Do Your Year 11 Marks Count Towards Your ATAR?

Year 11 marks do not normally count towards your ATAR. However, there is one important exception: if you accelerate a subject and complete its HSC course and examination in Year 11, that result can contribute to your ATAR.

The key is to understand the difference between a Year 11 Preliminary result and a Year 11 HSC result. They might both appear on your academic record, but they serve different purposes.

If you're worried that a disappointing Year 11 report will drag down your ATAR, there's some good news. Your ordinary Year 11 school assessment marks are not added to your ATAR calculation. They still matter for other reasons, though, particularly your progression into Year 12 and your preparation for the HSC.

This guide explains exactly what counts, what doesn't, and what you should focus on as you move towards your HSC.

*Policy note: This guide reflects NSW NESA and UAC rules available on 8 November 2026. University admission requirements are course- and intake-specific, so check the requirements for the year you intend to apply.*

## Do Year 11 marks count towards your ATAR?

For most students, the answer is no.

Your ATAR is calculated by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) using scaled marks from eligible HSC courses. It is not calculated by averaging your Year 11 and Year 12 school reports.

Consider the difference:

| Result | Counts towards your ATAR? |
|---|---|
| Year 11 Preliminary assessment tasks | No |
| Year 11 Preliminary examination | No |
| Year 11 report grades | No |
| Year 12 HSC school-based assessment | Yes, through your HSC course mark |
| Year 12 HSC examination | Yes, through your HSC course mark |
| An HSC course completed early in Year 11 | Yes, if it meets UAC's requirements |

The important distinction is the course, not simply the year in which you received the mark.

A student who completes a standard Preliminary Mathematics course in Year 11 does not receive an ATAR contribution from that course. A student who completes an accelerated HSC Mathematics course and sits its HSC examination in Year 11 can receive an ATAR contribution from that result.

[IMAGE: Two side-by-side student timelines. The standard pathway shows Year 11 Preliminary courses and assessments leading to Year 12 HSC courses and examinations. The accelerated pathway shows a student completing an HSC course and examination during Year 11, with that result carried into the eventual ATAR calculation. Clearly distinguish Preliminary results from HSC results.]

## Why Year 11 marks still matter

If Preliminary marks don't count towards your ATAR, does that mean you can ignore them?

Definitely not. There are three separate reasons to take Year 11 seriously.

### 1. You need to complete your Preliminary courses

NESA requires students to satisfactorily complete the relevant Preliminary course before entering its corresponding HSC course.

This is a course-completion requirement, not an ATAR requirement.

Under NESA's Assessment Certification Examination (ACE) Rules, satisfactory completion involves demonstrating that you have:

- Followed the course developed or endorsed by NESA.
- Applied yourself with diligence and sustained effort.
- Achieved some or all of the course outcomes.

Your principal makes the relevant course-completion determination based on the available evidence.

For example, if you're studying Preliminary Physics, you need to demonstrate satisfactory completion before progressing into HSC Physics. Simply receiving a low mark in one assessment does not automatically mean you have failed the course. However, consistently failing to engage with the work or demonstrate the required outcomes can create a genuine progression problem.

You can read the official [NESA course-completion rules](https://curriculum.nsw.edu.au/ace-rules/ace4/course-completions).

### 2. Your school may use Year 11 results when making decisions

NESA sets the statewide requirements for entering HSC courses. Schools also manage their own assessment programs, subject-selection processes, and academic support arrangements.

A school might consider your Year 11 performance when deciding:

- Whether you are ready to continue with a particular subject.
- Whether you should move between subject levels, where appropriate.
- Whether you need additional academic support.
- Whether an accelerated study arrangement is suitable.
- How to organise your Year 12 subject load.

These decisions depend on the school's policies and professional judgement.

A low Preliminary mark does not automatically prevent you from studying a subject in Year 12 across NSW. Equally, satisfactory completion of a Preliminary course does not guarantee that your school will approve every subject-selection or acceleration request.

If you're unsure about a particular decision, ask your school's Year Adviser or relevant Head Teacher which requirements apply.

### 3. Year 11 teaches you the skills you'll need in Year 12

This is arguably the most important reason to care about your Year 11 results.

Preliminary courses develop the knowledge and skills needed for HSC courses. If you have gaps in your understanding, those gaps can make Year 12 much harder.

Think about Mathematics Advanced. If you haven't properly understood functions, algebra, and trigonometry in Year 11, you may struggle when those ideas become more demanding in Year 12.

The same applies to Physics and Chemistry. Weaknesses in rearranging equations, interpreting graphs, using units, or explaining scientific relationships can affect your performance across multiple topics.

Your Year 11 marks might not enter the ATAR calculation, but the knowledge behind those marks can influence your eventual HSC results.

[IMAGE: A connected learning pathway showing foundational Year 11 algebra, trigonometry, graph interpretation, and scientific skills feeding into more advanced Year 12 mathematics, physics, and chemistry applications. Show the progression of concepts rather than numerical marks.]

## What actually goes into your ATAR?

To understand why Preliminary marks don't count, it helps to follow the process from your HSC assessments to your final ATAR.

For most Board Developed HSC courses with an external examination, your HSC mark has two components:

| Component | Contribution to HSC mark |
|---|---:|
| Moderated school-based assessment mark | 50% |
| External HSC examination mark | 50% |

Your school sets the assessment tasks throughout the HSC course. These might include topic tests, assignments, practical investigations, and formal examinations.

NESA moderates the school-based assessment marks using the school's examination performance in that course. This allows assessment marks from different schools to be compared fairly.

Your final HSC mark is the average of your moderated assessment mark and examination mark.

Notice that these are assessments completed as part of an HSC course. Ordinary Preliminary assessments are not included in this calculation.

You can read more about [NESA's HSC assessment and moderation process](https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/hsc/rules-and-procedures/2026-guide/during-year-12).

### How UAC turns HSC marks into an ATAR

Your HSC marks aren't simply added together to produce your ATAR.

UAC first converts your HSC marks into scaled marks. It then uses your scaled marks to calculate an aggregate across 10 units of eligible HSC courses.

For a standard NSW ATAR, the calculation uses:

- Your best 2 units of English.
- Your best 8 units from your remaining courses.

This means that not every course you study necessarily contributes to your ATAR.

You also need to meet UAC's eligibility requirements. Under the current rules, these include satisfactorily completing:

- At least 10 units of HSC Board Developed courses.
- At least 2 units of English.
- Three Board Developed courses of 2 units or more.
- Courses across at least four subject areas.

Only eligible courses can contribute to the calculation. Generally, these are Board Developed courses with formal examinations that produce graded results. Some VET courses can contribute if you sit the relevant optional HSC examination.

Check [UAC's ATAR eligibility requirements](https://uac.edu.au/future-applicants/atar/atar-eligibility) before assuming every HSC course will count.

[IMAGE: Educational flow diagram showing how an eligible HSC course produces a final HSC mark from moderated school assessment and external examination results, followed by UAC scaling, selection of the best 10 units, and calculation of the ATAR. Show a separate Preliminary Year 11 report branching away from the ATAR pathway.]

### A quick example: Why your HSC mark isn't your ATAR mark

Imagine two students receive the following HSC marks:

| Subject | Student A | Student B |
|---|---:|---:|
| Mathematics Advanced | 85 | 85 |
| Physics | 85 | 85 |
| Chemistry | 85 | 85 |

Both students have identical HSC marks in these subjects.

However, UAC doesn't simply use the 85s. It scales each course using its own scaling process, which considers the academic performance of students undertaking that course across their other HSC subjects.

The resulting scaled marks may differ between courses, even when the original HSC marks are identical.

This is why you shouldn't assume that a particular subject provides a fixed ATAR bonus. A subject that has historically scaled strongly does not guarantee a higher ATAR.

You still need to perform well in it.

For a more detailed explanation, read [How Does HSC Scaling Work? From HSC Marks to ATAR](https://tutorgum.com/learn/resources/how-does-hsc-scaling-work/).

## The exception: Accelerated HSC courses in Year 11

Now for the important exception.

Some students complete an HSC course ahead of their year group. This is called acceleration.

For example, a student might complete HSC Biology in Year 11, sit the HSC examination that year, and then complete their remaining HSC subjects in Year 12.

Their Biology result can contribute to their eventual ATAR.

Why? Because they have completed an actual HSC course, not just a Preliminary course.

[IMAGE: Two parallel NSW HSC study timelines. The first shows a standard student completing Preliminary Biology in Year 11 and HSC Biology in Year 12. The second shows an accelerated student completing the HSC Biology course, its formal school assessments, and the HSC examination in Year 11, then completing other HSC subjects in Year 12. Show both pathways feeding eligible HSC results into one eventual UAC ATAR calculation.]

### How does acceleration work?

Acceleration is not simply learning Year 12 content earlier than everyone else.

It involves formally undertaking and completing an HSC course ahead of your normal year group.

NESA allows students to accelerate into Stage 6 courses, but there are specific requirements.

For example:

- Acceleration decisions are made individually, rather than automatically offered to every high-achieving student.
- The principal makes the decision in consultation with the student, their teachers, and their parent or carer.
- The student must demonstrate the ability and readiness to undertake the course.
- Required preceding courses must be satisfactorily completed, potentially in less than their usual indicative hours.
- Students accelerating into Stage 6 must follow the relevant course-entry and assessment requirements.

NESA also specifies which courses can be accelerated. Not every HSC course is available for acceleration. For example, its rules exclude VET and Board Endorsed courses from Stage 6 acceleration.

You can read the full [NESA rules for students accelerating into courses](https://curriculum.nsw.edu.au/ace-rules/ace13/accelerating).

### What happens to an accelerated subject's marks?

UAC explicitly allows students to accelerate HSC courses while in Year 11.

Your ATAR can include scaled marks from HSC courses completed in different years. Importantly, UAC calculates the scaled mark in the year the course is completed.

This means an accelerated course completed in 2025 retains its 2025 scaled mark when it is combined with eligible HSC results completed in 2026.

You don't have to complete every contributing course in the same year.

UAC also allows students, subject to school approval, to accumulate courses towards an ATAR over a period of up to five years.

There is one important catch, though.

**Repeating an accelerated course does not guarantee that you get to keep your better result.**

Under UAC's repeat-course rules, if you repeat an HSC course, only the marks from your latest satisfactory attempt are available for inclusion in your ATAR calculation. This applies even if your latest result is lower than your earlier result.

So, if you complete accelerated Chemistry in Year 11 and repeat the same course in Year 12, you cannot assume that UAC will simply select whichever Chemistry result is higher.

Check UAC's [rules for accelerated, accumulated, and repeated courses](https://uac.edu.au/future-applicants/atar/how-your-atar-is-calculated) before making decisions about your study pathway.

## Do Year 11 marks affect university admission?

There is another distinction worth understanding.

Your ATAR is calculated by UAC, but universities use your ATAR and other admission criteria to select students for their courses.

Some university degrees have subject prerequisites. Others have assumed knowledge or recommended studies.

These requirements are not the same as NESA's statewide requirements for progressing from Year 11 to Year 12.

For example, a university might require a particular HSC Mathematics course for entry into a degree. That does not mean every NSW student must study that Mathematics course at school.

It is a requirement of that particular university course.

### Prerequisites versus assumed knowledge

These terms are easy to confuse.

| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Course prerequisite | A subject or achievement requirement that must be met to be considered for admission. |
| Assumed knowledge | Knowledge the university expects you to have when starting the degree. |
| Recommended studies | Subjects the university suggests because they provide useful preparation. |

Consider the University of New South Wales.

For its 2027 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Engineering Science, the 2027 Domestic Undergraduate Student Guide lists Mathematics Extension 1 and Physics as assumed knowledge.

UNSW explains that students without the assumed knowledge are not automatically prevented from enrolling, but may be at a considerable disadvantage and are strongly encouraged to complete appropriate bridging study.

This is a university-specific expectation, not a statewide NESA requirement for every student studying Year 11 or Year 12.

The example applies to the 2027 university intake. If you're applying for a later year, check the updated course requirements.

You can find the details in the [UNSW 2027 Domestic Undergraduate Student Guide](https://www.unsw.edu.au/content/dam/pdfs/future-students/2027-DOM-UG-Guide.pdf) and its [undergraduate entry requirements](https://www.unsw.edu.au/study/how-to-apply/undergraduate/entry-requirements).

For other universities, check the relevant course description through [UAC's university course information](https://uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/year-12-qualifications).

## What should you focus on in Year 11?

If your Year 11 marks don't directly count towards your ATAR, where should you put your effort?

The answer is to focus on three things.

### 1. Satisfactorily complete your Preliminary courses

Make sure you're meeting NESA's course-completion requirements.

If you're struggling in a subject, speak to your teacher before the problem becomes serious. A low assessment result is not necessarily a course-completion failure, but you need to demonstrate sufficient engagement, effort, and achievement of course outcomes.

If you're unsure whether you're meeting the requirements, ask whether you have received a formal warning or whether the concern relates to your school's subject-selection policy.

These are different issues.

### 2. Fix gaps in your understanding before Year 12

This is where your Year 11 performance can have a major indirect effect on your ATAR.

Suppose you receive 55% in Preliminary Mathematics Advanced because you're struggling with algebra and functions.

That 55% won't be added to your ATAR. However, if you carry those weaknesses into Year 12, you may struggle with more advanced functions, calculus, and other topics that build on those foundations.

The same applies to Physics and Chemistry.

In Physics, weak algebra skills can make rearranging equations and solving quantitative problems much harder. In Chemistry, gaps in mole calculations, bonding, and chemical equations can affect your ability to understand more advanced content.

Use your Year 11 assessments to identify exactly what you don't understand.

Don't just memorise the solutions to questions you got wrong. Work out why your original approach failed, and practise applying the correct method to unfamiliar questions.

[IMAGE: An illustrated student working through a marked Year 11 mathematics assessment at a desk, with an open exercise book showing algebraic working and a teacher's feedback identifying gaps to address before more advanced study. The scene should communicate reflection and preparation rather than exam stress.]

### 3. Choose your HSC subjects for the right reasons

Don't choose subjects purely because you think they'll scale well.

Instead, consider:

- Which subjects genuinely interest you?
- Which subjects suit your strengths?
- Which subjects are relevant to your intended university degree?
- Do your preferred degrees have formal prerequisites or assumed knowledge?
- Can you manage the workload across all your subjects?

A subject with strong historical scaling is not automatically the best choice for you.

A subject you understand well, enjoy studying, and can perform strongly in may be a better decision than one you choose solely because of its reputation.

If you're considering acceleration, think carefully about whether you're ready to complete an HSC course earlier than your peers. Finishing a subject early can free up time later, but it also brings forward the assessments and examination.

Talk to your school about the workload, eligibility requirements, and implications of repeating the course before committing.

## Questions and solutions

### Question 1

Ethan receives 58% in his Year 11 Preliminary Mathematics Advanced examination. He is worried that this mark will lower his eventual ATAR.

Does it?

### Solution 1

No. Ethan's Preliminary Mathematics Advanced examination mark does not directly contribute to his ATAR.

The examination is part of his Year 11 Preliminary course, not a completed HSC course. UAC calculates the ATAR using scaled marks from eligible HSC courses.

However, Ethan should still take the result seriously. He needs to demonstrate satisfactory completion of Preliminary Mathematics Advanced to enter the corresponding HSC course.

He should also identify the topics he struggled with. If his difficulties involve algebra, functions, or trigonometry, those gaps could make Year 12 Mathematics Advanced considerably harder.

The important distinction is that the 58% doesn't enter his ATAR, but the knowledge it reflects can affect his future HSC performance.

### Question 2

Sophie completes accelerated HSC Biology in Year 11.

Her moderated school-based assessment mark is 84, and her HSC examination mark is 76.

Her friend argues that neither result can count towards her ATAR because she hasn't reached Year 12 yet.

Is her friend correct?

### Solution 2

No. Sophie's Biology result can contribute to her eventual ATAR because she has completed an HSC course, not merely a Preliminary course.

For most examined Board Developed courses, the school-based assessment and external examination each contribute 50% of the HSC mark.

Her HSC mark is therefore:

\[
\text{HSC mark}=\frac{84+76}{2}
\]

\[
\boxed{\text{HSC mark}=80}
\]

UAC will use the scaled mark for that completed HSC course, rather than simply using the HSC mark of 80.

The scaling occurs in the year Sophie completes the course. If she completes Biology in 2025, its scaled mark is calculated using the 2025 scaling process.

That result can then be combined with her eligible HSC course results from 2026 when UAC calculates her ATAR.

The fact that she completed the course in Year 11 does not automatically exclude it.

### Question 3

Noah receives 49% in his Preliminary Chemistry examination.

His school tells him that he cannot study HSC Chemistry because NESA requires every student to achieve at least 50% in their Preliminary course.

Noah has completed his assessment tasks and consistently participated in class.

Is the school's explanation correct?

### Solution 3

No. NESA does not set a universal 50% Preliminary examination pass mark as the statewide requirement for entering an HSC course.

The statewide requirement is satisfactory completion of the relevant Preliminary course.

Under NESA's ACE Rules, the principal considers whether there is sufficient evidence that the student has:

- Followed the course.
- Applied themselves with diligence and sustained effort.
- Achieved some or all of the course outcomes.

A single examination result does not automatically determine whether these requirements have been met.

However, this does not mean Noah is guaranteed a place in HSC Chemistry. His school may have its own subject-selection or academic progression policy, and it can consider his readiness to undertake the course.

Noah should ask the school to clarify whether it is making a formal NESA course-completion decision or applying an internal subject-selection policy.

Those are different decisions, and he needs to understand which one applies.

### Question 4

Alex completes accelerated HSC Economics in Year 11 (2025).

In Year 12 (2026), he completes English Advanced, Mathematics Advanced, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Business Studies.

All courses are 2-unit, ATAR-eligible Board Developed courses, and Alex satisfies the ATAR eligibility requirements.

Assume the following scaled marks:

| Course | Year completed | Scaled mark |
|---|---:|---:|
| English Advanced | 2026 | 66 |
| Economics | 2025 | 72 |
| Mathematics Advanced | 2026 | 78 |
| Physics | 2026 | 75 |
| Chemistry | 2026 | 73 |
| Biology | 2026 | 71 |
| Business Studies | 2026 | 69 |

Which course results contribute to Alex's ATAR aggregate?

### Solution 4

Alex's aggregate includes English Advanced, Mathematics Advanced, Physics, Chemistry, and his accelerated Economics result.

UAC requires the best 2 units of English and the best 8 units from the remaining courses.

Alex has 12 non-English units available, spread across six 2-unit courses. UAC therefore selects the four courses with the highest scaled marks.

In descending order:

| Course | Scaled mark | Included? |
|---|---:|---|
| Mathematics Advanced | 78 | Yes |
| Physics | 75 | Yes |
| Chemistry | 73 | Yes |
| Accelerated Economics | 72 | Yes |
| Biology | 71 | No |
| Business Studies | 69 | No |

English Advanced is included separately because the best 2 units of English must always contribute.

The important point is that Economics is not excluded simply because Alex completed it in 2025.

Its scaled mark is compared with his other eligible non-English course marks. Because 72 is higher than the marks for Biology and Business Studies, Economics contributes to his aggregate.

Notice that the selection is based on scaled marks, not the original HSC marks.

### Question 5

Leah completes accelerated HSC Chemistry in Year 11 (2025).

Her HSC mark is 85, and her resulting scaled mark is 76.

In Year 12 (2026), she decides to repeat the same HSC Chemistry course. Her new HSC mark is 79, producing a scaled mark of 68.

Her other eligible 2-unit non-English courses have the following scaled marks:

| Course | Scaled mark |
|---|---:|
| Mathematics Advanced | 80 |
| Physics | 77 |
| Biology | 74 |
| Economics | 73 |
| Business Studies | 70 |

Her English result contributes a scaled mark of 55 for 2 units.

Assume all courses have been satisfactorily completed, the repeat is recognised as a repeat of the same course, and Leah meets every ATAR eligibility requirement.

Two things now seem reasonable:

1. Leah might expect her original Chemistry result of 76 to remain available because she completed it successfully in 2025.
2. If the original result is replaced, she might expect the new Chemistry result of 68 to be included because it is still a completed HSC course.

Are either of these predictions correct?

### Solution 5

Neither prediction is correct. Leah's 2025 Chemistry result is no longer available for inclusion, and her 2026 Chemistry result does not necessarily contribute to her ATAR aggregate.

UAC's repeat-course rules state that when a student repeats an HSC course, only the marks from their latest satisfactory attempt are available for inclusion in the ATAR calculation.

This applies even when the latest attempt produces a lower result.

Therefore, Leah cannot retain her 2025 scaled mark of 76. Her 2026 Chemistry attempt replaces it with the new scaled mark of 68.

Now consider the second part of the problem.

UAC does not automatically include every eligible course in the ATAR calculation. It selects the best 8 non-English units.

Leah has six 2-unit non-English courses available:

| Course | Available scaled mark | ATAR selection |
|---|---:|---|
| Mathematics Advanced | 80 | Included |
| Physics | 77 | Included |
| Biology | 74 | Included |
| Economics | 73 | Included |
| Business Studies | 70 | Excluded |
| Chemistry (2026 repeat) | 68 | Excluded |

Her best 8 non-English units come from Mathematics Advanced, Physics, Biology, and Economics.

Her English result supplies the compulsory 2 English units.

The surprising part is what would have happened if Leah had not repeated Chemistry.

Her original scaled mark of 76 would have remained available. The four highest non-English marks would then have been:

- Mathematics Advanced: 80
- Physics: 77
- Chemistry: 76
- Biology: 74

Economics, at 73, would have been excluded instead.

By repeating Chemistry and receiving a lower result, Leah has not only replaced her original Chemistry mark but also changed which other subject contributes to her ATAR aggregate.

This is why you should never assume that an accelerated HSC result is permanently banked.

The year of completion, the rules for repeating courses, and the best-8-unit selection process all interact. You need to consider all three before deciding whether to repeat an accelerated course.

## So, do your Year 11 marks count?

For most students, ordinary Year 11 Preliminary marks do not count towards their ATAR.

However, they still matter because they determine whether you've satisfactorily completed your courses, help your school assess your readiness for Year 12, and reveal the knowledge gaps you need to address.

If you accelerate an HSC course and complete its examination in Year 11, that result can contribute to your ATAR. UAC combines eligible HSC course results from different years, subject to its calculation and repeat-course rules.

The most useful way to think about Year 11 is as preparation for the results that will eventually count.

Get your foundations right, understand your school's progression requirements, and choose subjects that support your interests and future study plans.

Once you understand which marks enter the calculation, the next step is understanding how UAC scales them. That is where the difference between an HSC mark and an ATAR becomes much clearer.

For further reading:

- [How Does HSC Scaling Work? From HSC Marks to ATAR](https://tutorgum.com/learn/resources/how-does-hsc-scaling-work/)
- [Does Your School Affect Your ATAR? NSW HSC Explained](https://tutorgum.com/learn/resources/does-your-school-affect-your-atar/)

### Official sources and current policy checks

The policy explanations in this guide were checked against the following official sources on 8 November 2026.

**NESA - NSW Education Standards Authority**

- [ACE Rules: Course completion](https://curriculum.nsw.edu.au/ace-rules/ace4/course-completions)
- [ACE Rules: Students accelerating into courses](https://curriculum.nsw.edu.au/ace-rules/ace13/accelerating)
- [ACE Rules: Accumulating and repeating courses](https://curriculum.nsw.edu.au/ace-rules/ace12/accumulating-repeating)
- [2026 HSC Rules and Procedures: During Year 12](https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/hsc/rules-and-procedures/2026-guide/during-year-12)

**UAC - Universities Admissions Centre**

- [Who gets an ATAR?](https://uac.edu.au/future-applicants/atar/atar-eligibility)
- [How your ATAR is calculated](https://uac.edu.au/future-applicants/atar/how-your-atar-is-calculated)
- [FAQs about the ATAR](https://uac.edu.au/future-applicants/faqs-and-forms/atar)
- [How Year 12 qualifications are assessed](https://uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/year-12-qualifications)

**University admission example - 2027 intake**

- [UNSW 2027 Domestic Undergraduate Student Guide](https://www.unsw.edu.au/content/dam/pdfs/future-students/2027-DOM-UG-Guide.pdf)
- [UNSW undergraduate entry requirements](https://www.unsw.edu.au/study/how-to-apply/undergraduate/entry-requirements)

University admission requirements are specific to individual degrees and entry years. Always check the latest requirements for your intended intake.