|---|
| 90.00 | 99.95 |
| 88.00 | 99.45 |
| 86.00 | 98.30 |
| 84.00 | 96.95 |
| 82.00 | 95.50 |
| 80.00 | 93.65 |
| 78.00 | 91.70 |
| 76.00 | 89.50 |
| 74.00 | 87.20 |
| 72.00 | 84.90 |
| 70.00 | 82.20 |
| 68.00 | 79.70 |
| 66.00 | 77.10 |
| 64.00 | 74.55 |
| 62.00 | 71.90 |
| 60.00 | 69.30 |
| 56.00 | 64.25 |
| 52.00 | 59.00 |
| 48.00 | 53.85 |
| 44.00 | 49.05 |
| 40.00 | 43.60 |
| 36.00 | 38.15 |
| 32.00 | 31.00 |
| 28.00 | 23.70 |
| 24.00 | 17.10 |
| 20.00 | 11.75 |
And read the other way, the lowest aggregate that gave at least each ATAR in 2025:
| ATAR | Lowest aggregate, 2025 |
|---|---|
| 50 | 44.85 |
| 60 | 52.75 |
| 70 | 60.55 |
| 75 | 64.40 |
| 80 | 68.25 |
| 85 | 72.10 |
| 90 | 76.45 |
| 92 | 78.30 |
| 94 | 80.40 |
| 95 | 81.45 |
| 96 | 82.70 |
| 97 | 84.10 |
| 98 | 85.50 |
| 99 | 87.25 |
| 99.5 | 88.05 |
| 99.95 | 89.30 |
The full table runs in 0.05 steps from 90.00 to 0.00 and is in the calculator and the printable. SATAC says prior-year tables cannot accurately predict future ATARs, and gives the example that an aggregate of 80.0 was an ATAR of 95.20 in 2015 and 94.75 in 2016 (93.65 in 2025).
What moves an SA or NT ATAR most
- The third 20-credit subject. The three count in full and the fourth only through the flexible option, so the third-best subject is worth up to twice the fourth.
- The flexible 30 credits. A fourth 20-credit subject at 15.0 plus a 10-credit subject at 7.0 gives 22.0; the same fourth subject as a half (7.5) plus two 10-credit subjects at 7.0 gives 21.5. The calculator finds the best combination, and so does SATAC, but only among the subjects you complete.
- Scaled score, not grade. Within a grade the scaled score can move by two points, and two points of aggregate near 76 is about two ATAR points. The raw score behind the grade, especially the external 30 percent, is where the marks are.
- Recognised Studies (an IB subject, a university subject, some VET) can fill up to 20 credits of the flexible option; they are not a shortcut past three strong 20-credit subjects.
Download the SACE aggregate and ATAR table (PDF) (SATAC's 2025 aggregate to ATAR table at every whole and half point, the 90-credit rule with the flexible option and a worked example, the aggregate each ATAR needed, and a planner; two pages, free).
Where to get help
A 1-on-1 online class with a tutor who holds a master's in mathematics and teaches Year 11 and 12 maths, physics and chemistry to Australian students at Australian times (7:30 am before school, 4 pm to 6:30 pm after school, and weekend mornings, Sydney time): the estimate above read together in the free 30-minute first class, the subject where five marks buys the most ATAR found, and the term spent on it with every line of working read. The Year 12 Australia page says what the class works on in each state's course.
Questions parents ask
1How is the ATAR calculated in South Australia?
2What scaled score does an A grade give in SACE?
3What aggregate do I need for an ATAR of 90 in SA?
4Can a 10-credit subject or half a subject count?
See how we teach this, 1-on-1 online →
Shobha
Founder and lead tutor, Science with Shobha
Teaching maths, science and English to children online since 2018. 500+ students, 20+ tutors, families in nine countries.