How the 10% ATAR Bonus Can Boost Your Entry Into Competitive Courses
Learn how the 10% ATAR Bonus can boost your final score and improve your chances of entry into competitive university courses. Here’s what families need to know about how the bonus works, who receives it, and how it impacts the final ATAR.
What is the 10% Bonus?
In Western Australia, the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) applies a 10% bonus to specific ATAR subjects:
- Mathematics Methods ATAR
- Mathematics Specialist ATAR
- One Language Other than English (LOTE) ATAR — only the highest LOTE score counts
This means an extra 10% of the scaled score for these subjects is added to a student’s Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA) — the score used to calculate their ATAR.
The 10% bonus system is confirmed to remain in place for students graduating in 2027, with changes under review for 2029 onwards. Visit the TISC website for the latest updates.
How does the TEA work?
The TEA (Tertiary Entrance Aggregate) is the total score used to calculate a student’s ATAR.
Here’s how it works:
- TISC adds up a student’s best four scaled scores.
- 10% bonuses are then applied:
- One for Mathematics Methods (if studied)
- One for Mathematics Specialist (if studied)
- One for the best LOTE subject (if studied)
- The maximum TEA is 430 (instead of 400), thanks to the current bonus system.
- The TEA is then converted into an ATAR (0–99.95).
Students are eligible to receive a 10% bonus even if those subjects are not part of their top four
Why does the bonus exist?
The bonus is designed to encourage students to take on challenging, high-value subjects. These courses build skills that are vital for today’s industries and society — particularly in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) — as well as for developing language proficiency for globalised markets.
Case Studies
Case Study 1: Liam from Christchurch Grammar School
Liam’s goal was to gain Direct Entry into Medicine at UWA. His Year 12 subjects were Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR, Mathematics Methods ATAR, Mathematics Specialist ATAR, and English ATAR.
By performing strongly in science and maths and making use of the bonuses in Methods and Specialist, Liam was able to reach his target ATAR above 99.
| Course | 10% Bonus Applicable | Scaled Score |
|---|---|---|
| Physics ATAR | No | 87 |
| Chemistry ATAR | No | 84 |
| Maths Specialist ATAR | Yes | 82 |
| Maths Methods ATAR | Yes | 79 |
| English | No | 77 |
| TEA Without Bonuses | - | 332 |
| Maths Bonus | - | + 16.1 |
| TEA With Bonuses | - | 348.1 |
Outcome:
- Without bonuses: TEA = 332 → ~98.4 ATAR
- With bonuses: TEA = 348.1 → ~99.1 ATAR
The 10% maths bonuses gave Liam a 0.7 ATAR point boost — strengthening his pathway into Medicine.
Case Study 2: Jiya from Willetton Senior High School
Jiya’s goal was to gain Direct Entry into Chemical Engineering at Curtin University. Her Year 12 subjects were Mathematics Methods ATAR, Chemistry ATAR, Physics ATAR, French (Second Language) ATAR, and English ATAR.
By combining the bonuses from Maths Methods and French, she successfully pushed her ATAR higher and secured a scholarship.
| Course | 10% Bonus Applicable | Scaled Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry ATAR | No | 86 |
| Maths Methods ATAR | Yes | 83 |
| Physics ATAR | No | 77 |
| French ATAR | Yes | 72 |
| English ATAR | No | 68 |
| TEA Without Bonuses | - | 318 |
| Maths Bonus | - | + 8.3 |
| LOTE Bonus | - | + 7.2 |
| TEA With Bonuses | - | 333.5 |
Outcome:
- Without bonuses: TEA = 318 → ~97.45 ATAR
- With bonuses: TEA = 333.5 → ~98.45 ATAR
The maths and LOTE bonuses gave Jiya a 1.0 ATAR point boost, qualifying her for the Curtin +98 ATAR Excellence Scholarship valued at $15,000, paid as a $2,500 stipend per study period for up to three years.
Case Study 3: Praveen from Canning Vale College
Praveen’s goal was to gain Direct Entry into Medicine and Surgery at Curtin University. His Year 12 subjects were Mathematics Applications ATAR, Mathematics Methods ATAR, Chemistry ATAR, Italian (Second Language) ATAR, and English Literature ATAR.
By combining the bonuses from Maths Methods and Italian with Curtin’s Step Up ATAR Adjustment Scheme, Praveen achieved his dream result.
| Course | 10% Bonus Applicable | Scaled Score |
|---|---|---|
| Maths Applications ATAR | No | 78 |
| Maths Methods ATAR | Yes | 72 |
| Chemistry ATAR | No | 70 |
| English Literature ATAR | No | 64 |
| Italian ATAR | Yes | 62 |
| TEA Without Bonuses | - | 284 |
| Maths Bonus | - | + 7.2 |
| LOTE Bonus | - | + 6.2 |
| TEA With Bonuses | - | 297.4 |
Outcome:
- Without bonuses: TEA = 284 → ~93.04 ATAR
- With bonuses: TEA = 297.4 → ~95.15 ATAR
- With bonuses + Curtin’s Step Up Scheme: ~99.95 ATAR
The maths and LOTE bonuses, combined with Curtin’s Step Up Adjustment, gave Praveen a 6.91 ATAR point boost — enough to secure his Medicine pathway.
💡 Tip: Choosing bonus subjects can give your ATAR a valuable boost. Even if they aren’t part of your strongest four, you’ll still benefit from the additional TEA points — which could be the key to securing competitive course entry and high-value scholarships.
Key Takeaways for Parents and Students
The 10% ATAR bonus is more than just a technical detail — it’s a real opportunity for students to strengthen their results while studying industry-demanded subjects. By studying Mathematics Methods, Mathematics Specialist, or a Language Other than English (LOTE), students can add valuable points to their TEA, even if those subjects aren’t in their top four.
If you want to boost your marks in Maths Methods or Maths Specialist, reach out to us today.