ATAR Cutoff Predictions for 2025 Admissions

Wondering what ATAR you'll need for university in 2025? This easy-to-understand guide explains how ATAR cutoffs work, why they change, and what to expect for popular courses like Medicine, Law, Nursing, and more. Get simple tips to boost your chances and explore your options—even if you miss the cutoff.

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6/3/20254 min read

Are you trying to figure out what ATAR you’ll need to get into uni in 2025? You’re not the only one. Every year, students wait to see what ATAR cutoffs will look like. These cutoffs help you know which courses you might get into. In this blog, we’ll go through what ATAR cutoffs are, why they matter, and what they might look like for 2025. We’ll keep everything super simple so that it’s easy to follow, even if you’re just starting to learn about ATAR.

What Does ATAR Mean?

ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. It’s a number between 0 and 99.95 that shows how well a student did in Year 12 compared to others. If your ATAR is 85.00, that means you did better than 85% of students in your year.

ATAR isn’t a percentage or a score. It’s a rank. So it depends not just on how well you did, but also on how well everyone else did.

What’s an ATAR Cutoff?

An ATAR cutoff is the lowest ATAR accepted into a uni course last year. For example, if a course had a cutoff of 82.00 in 2024, that means students who got into it had an ATAR of 82.00 or higher.

Unis use cutoffs to manage how many people get into each course. If a course is popular and has limited spots, the cutoff goes up. If it’s less popular, the cutoff may be lower.

Why Do Cutoffs Change?

ATAR cutoffs don’t stay the same every year. They can go up or down depending on a few things:

  • How many people apply for the course

  • How many spots does the uni offer

  • The ATARs of the people applying

If lots of students apply for a course and have high ATARs, the cutoff will probably go up. But if fewer people apply or if their scores are lower, the cutoff can drop.

What Might Happen in 2025?

Let’s be honest — we can’t say exactly what the 2025 ATAR cutoffs will be. But we can guess based on past years and current trends.

Here are some ATAR cutoff predictions for 2025 based on what’s happened in the past few years:

1. Medicine

  • 2024 cutoff: 95.00 – 99.95 (varies by uni)

  • 2025 guess: Probably the same or a little higher. Medicine is always competitive.

2. Law

  • 2024 cutoff: 90.00 – 99.00

  • 2025 guess: May increase slightly. Law is still a popular choice.

3. Engineering

  • 2024 cutoff: 75.00 – 90.00

  • 2025 guess: Likely to stay the same or even drop in some places.

4. Nursing

  • 2024 cutoff: 65.00 – 85.00

  • 2025 guess: Could go up a bit. More people are choosing health careers.

5. Business

  • 2024 cutoff: 70.00 – 85.00

  • 2025 guess: Probably stable. Business courses are offered at many universities.

6. Teaching

  • 2024 cutoff: 60.00 – 80.00

  • 2025 guess: Might drop slightly. Fewer students are applying for education degrees in some areas.

7. Psychology

  • 2024 cutoff: 80.00 – 95.00

  • 2025 guess: Could increase. There’s growing interest in mental health careers.

What You Can Do Now

If you’re in Year 11 or 12, it’s a good time to start thinking about your course preferences. Here are a few tips:

  1. Focus on your studies. ATAR is based on your performance, so doing your best in school is the most helpful thing you can do.

  2. Know the bonus points. Some universities give you extra points for doing certain subjects or for where you live. These can help your ATAR go further.

  3. Look into other ways in. If you miss the cutoff, there are other ways to get into uni. Many universities offer pathway programs or allow you to transfer into your desired course later.

  4. Have more than one option. It’s okay to have a dream course, but also apply for other ones with lower cutoffs just in case.

  5. Stay updated. Keep an eye on uni websites. Things change quickly, like new courses or extra support programs.

What If Your ATAR Isn’t High Enough?

It happens. Not everyone hits the exact ATAR they need. But missing a cutoff doesn’t mean the end of your uni dreams.

Here are some things you can do:

  • Apply for a similar course with a lower cutoff, then transfer later

  • Study at TAFE or do a diploma that connects to your degree

  • Take a year off, gain some experience, and reapply

The point is, there’s more than one way to get where you want to go.

How to Check ATAR Cutoffs

If you want to find the cutoff for a course:

  1. Go to the university’s website

  2. Search for the course you want

  3. Look under the “entry requirements” section

Make sure you’re looking at the cutoff from last year (2024). That’s the most recent one available now and gives you a rough idea of what to expect.

Wrapping Up

ATAR cutoffs matter — they help you understand which courses are in reach — but they aren’t the only thing that matters. Whether you’re aiming for a course with a high cutoff or something more flexible, there’s always a way forward.

Just remember: things can change, and there are plenty of ways to get into uni, even if the numbers don’t work out the first time.

Need help with schoolwork or uni applications?
Check out www.getassignment.com.au for help with assignments, study tips, and more. Stay focused, stay calm, and keep doing your best. You’ve got this.