Queensland and NSW Year 12 result and subject equivalents

Before 2020, Queensland Year 12 students received an Overall Position (OP) instead of an ATAR. The OP provided by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) was used to derive a rank equivalent to the ATAR. This equivalent rank was not reported to applicants. The 2018 OP/ATAR comparison table is provided as a guide only to how the OP and ATAR compare.

QCE course results and equivalent NSW HSC course results

QCE grade NSW HSC Band NSW HSC Band extension course
A 6 E4
B 5, 4 E3
C 3 E2
D 2 E2
E 1 E1

Search for a subject equivalent

The following table shows for each QCE course the comparable course in the NSW HSC.

QCE subjectNSW HSC subject
English subjects
Essential EnglishEnglish Studies (Examination)
EnglishEnglish Advanced
LiteratureEnglish Advanced
English ExtensionEnglish Extension 1
English and Literature (Extension)English Extension 1
English as an Additional LanguageEnglish as an Additional Language or Dialect
Mathematics subjects
Essential MathematicsMathematics Standard 1 (Examination)
General MathematicsMathematics Standard 2
Mathematical MethodsMathematics Advanced
Specialist MathematicsMathematics Extension 2
All others subjects (excluding languages other than English)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander StudiesAboriginal Studies
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LanguagesAboriginal Studies
AccountingFinancial Services (Examination)
Aerospace Studies* No equivalent
Agricultural Science* No equivalent
Ancient HistoryAncient History
BiologyBiology
BusinessBusiness Studies
Business Communication and TechnologiesBusiness Studies
Business Organisation and ManagementBusiness Studies
Business ManagementBusiness Studies
ChemistryChemistry
DanceDance
DesignDesign and Technology
Digital SolutionsEnterprise Computing
DramaDrama
Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science
EconomicsEconomics
EngineeringEngineering Studies
Film, Television and New Media* No equivalent
Film and Television* No equivalent
Food and NutritionFood Technology
GeographyGeography
HealthPersonal Development, Health and Physical Education
Home EconomicsFood Technology
Hospitality StudiesFood Technology
Information Processing and TechnologyEnterprise Computing
Information Technology SystemsEnterprise Computing
Legal StudiesLegal Studies
Marine Studies* No equivalent
Marine Science* No equivalent
Modern HistoryModern History
Multistrand ScienceInvestigating Science
MusicMusic 2
Music ExtensionMusic Extension
Philosophy and Reason* No equivalent
Physical EducationPersonal Development, Health and Physical Education
PhysicsPhysics
Psychology* No equivalent
Science21Investigating Science
Study of ReligionStudies of Religion II
Study of SocietySociety and Culture
Technology StudiesEngineering Studies
Visual ArtVisual Arts
Languages other than English (LOTE)
ArabicArabic Continuers
ChineseChinese Continuers
Chinese ExtensionChinese Extension
FrenchFrench Continuers
French ExtensionFrench Extension
GermanGerman Continuers
German ExtensionGerman Extension
Modern GreekModern Greek Continuers
IndonesianIndonesian Continuers
Indonesian
Malaysian		Indonesian Continuers
Indonesian ExtensionIndonesian Extension
ItalianItalian Continuers
JapaneseJapanese Continuers
KoreanKorean Continuers
LatinLatin Continuers
PolishPolish Continuers
RussianRussian Continuers
SpanishSpanish Continuers
VietnameseVietnamese Continuers

* There is no comparable NSW HSC course for this QCE course. Contact the relevant institution for information on that institution’s policy regarding QCE courses that have no comparable NSW HSC course.

Note: In the NSW HSC there is a small number of multi-level subject areas (English, mathematics, music and LOTE) which enable advanced students to study extension courses. Students undertaking an extension course must also study the underpinning course. Some institutions, for some courses, award selection rank adjustments for achievement in both courses. In such cases, QCE students undertaking a QCE course will be considered for the same pattern of subject adjustments as NSW HSC students undertaking the comparable course listed in this table and may be eligible to receive more than one adjustment.