Scoring an 80 ATAR??

[MaddieCarrot]

Hello,

I would like an ATAR of 80 although I'm not quite sure how realistic that is or how hard it is to achieve? -Given that (from what I have heard) the average ATAR is around 65-

Here are my classes and SAC scores (so far)

English; A+, A
Literature; B+ (could have done better)
History Revolutions; B
Legal Studies; A+, A
Psychology; C+
VET Community Services; I don't receive a study score obviously although I can undertake an exam in this and based on the practise exams I would ace it although I'm not really sure how VET works in regards to ATAR?

I would also like to receive a 35 in English and Legal Studies, do you think this is possible if I continue with my current grades?

So, has anyone received an ATAR in the region of 80 and how difficult is it to achieve? I attend a public school with a traditionally low scoring cohort (except for some outliers) so how much of an affect will that have on me. 

[sasa]

Hola ! 

Generally speaking, answering questions regarding how easy/difficult it is to obtain a certain ATAR are (ironically) difficult to answer as there are many factors which need to be taken into consideration. This primarily stems from the fact that your personal strengths / weaknesses are not known so it will be difficult to give you a direct answer, as I ( as well as a lot of other members, I presume) do not know you (or the way you function as a student) intimately enough. However, I can give you some advice, purely based on my personal experience of the work that I put in and how this correlated to my ATAR.

Firstly, I'd like to consider your marks and also congratulate you - because you don't hear that often enough in VCE or at uni, so take a moment to just chill and eat a block of chocolate...or whatever it is you young ones do these days
Secondly, I'd like t point something out, based on  personal experience; SAC marks are not always good indicators of your study score. That being said, there are other factors such as the exam *dun dun dun* and all those shenanigans surrounding the GAT, the strength of your cohort, etc. I had a different set of subjects to you (mainly Science/language based), however some of my marks did not match the study score that  I had literally spent all year trying to calculate; i.e. for methods, I was literally obtaining some of the lowest marks in my year level, but ended up with a 33 study score (nothing flash, I know, but I was proud considering how I thought I had performed, based on my SAC scores) and for Greek (yes, I am aware LOTEs work a bit differently to other subjects), I literally did not drop a single mark on any of my SACs and ended up with a score just above 40, and I had worked my butt off to get it too.....which leads me to this; SACs for respective subjects are not like the exam, everyone doesn't sit the same SAC for a given subject (which may make it easier to determine your study scores). Your school will make up the SAC and all your SAC marks will tell you at this point is where you sit in the class and your class (as you have subliminally outlined) is not representative of the VCE cohort of 2014. Generally speaking though, a score of 35 or over requires an A or an A+ on the exam, depending on the subject. (Again, taking into consideration my own scores) , but if you really want to find out more, I'd encourage you to scavenge through the examiner's reports on VCAA for your subjects.

Also ,if you really want to find out how you might go with your subjects, perhaps the best people to reach out to would be your teachers and/or tutors, as they would know more about your performance on an intimate level and would be able to give you some indication as to your performance.


In regards to VET (excerpt taken from VCAA website):
How does VET contribute to the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)?
The contribution of VCE VET programs to the ATAR is as follows:
∙ Where a scored Units 3 and 4 sequence is available it
will contribute directly to the ATAR, either as one of the student’s primary four studies or as a fifth or sixth study.
∙ For unscored VCE VET programs, students who successfully complete a Units 3 and 4 sequence can receive an increment of 10% of the average of the primary four ATAR subject scores.
∙ VTAC may award students who receive a Units 3 and 4 sequence through Block Credit Recognition a 10% increment towards their ATAR.
(Eh, I hope this helps)?
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vet/publications/overviewbrochure.pdf

Also, yes, I did receive an ATAR well >80 and did have to work extremely hard for it; for me, it wasn't a matter of sitting the two years of the VCE and obtaining a good ATAR. It was in fact, 13 years of schooling, support from my parents and teachers,  good work/ leisure balance and some really crazy friends who helped me get through it.

My direct piece of advice to you would be this:
Although your ATAR is important, it is important to keep your end goal insight; achieving an ATAR you think reflects badly on you may to be the be all and end all of getting into your course straight away, provided you have a good back up plan, so communicate effectively with your careers advisor (if they're not dodgy ). Also, just because you obtain the ATAR you need for a certain course (after all, your ATAR is just an indicator not a determinant for probability of success of getting into a course) doesn't mean you'll get in. I achieved the ATAR I needed for my dream course, but ended up not being accepted because one of my study scores was not within the acceptable range . :/

So, have fun, enjoy it, surround yourself with those who are most dear to you and try your best. It's all anyone can ask of you and really, all you can ask of yourself.

Bonne chance amigo!!!