How the ATAR Aggregate Is Calculated

Before VTAC gives you an ATAR it first builds your aggregate: your best English-group scaled study score + your next three highest permissible scaled scores (the “primary four”) + 10% of your fifth and sixth scores. Up to six subjects count, and aggregates range from 0 to over 210. Every student’s aggregate is then ranked into an ATAR. (Source: VTAC ATAR & Scaling Guide 2026.)

The primary four

Your aggregate starts with four subjects at full value: your highest scaled score in an English subject (English, EAL, Literature or English Language), which is compulsory, plus your next three highest permissible scaled scores.

The increments (5th and 6th subjects)

If you have more than four subjects, VTAC adds 10% of your fifth and sixth highest scaled scores. So a 40 scaled in your fifth subject adds 4.0 to your aggregate. Certain VET, higher-education and interstate studies can also count as increments.

A rule worth knowing: study-area groupings

To keep your program broad, at most two subjects from the same study-area grouping (e.g. two English subjects, or two maths) can count in your primary four, and at most three across your whole aggregate.

What aggregate gives what ATAR? (2025)

From the 2025 aggregate-to-ATAR table, the approximate minimum scaled aggregate for each ATAR was: ATAR 50 ≈ 94, 70 ≈ 120, 80 ≈ 136, 90 ≈ 155, 95 ≈ 170, 99 ≈ 192. (VTAC 2025 Scaling Report.)

Here is the fuller official VTAC table – the minimum scaled aggregate needed for each ATAR in 2025:

ATAR	Minimum scaled aggregate (2025)
40	80.53
50	94.06
60	107.03
65	113.64
70	120.42
75	127.68
80	135.65
85	144.45
90	155.19
92	160.53
94	166.49
95	169.85
96	173.56
97	178.10
98	183.81
99	192.10
99.5	198.20
99.9	208.08

A worked example

A student with scaled scores of 36.47 (English Language) + 47.76 + 41.59 + 40.21, plus 10% of 36.86 and 26.13, reached an aggregate of 172.32 – an ATAR of 95.65. (Illustrative VTAC example; your result depends on the year’s scaling.) Try your own in the free VCE ATAR Calculator, or read how the VCE ATAR works.

Written by Haobo Zhang (98 ATAR, University of Melbourne Biomedicine), founder of HZ Tutoring. Updated July 2026 for the current VCE study design.

Frequently asked questions

What is the ATAR aggregate?

The total of your best English-group scaled score + next three best + 10% of your fifth and sixth scaled scores.

How many subjects count towards the ATAR?

Up to six: four at full value plus two 10% increments.

Does English have to be included?

Yes – your best English-group result must be one of the primary four.

Is there an aggregate to ATAR table?

Yes. VTAC publishes a scaled aggregate-to-ATAR table each year. In 2025 the minimum scaled aggregate was about 135.65 for an ATAR of 80, 155.19 for 90, 169.85 for 95 and 192.10 for 99 – the full table is above.

What aggregate do I need for a 95 ATAR?

In 2025 you needed a minimum scaled aggregate of about 169.85 for an ATAR of 95.00, and about 192.10 for 99.00. Thresholds move slightly each year.

What is a good ATAR aggregate?

Aggregates run from 0 to about 210. In 2025, roughly 135 gave an ATAR of 80, 155 gave 90 and 170 gave 95; the very top aggregates (200+) map to 99.50 and above.