A “good ATAR” is one that gets you into the course and uni you want, but in practice many people consider anything around the high 70s to 80+ a strong result, and the national average is roughly in the 70s.

What ATAR Actually Measures

  • ATAR is a rank , not a score out of 100; it shows where you sit compared with your age group (e.g. 80.00 means you’re roughly in the top 20%).
  • The highest possible ATAR is 99.95 and very low ranks (below about 30) are usually just reported as “30 or less”.

What Counts As “Good”?

  • Many guides say a good ATAR is one that meets or exceeds the cut‑off for your desired course, which will differ by uni and field.
  • As a rough benchmark, an ATAR of around 80 is often seen as solid and gives access to a wide range of degrees at many Australian universities.

Average, Strong, And Top ATARs

  • The average ATAR for students who complete Year 12 is usually around 70, which is higher than 50 because not everyone stays to Year 12 to get an ATAR.
  • ATARs from about 70 to high 70s are generally viewed as respectable and open doors at many mid‑range universities, while 90+ is competitive for more selective or oversubscribed courses.

How Forums And Students Talk About It

  • On student forums, people often describe “close to 90” as a good result but still worry if it’s enough for specific courses, showing that “good” is very context‑dependent.
  • Other posts emphasise that your ATAR does not define you; it matters for some pathways, but there are many alternate routes into uni and careers.

Quick Practical Takeaways

  • Check the ATAR/selection rank cut‑offs for the exact course and uni you’re aiming for; that is your personal “good ATAR”.
  • Remember that just obtaining an ATAR and finishing Year 12 is an achievement, and there are bridging, diploma, and transfer options if you fall short of a target.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.