IB or HSC? How The IB ATAR Conversion Has Changed and What It Means For Students
Traditionally, International Baccalaureate (IB) students in Australia have had their results converted to the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) to align their results with Australian university entry requirements. But, in recent years, the IB conversion process to ATAR has undergone some important changes, primarily to improve the accuracy and fairness of the conversion between the two systems.
These changes are part of an ongoing effort to make sure IB students' results are fairly compared to those of HSC students when applying for university. However, these changes can also affect whether students choose to undertake the IB or the HSC. Here is a simple breakdown of what’s changed and what it means for students, so you and your child can make an informed decision.
What is the International Baccalaureate (IB)?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an internationally recognised alternative to the Australian Higher School Certificate (HSC) for secondary students. It’s a challenging academic program that emphasises critical thinking, global awareness, and personal development, with a focus on well-rounded education and preparation for university and life beyond school.
It includes six subjects, a research project (Extended Essay), a philosophy course (Theory of Knowledge), and extracurricular involvement (CAS). Students are awarded a Diploma based on their performance in the six subjects and the core components.
How Has The IB-to-ATAR Conversion Process Changed?
The conversion from IB scores to ATAR has long been based on a fixed formula. However, the conversion table is regularly reviewed and adjusted to account for changes in the assessment structures of both the IB and Australian school systems.
The most recent adjustment was made in 2022 to better reflect the academic rigour of the IB Diploma. This was in response to concerns that the old conversion method either overestimated or underestimated the relative difficulty of the two systems.
The most recent adjustments have made the ATAR ranking more consistent for IB students, ensuring a fairer representation of their achievements in relation to their peers completing the HSC.
How IB Results Are Converted to ATAR
Due to the differences in scoring between IB and HSC, the conversion process is a complicated one.
The IB Diploma is awarded on a scale of 24 to 45 points, with a maximum of 7 points per subject and bonuses available. The ATAR, on the other hand, is based on a student's performance in the best 10 units of study in Australia, including both external and internal assessments.
An IB score is converted into a scaled ATAR based on a formula that takes into account the relative difficulty and academic weighting of the two systems. In recent changes, the higher end of the IB scale (scores between 39-45) now more accurately converts to the top end of the ATAR scale (95-99+), which had not always been the case.
How the Changes Impact IB Students
The impact on IB students is largely positive, as the changes have been made to more accurately reflect their achievements. The two biggest changes for IB students are:
A More Accurate ATAR Representation
The new conversion process means that IB students are now more accurately represented compared to their HSC peers. Previously, some IB students who performed well in the IB system were not adequately recognised because the conversion formula overestimated the difficulty of the HSC curriculum compared to the IB.
Fairer University Admissions
The adjustment to the conversion process ensures that students from both the IB and HSC pathways can be compared on an equitable basis when applying for university places, particularly for competitive programs with strict ATAR cutoffs.
You can learn more about the pre and post-2022 changes, as well as a comprehensive breakdown about university entrance schemes for IB students on the IB Schools Australisia website.
HSC or IB - Which Option Is Best?
The recent changes to the IB-to-ATAR Conversion ensure that IB students are more fairly represented in the ATAR system, particularly those at the top of the IB scale. This adjustment has resulted in fairer competition between IB and HSC students, particularly when it comes to university admissions.
In turn, this makes the IB a more attractive option to students who may have previously been concerned about how it would impact their university prospects. This is particularly true for those students looking to pursue highly competitive courses like medicine or law.
Because these changes don’t impact HSC students at all, both the IB and HSC are great options that can students set up for academic success and future prosperity.
Little Geniuses Can Help Your Child Choose, Prepare and Succeed
Little Geniuses offers academic support and guidance for students completing HSC or the IB with personalised lessons designed to help them excel no matter what option they choose. We can help determine which option and which subjects will result in the best outcomes –plus, our IB preparation program begins one whole year before your child begins it at school, giving them a unique competitive advantage.
Get in touch with our expert team to learn more about our senior school support services and how we can help your children excel in their studies and achieve amazing academic results.