ATAR vs OP vs TER: What’s the Difference?
ATAR vs OP vs TER sounds like a choice between three systems, but only one is still in use. The OP and the TER were older state-based university entrance scores. The ATAR replaced both of them, and it’s now the national standard everywhere in Australia. Knowing the difference matters most if you finished school before the switch and you’re thinking about applying to uni now.
The three systems at a glance
| ATAR | OP | TER | |
| Where | All states | Queensland | SA, NT, WA, Tasmania |
| Years used | 2009 to now | 1992 to 2019 | Until 2009 or 2010 |
| Scale | 0.00 to 99.95 | 1 to 25 | Up to 99.95 |
| Best score | 99.95 | 1 | 99.95 |
The OP ran from 1992 to 2019. NSW and the ACT adopted the ATAR for the Year 12 class of 2009, and most other states followed in 2010. Queensland switched in 2020.
How the OP worked
The Overall Position put Queensland students into one of 25 bands, with 1 as the highest. It compared you only with other OP-eligible students in Queensland. Your result also depended partly on how your school performed in the Queensland Core Skills Test, so a strong student at a lower-achieving school could have their OP pulled down by their cohort.
The biggest practical difference is precision. The ATAR goes up in steps of 0.05, while an OP is a band. In 2019, for example, the lowest ATAR in the OP1 band was 98.85 and in the OP2 band was 97.30, so students with quite different ATARs could share the same OP.
Where the TER fits
The Tertiary Entrance Rank looked a lot more like today’s ATAR. It was also a percentile rank. The TER was used in SA, the NT, WA and Tasmania. WA replaced it with the ATAR in 2010. NSW and the ACT used their own scores (the UAI) before switching, and Victoria used the ENTER.
Why everyone moved to the ATAR
Before 2009, each state had its own system, which made it hard to compare students across borders. The ATAR was introduced to create a single national rank. Queensland held out longest because the OP worked differently, but universities strongly supported the move to the ATAR for Queensland students.
Applying to uni with an old OP or TER
If you have an OP from 1997 to 2019, you can apply to the QCAA for an ATAR statement, free of charge. That makes an OP to ATAR conversion simple. If you never received an OP, the QCAA can’t calculate an ATAR for you.
Older NSW scores have an official conversion. UAC’s table shows a UAI of 90 converts to an ATAR of 90.80, and a UAI of 80 converts to 81.65. For TERs and ENTERs, contact the admissions centre in your state.
The bigger point is that an old score may count for less than you expect. If you finished Year 12 a few years ago, UAC notes that some institutions weigh everything you’ve done, while others focus only on your highest qualification, such as a TAFE Certificate IV. Recent study, such as a few university subjects or a diploma, often carries more weight than a result from years ago.
Hypothetical example: someone who finished school in Brisbane in 2012 with an OP 9 wants to study nursing in 2027. They could request an ATAR statement from the QCAA. A recent Certificate IV or a semester of university subjects might strengthen their application more than their OP does, though.
The Bottom Line
The ATAR vs OP vs TER question comes down to timing. The ATAR is the only current system, and the OP and TER are historical. If you hold an older score, get it officially converted where possible, then check how your target university treats applicants who finished school some time ago. If you’re still at school, our ATAR calculator will give you a sense of where you might land.
