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Upgrading via Tertiary Study
There are many pathways available to students wishing to upgrade their results and improve their chances of tertiary entrance. Apart from undertaking secondary education or repeating senior, completing some tertiary study is another option to consider.
What is a selection rank?
Applicants are selected to courses in order of merit because the number of people applying for courses is usually much greater than the number of places available. For all applicants, except current Queensland Year 12s qualifying for an Overall Position, this order of merit is based on a scale of selection ranks.
A selection rank or set of ranks is determined for each applicant on the basis of the applicant's qualifications, including tertiary studies. If applicants have more than one qualification, they will usually be allocated more than one selection rank. Selection ranks are derived from tables or lists of conversions called schedules, on a scale from 1 to 99 (99 being the highest).
What is a cut-off selection rank?
A cut-off selection rank is the minimum selection rank required for entry to a particular course in a particular year. Course cut-offs are not predetermined. Each year, cut-off selection ranks are determined by the number of places available (quota) in a course, the number of applicants who apply for the course and the standard of those applicants. Consequently, past cut-off selection ranks, such as those published in the QTAC Guide or the QTAC website, should only be used as indicators of what a future cut-off might be and are based on the major offer round for first semester only.
What is a first order selection rank?
Some applicants will have more than one selection rank. Where an applicant has several selection ranks (eg a selection rank for Year 12 results, a selection rank for a preparatory course, a selection rank for employment and a selection rank for tertiary study), specific institution policies will determine the first order selection rank ie which rank will be used first for that applicant. It is the first order selection rank that is used to compare one applicant with other applicants.
A first order selection rank is particularly significant once tertiary study has been attempted or completed. For example, if your Year 12 results were good, but you subsequently performed poorly at tertiary level, specific institutional rules apply to determine which selection rank would be used as the first order selection rank. For further advice you should contact the admissions office of the tertiary institution you wish to attend.
How can I upgrade my selection rank through tertiary study?
Your actual Overall Position does not change once you complete some tertiary study. Instead, when you apply through QTAC, a new additional QTAC selection rank based on your tertiary study may be allocated. Tertiary results are not combined with an original Year 12 score.
Applicants who have completed the equivalent of one year of graded full-time tertiary study are normally allocated a selection rank on the basis of the schedules T2005 (Incomplete AQF Diploma) and T4001 (Bachelor Degree) (see below). 80 Credit Points is generally considered to be equivalent to one year of full-time study at many institutions, however students should check with the relevant institution's admissions office to ensure their course load is considered full-time. [Please note that The University of Queensland uses an institution-specific schedule, which may be found in its current Admissions Guide and on the UQ website.] Applicants who have completed an AQF Diploma will be scored on schedule T2666.
Depending on the structure of your study program, you may be considered on other schedules to receive a rank for incomplete studies. Generally ranks for partial studies are not as competitive as for completed qualifications.
More competitive selection ranks are derived from higher level qualifications and periods of study of one year full-time or more.
You should be aware that the Queensland University of Technology does not accept selection ranks derived from diploma and advanced diploma study of less than one full-time year duration. Similarly, the university only accepts selection ranks derived from 75% or more of a full-time year of degree level study (or the part-time equivalent). QUT will, however, allocate a selection rank for degree level study of less than 75% of a full-time year (or the part-time equivalent) if the study was undertaken at QUT. For further information on these policies, contact Admissions.
Can I still upgrade if my course assessment is competency-based?
If you are undertaking tertiary study in which the assessment is competency-based (ie grades of Competent or Not Yet Competent) you may also upgrade your selection rank.
Students with competency-based training wishing to increase their selection rank are generally advised to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test. Please refer to Upgrading via Tertiary Study - Competency-Based Training for further information on the use of competency-based assessment.
Performance Level Assessment
Some TAFE courses have Performance Level Assessment (PLA) as a supplementary reporting system for TAFE students. The PLA supplementary report provides additional information about grades to students, employers and universities concerning student achievement demonstrated whilst undertaking TAFE training. It provides evidence of additional effort and performance against identified PLA criteria. To be given a PLA result, a student must first achieve a competent result in the unit or module in which they are enrolled. Not all TAFE courses, and not all units within those courses, attract a PLA result. Please contact your local TAFE Institute for further information.
If you have received mostly PLA results you will be assessed according to the graded scale schedules. If you have been assessed equally on PLA and competency-based assessment, you will be assessed on whichever scale gives you the highest selection rank.
How to calculate your selection rank based on tertiary study
In order to calculate your selection rank from recognised tertiary study it is necessary to first calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA). Once you have calculated your GPA you can then refer to the schedules below (one year full-time only). You should carefully read the footnotes relating to each schedule. For confirmation, please contact the admissions office of the institution concerned. Be aware that institutional policies can change regularly, so check that your information is current.
Calculating your Grade Point Average (GPA)
A Grade Point Average (GPA) is the average of all grades achieved by a student. GPAs are used to calculate selection ranks in conjunction with approved QTAC Schedules.
All grades obtained in a course are converted into numerical values on a 7-point scale. The following table shows the translation of common grading schemes used in Australia. Use these numerical values when calculating your GPA.
Translation of Some Common Grading Scales into the 7-point scale
Example: Griffith University |
|
Example: TAFE Queensland |
||
Grade |
Numerical Value |
Grade |
Numerical Value |
|
High Distinction - HD |
7 |
Competent with Distinction - D, PLA Distinction - PD |
6.5 |
|
Distinction - D |
6 |
Competent with Credit - C, PLA Credit - PC |
5 |
|
Credit - C |
5 |
Competent - GJ, PLA Competent - PJ |
4 |
|
Pass - P |
4 |
Competency not yet Achieved - M |
1.5 |
|
Pass Conceded - PC |
3 |
|||
Fail - F |
1.5 |
|||
Withdrawal with Penalty - WF |
0 |
|||
Use the following steps to help you calculate your GPA:
- Multiply each subject's credit point value or number of hours for that subject by the corresponding grade's numerical value
- Add the amounts for each subject attempted
- Add the credit value or number of hours for all subjects together
- Divide the total value by the sum of the credit values for all subjects
- Round the answer to 2 decimal places and the result is your GPA
- Now use the appropriate QTAC Schedule to determine your admission selection rank
Important Points in the calculation of a GPA
· Grades of Withdrawal with Failure/Penalty, Did Not Sit, etc, which have a numerical value of zero, must be included in the calculation of a GPA. The credit point value should also be included in steps 1 and 3
· Ungraded passes or grades of Competent are not included in the calculation of the GPA unless these advantage the applicant (for example the inclusion of ungraded passes for students with GPAs less than 4.00)
· Failures and passes in the same subject taken at different times are included in the calculation for each time the subject was attempted (this also applies to PLA assessment). Grades of Not Yet Competent are treated as fails unless the subject has been repeated and a grade of Competent achieved. In this case, the Not Yet Competent is ignored
· Miscellaneous subjects or cross-institutional subjects use the credit value that would be applied for that subject in the appropriate award course
· Credit from previous study is not included in the calculation of a GPA for a particular award course. You may have to calculate two different GPAs for two different degree courses
· Individual institutions may differ in their policies on whether to combine similar level tertiary study. For example, if you have partially completed a Bachelor of Arts and partially completed a Bachelor of Commerce, you should clarify your particular situation with the admissions office of the institution concerned
Examples of how to calculate a Grade Point Average
Example 1: One year of full-time study in a Bachelor of Commerce degree
Subject |
Grade Value |
Numerical Value |
Credit Point Value |
Sub Total |
Foundations of Commerce and Administration |
HD |
7 |
x 40 |
= 280 |
Essentials of Economics |
F |
1.5 |
x 10 |
= 15 |
Introduction to Marketing |
WF |
0 |
x 10 |
= 0 |
Introduction to Information Systems |
P |
4 |
x 10 |
= 40 |
Accounting Principles |
PC |
3 |
x 10 |
= 30 |
Totals |
|
|
80 |
365 |
Grade Point Average
= Total Numerical Value of Grades / Total Credit Value
= 365 / 80
= 4.56
As the Credit Value is 80 and is therefore generally equivalent to one year full-time study, refer to Schedule T4001 to calculate the current selection rank (95).
80 Credit Points is generally considered to be equivalent to one year of full-time study at many institutions, however students should check with the relevant institution's admissions office to ensure their course load is considered full-time.
Example 2: Completed AQF Diploma of Business
Subject |
Grade Value |
Numerical Value |
Number of Hours |
Sub-Totals |
Communication for Business |
PD |
6.5 |
x 60 |
= 390 |
Principles of Management |
PC |
5 |
x 51 |
= 255 |
Business Mathematics |
GJ |
4 |
x 50 |
= 200 |
Introduction to Text Processing |
PC |
5 |
x 75 |
= 375 |
Information Search Skills |
PD |
6.5 |
x 50 |
= 325 |
Behaviour |
PC |
5 |
x 51 |
= 255 |
Group Dynamics |
GJ |
4 |
x 51 |
= 204 |
Training and Development |
PC |
5 |
x 51 |
= 255 |
Business Economics |
PD |
6.5 |
x 60 |
= 390 |
Accounting Fundamentals |
GJ |
4 |
x 50 |
= 200 |
Selling |
GJ |
4 |
x 75 |
= 300 |
Totals |
|
|
624 |
3149 |
Grade Point Average
= Total Numerical Value of Grades / Total Hour Value
= 3149 / 624
= 5.05
As the Diploma of Business is completed, refer to Schedule T2666 to calculate the current selection rank of (88).
a Where between one-quarter and three-quarters of the work undertaken is assessed on an ungraded basis (pass/fail, competent/not yet competent, satisfactory/not satisfactory or similar), the higher of the ranks from these schedules and the corresponding ungraded schedules T2501, T2505, T3501 and T4501 will be allocated. Where more than three-quarters of the work undertaken is assessed on an ungraded basis (pass/fail, competent/not yet competent, satisfactory/not satisfactory or similar) these schedules may not be used and the corresponding ungraded schedules T2501, T2505, T3501 and T4501 will apply. Where less than one-quarter of the work undertaken is assessed on an ungraded basis (pass/fail, competent/not yet competent, satisfactory/not satisfactory or similar) these schedules will be used.
b Refers to study at the level of bachelors degree (awarded without honours), graduate certificate, graduate diploma, postgraduate qualifying and comparable courses including incomplete coursework masters and coursework doctor's degree level studies. Completed honours, masters, PhD and higher level degrees are assessed on Schedules T7001 to T7003.
c Completed AQF Diploma courses are assessed on T2666 (graded) (see below) or T2555 (ungraded) schedules.
Note 1. The University of Queensland uses an institution specific schedule to assess degree level studies from the Australian National University, Monash University, The University of Adelaide, The University of Melbourne, The University of New South Wales (including the Australian Defence Force Academy), The University of Queensland, The University of Sydney and The University of Western Australia. If you are applying for entry to The University of Queensland and have tertiary studies from any of these universities you may be eligible for a higher rank than that derived from the above schedule (T4001), please refer to the schedule in The University of Queensland's Admissions Guide.
a Where between one-quarter and three-quarters of the work undertaken is assessed on an ungraded basis (pass/fail, competent/not yet competent, satisfactory/not satisfactory or similar), the higher of the ranks from this schedule and the corresponding ungraded schedule T2555 will be allocated.
Where more than three-quarters of the work undertaken is assessed on an ungraded basis (pass/fail, competent/not yet competent, satisfactory/not satisfactory or similar), these schedules may not be used and the corresponding ungraded schedule T2555 will apply.
Where less then one-quarter of the work undertaken is assessed on an ungraded basis (pass/fail, competent/not yet competent, satisfactory/not satisfactory or similar), this schedule will be used.
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