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International Baccalaureate (IB) studies

QTAC’s tertiary institutions accept the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma as an equivalent to an Australian Year 12 Qualification, but do require the IB Diploma score to be assigned an ATAR-like rank (the QTAC Selection Rank) to facilitate comparisons for selection purposes.

International Baccalaureate (IB) and the International Baccalaureate Admissions Score (IBAS)

The IB Combined Rank process has undergone changes, with implementation beginning for the November 2022 IB graduates applying for tertiary courses starting in 2023. The Australasian Conference of Tertiary Admissions Centres (ACTAC) has been working with the IB Organisation (IBO) to find ways to obtain finer-grained data about the performance of IB students to create a more detailed schedule against which IB students’ selection ranks will be calculated. The Combined Rank schedule provides more conversion points by using scaled total marks from all subjects to differentiate between IB students on the same IB score. Click here to download a copy of the IB to Rank conversion process.

In this system a common process will be used by tertiary admissions centres (TACs) to calculate what is known as the IB Admissions Score, the IBAS. The IBAS will be used by IB graduates to identify their Combined Rank using the Combined Rank Schedule.

The IBAS is calculated for all students who obtained their IB in Australia, and QTAC is responsible for providing all IB students who studied for the IB Diploma in Queensland schools with their IBAS regardless of where an individual IB Diploma recipient resides.

Students who studied for their IB Diploma in Queensland schools must nominate QTAC to receive their IB results transcript via IBIS. This gives their permission to share their individual IB results with QTAC (and interstate TACs) for assessing their Application, and for the IBAS calculation. QTAC can only retrieve students’ results directly from the IBO if they nominate QTAC as a recipient of their IB results via the Results Release Service on the International Baccalaureate Information System (IBIS). 

How IB Diploma students are considered for entry to tertiary courses in Australia

Results from the IB Diploma are reported on a numerical scale between 24 and 45 and are mapped to an IB Admissions Score (IBAS, which as noted above is used to obtain an ATAR-like rank) to allow IB Diploma students to be considered for tertiary places alongside their counterparts who have completed state curricula.

This ATAR-like rank is known as the Combined Rank because it is a national conversion which combines student data gathered from across all states in Australia. This means that IB students can apply in any Australian state or territory with confidence about how their results compare to their peers who have completed state curricula and received an ATAR.

Up until November 2022, the number scale the IB Diploma was reported on, consisted of less informative reporting of whole number scores which all achievements were rounded to. Students who completed their IB Diploma prior to November 2022 will still be assigned a selection rank according to the schedule and selection rank conversion table relevant to their graduation year.

The new Combined Rank Schedule 

QTAC Selection Ranks and ATARs both have scales from 0.00 to 99.95. This means that IB graduates receiving an IBAS that equates to a QTAC Selection Rank of 99.75 on the new Combined Schedule, will be considered for tertiary admissions alongside students who received an ATAR of 99.75.
 
Students with a completed IB Diploma are considered for tertiary study through QTAC on the basis of having met ‘Eligibility’, requirements (minimum course entry for their desired tertiary course, such as subject prerequisites, auditions, portfolios or interviews) and ‘Merit’, QTAC Selection Rank (In this case IB Diploma, other examples are ATAR and VET Qualifications).
 
Use the new Combined Rank conversion table below to determine a QTAC Selection Rank from an IBAS.
IBAS Rank IBAS Rank
45.75 99.95 34.75 91.65
45.5 99.95 34.5 91.3
45.25 99.9 34.25 90.85
45 99.85 34 90.4
44.75 99.8 33.75 89.95
44.5 99.75 33.5 89.5
44.25 99.7 33.25 89.05
44 99.6 33 88.6
43.75 99.55 32.75 88.15
43.5 99.45 32.5 87.7
43.25 99.35 32.25 87.25
43 99.3 32 86.8
42.75 99.2 31.75 86.35
42.5 99.1 31.5 85.9
42.25 98.95 31.25 85.45
42 98.85 31 85
41.75 98.7 30.75 84.55
41.5 98.55 30.5 84.1
41.25 98.4 30.25 83.55
41 98.25 30 83
40.75 98.05 29.75 82.4
40.5 97.9 29.5 81.85
40.25 97.7 29.25 81.35
40 97.5 29 80.85
39.75 97.3 28.75 80.35
39.5 97.1 28.5 79.85
39.25 96.9 28.25 79.3
39 96.7 28 78.75
38.75 96.45 27.75 78.15
38.5 96.25 27.5 77.6
38.25 96 27.25 77.05
38 95.75 27 76.5
37.75 95.45 26.75 75.9
37.5 95.2 26.5 75.35
37.25 94.9 26.25 74.7
37 94.55 26 74.05
36.75 94.25 25.75 73.35
36.5 93.9 25.5 72.7
36.25 93.6 25.25 72.1
36 93.25 25 71.45
35.75 92.95 24.75 70.85
35.5 92.6 24.5 70.2
35.25 92.3 24.25 69.6
35 91.95 24 68.95

The new Combined Rank conversion table comes into play for the 2023 admissions cycle and will apply to IB May and November 2022 sitters and beyond (until 2024). May 2022, November 2022, May 2023, November 2023, May 2024 and November 2024 sitters will be assessed on the new combined rank schedule regardless of whether they are onshore sitters (IBAS calculated) or offshore sitters (use Total score issued by the IBO).

Detailed information about each IB student’s performance is provided directly to TACs by the IBO when their results are supplied in January 2023. This additional information is used to assess where each student’s individual marks lie within the grade band that they have been officially allocated allowing TACs to perform what we call fine grained scale ranking of IB students which is obviously more precise than working with scores reported to the nearest whole number.

For instance, if the boundaries for Grade 6 in Biology are marks between 61 and 70, and a student’s mark is 68, then clearly the student’s performance position within that specific grade band is fairly high and we would like to capture this level of detailed information about the student’s performance.

Every subject a student has taken undergoes this type of band position assessment. An average position for each IB student is calculated from across their six subjects and used to derive the IBAS.

The new Combined Rank Schedule provides more conversion points, by using finer grained data whereby scaled total marks from all subjects will be used to differentiate between IB students on the same IB score.

This means that in 2023 the IBAS will be reported to a level of detail of two decimal places, for example, you may receive an IB Diploma score of 41, and a corresponding calculated IB Admissions Score of 41.75 which is far more informative to our partner institutions in terms of how it measures performance in relation to the rest of the IB cohort.

Through the use of a more refined ranking scale, the IBAS can reflect differences in student performance for use in institution admission purposes.

Students in Queensland will receive their IBAS directly from QTAC via email, which they will be able to review against the Combined Rank table below in order to work out what their ATAR-like ranking will be which is what partner institutions will use for course selection purposes.

The old Combined Rank Schedule 

The process for calculating a QTAC Selection Rank for merit purposes for IB students who completed their IB diploma in November 2021 or prior is that QTAC converts the student’s original IB score in the completed diploma to a QTAC Selection Rank according to the ‘combined rank’ rules agreed Australia-wide. 

To find out how tertiary admissions centres in Australia determine tertiary entrance rankings, click here.

The rank conversion schedules usually change year on year. As a comparison to the new IBAS combined rank conversion above, the Combined Rank conversion table below was used to determine a QTAC Selection Rank for 2021 IB sitters applying for the 2022 admissions year.

IB SCORE IN COMPLETED DIPLOMA (2021) 2022 QTAC RANK (Combined Rank)
45 99.95
44 99.75
43 99.45
42 99.10
41 98.55
40 97.90
39 97.10
38 96.25
37 95.20
36 93.90
35 92.60
34 91.30
33 89.50
32 87.70
31 85.90
30 84.10
29 81.85
28 79.85
27 77.60
26 75.35
25 72.70
24 70.20

What IB graduates need to know when applying through QTAC

If you’re an IB student or graduate, you can sign up and lodge a QTAC application via Application Services, just like an ATAR student or graduate from 1 August 2023, for the 2024 admissions year. You can prepare and lodge your QTAC Application well in advance, and begin preferencing before receiving your IBAS with ample time to consider what is right for you.

QTAC calculates the ATAR but it does not issue nor calculate the IB, it uses a national tertiary admissions approach to calculate a rank that achieves an ATAR equivalent. Like all QTAC applicants, students completing the IB will receive a QTAC Selection Rank. The method to obtain that rank is different but that is where the difference stops. The process of applying through QTAC for a QTAC Selection Rank for entry in to a tertiary course does not vary greatly however, it is advised you read the timeline below.

Your IBAS and the Combined Schedule will tell you your final QTAC Selection Rank which will be used by the institutions. However, your window to adjust your preferences based on your performance will close before you receive the official IBAS. It is important to know that you can adjust preferencing based on the IBO release of your IB diploma score which will occur before receiving your IBAS.

 

Timeline for QTAC Applicants

Below is an example timeline to follow for the earliest offer round that falls following the release of the IB Diploma scores to students. Like any student applying to tertiary courses, ensure you check information about key dates, fixed closing dates, and information specific to the courses you’re applying for, including early offers, as this may influence your preferencing. 

Scroll across for more dates and information below

August - September
Create and sign in to your QTAC account, to lodge your QTAC Application to further tertiary study. You can submit your application prior to knowing your IBAS, so you don’t have to miss out on early offers or offer rounds. To speed up your application, make sure you check for any outstanding documents. If you have applied for EAS, it is important to submit your documents as soon as you can this September to ensure there is processing time.
December
We have offer rounds taking place at a higher frequency in December through to January. Please check information on your course preferences to be sure when offers will be made. If you are participating in the 11 January 2024 offer round, then you need to submit your application by 8 December 2023.
January
IB results are sent to graduates from the IBO. This gives you an early indication of what your IBAS could be, so now it is time to assess and change your preferences if necessary. The last date to change your preferences for the 11 January offer round is Thursday, 4 January 2024.
January
On Thursday, 4 January 2024 (from 12:00pm), QTAC will release your IBAS to you via email. To know your QTAC Selection Rank, you can now use your IBAS to see how it aligns to the Combined Rank Schedule on this webpage.
January - February
Offers are released on 11 January 2024. If you receive an offer in today’s round, you have until 4pm, Monday, 15 January to respond. If you didn’t receive an offer, offers for some courses commencing Semester 1, 2023 will continue to be made throughout January and February. Check our website for the latest course offers and vacancies information.

IB documentation

QTAC can obtain your IB results from the IBIS (International Baccalaureate Information System). If you want to receive your IBAS score from QTAC when it is released on 4 January 2024, you will need to submit the online IBAS Consent Form to QTAC. The link to that form is available from your school. Please contact your IB coordinator who will be able to share the form with you. Contact QTAC if you have any problems accessing your IBAS or if you require access to the online IBAS consent form.

If we can’t obtain your results from the IBO, you will need to provide a copy of your official IB results transcript to us.

Note: Do not submit downloaded results as we can’t assess these.

Subject prerequisites

Your IB subjects will meet subject prerequisites if these:

  • are comparable to the relevant QCAA subject
  • are studied at Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL)
  • you achieve a minimum grade of 3 in the relevant HL subject or 4 in the relevant SL subject; refer below.

Note: you will need to check your preferenced institution’s website for further information about meeting prerequisties with IB subjects, as some institutions have varying requirements which may not be outlined above.

SUBJECT TITLE

IB SUBJECT LEVEL

COMPARABLE TO QLD GENERAL SUBJECT

Ancient History

SL

Ancient History

Biology

HL or SL

Biology

Chemistry

HL or SL

Chemistry

Chinese A1, Chinese A2,
Chinese B, Chinese Studies

HL or SL

Chinese

Dance

HL or SL

Dance

Design Technology

HL or SL

Design

Drama

SL

Drama

Economics

HL or SL

Economics

English A1, English A2, English B, English AB, English A: Literature, English A:
Language and Literature

HL or SL

English

French A1, French A2, French AB,
French B

HL or SL

French

Geography

HL or SL

Geography

German A1, German A2, German AB,
German B

HL or SL

German

History (Africa, America, East and South East Asia and Oceania, Europe, West
Asia and the Middle East)

HL or SL

Modern History

Indonesian A1, Indonesian AB,
Indonesian B

HL or SL

Indonesian

Italian A1, Italian A2, Italian AB, Italian B

HL or SL

Italian

Japanese A1, Japanese A2, Japanese AB, Japanese B

HL or SL

Japanese

Mandarin B, Mandarin AB

HL or SL

Chinese

Mathematics Applications and Interpretations

SL

General Mathematics

Mathematics Applications and Interpretations

HL

Mathematical Methods

Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches

SL

Mathematical Methods

Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches

HL

Mathematical methods & or Specialist Mathematics

Music, Music Composition, Music Group Performance, Music Solo Performance

HL or SL

Music

Physics, Physical Science

HL or SL

Physics

Russian A1, Russian A2, Russian AB,
Russian B

HL or SL

Russian

Social and Cultural Anthropology, Social Studies

HL or SL

Spanish A1, Spanish A2, Spanish AB,
Spanish B

HL or SL

Spanish

Theatre, Theatre Arts

HL or SL

Drama

Vietnamese A1, Vietnamese B

HL or SL

Vietnamese

Visual Arts, Visual Arts A, Visual Arts B

HL or SL

Visual Art

FOR IB HL SUBJECTSFOR IB SL SUBJECTS
IB GRADEQCAA ACHIEVEMENT LEVELIB GRADEQCAA ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL
7, 6A7A
5, 4B6, 5B
3C4C
2D3, 2D
1E1E

Are you an IB student who did not obtain a Diploma?

QTAC has withdrawn its incomplete IB Diploma schedule as a stand-alone pathway for Year 12 students to tertiary study. Most QTAC institutions do not give a selection rank for an incomplete IB Diploma. Institutions that currently consider an incomplete IB Diploma are listed below.

Note: There are many courses that do not require a selection rank/ATAR for entry. These courses are not affected by the completion of the IB Diploma.

Griffith University welcomes applications from all IB students, including those who do not qualify for the IB Diploma.

Griffith recognises that some IB students will experience circumstances preventing them from being awarded the Diploma. Griffith University encourage these students to apply for a place at Griffith and be assessed on the study that they have completed via our IB Safety Net. There is no need to apply separately as students will automatically be considered by Griffith University when they apply to QTAC. Any eligible adjustments will also be applied to their rank.

Further details can be obtained from the university’s IB webpage at www.griffith.edu.au/international-baccalaureate-diploma.

QUT recognises some IB students will experience circumstances preventing them from being awarded the Diploma or choose to study the IB Career Certificate.

If you have studied at least three SL/HL IB Diploma units and have an IB Score of 18 or higher you can apply for a place in for our Diploma courses. There is no need to apply separately as you will automatically be considered by QUT when you apply to QTAC. Any eligible adjustments will also be applied to your rank.

Find out more at QUT – Recent secondary education.

IBAS release and IBAS amendments

Use our IBAS release troubleshooting and FAQs factsheet below for more information regarding: 

  • IBAS release to students 
  • IBAS release to schools 
  • IBAS amendments  

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