What is IB 45 equivalent to in ATAR?

An IB score of 45 converts to an ATAR equivalent of 99.85–99.95, depending on your IBAS. To reach the maximum 99.95, you typically need an IBAS of 45.50 or higher.

How do I convert my IB score to an ATAR?

Your IB score is converted to an ATAR-equivalent Combined Rank by your state's Tertiary Admissions Centre — UAC in NSW/ACT, VTAC in Victoria, QTAC in Queensland, TISC in WA, or SATAC in SA/NT. The conversion uses the ACTAC schedule, recalculated every year.

Is the IB to ATAR conversion the same in every state?

Yes — the core ACTAC conversion table is national. All TACs use the same schedule. However, adjustment factors (equity, location, school) can vary between states, so your adjusted rank may differ.

Do IB subjects scale like ATAR subjects?

No. In state ATAR systems, each subject is individually scaled. IB subjects are not scaled individually — your entire IB Diploma score is converted as a single number. There is no benefit to choosing high-scaling IB subjects.

When does the IB to ATAR conversion table change?

The ACTAC conversion table is recalculated every year, typically released in December after IB results come out. The conversion shifts based on how the IB cohort performed relative to the ATAR cohort.

What IB score do I need for medicine in Australia?

Most undergraduate medical programs at Go8 universities require an IB score of 43–45, equivalent to ATAR 99.0–99.95. You also need a competitive UCAT score, a successful interview, and prerequisite HL subjects.

Is IB harder than the ATAR system?

The workload is generally heavier — IB requires six subjects plus TOK, Extended Essay, and CAS. However, difficulty depends on the student. Strong all-rounders may thrive in IB, while students wanting to specialise may prefer the ATAR pathway.

IB to ATAR Conversion: Official Table & Guide

Q: What is the IBAS and how does it affect my ATAR?

The IB Admissions Score adds decimal precision (0.25, 0.50, 0.75) to your whole IB score, measuring where you sit within each grade band across your six subjects. It applies only to students who sat the IB in Australia from November 2022 onwards.

Q: Do all Australian universities accept IB scores?

Yes — every Australian university accepts the IB Diploma for undergraduate admission. Your IB score is converted to a Combined Rank through the ACTAC schedule and used the same way as an ATAR.

⚠️ Disclaimer: calcATAR is not affiliated with the IBO, UAC, VTAC, QTAC, TISC, SATAC, TASC, or any university or government body. Conversion figures are based on publicly available data and may change each year.

📖 Table of Contents

What is the International Baccalaureate?
IB to ATAR Conversion Table
How is IB Converted to ATAR?
What is the IBAS?
IB vs ATAR: Key Differences
IB Scores for Popular Courses
Do Australian Universities Accept IB?
IB vs ATAR Pathway
Tips for IB Students
FAQs

If you are completing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and planning to study at an Australian university, you need to understand how your IB score converts to an ATAR equivalent. The conversion is not a simple formula — it is a statistical mapping that changes every year based on cohort performance.

This guide covers the official 2026 conversion table, how the IB Admissions Score (IBAS) works, what each Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC) does with your results, and which IB scores you need for competitive courses like medicine, law, and engineering. If you are still deciding between IB and your state’s ATAR pathway, we compare both systems side by side.

What is the International Baccalaureate (IB)?

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a two-year pre-university curriculum recognised in over 150 countries. Unlike Australian state systems (VCE, HSC, QCE, WACE, SACE), the IB is a fixed curriculum — every student worldwide sits the same subjects and exams.

How IB Scoring Works

Your IB Diploma score is calculated from three components:

Six subjects — three at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL), each graded 1–7. Maximum: 42 points.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) + Extended Essay (EE) — combined, these contribute up to 3 bonus points.
Maximum possible score: 45 points.

The minimum score to receive the IB Diploma is 24 points (with conditions). The worldwide average is typically around 30–31 points.

💡 Key difference: The ATAR is a percentile rank (your position relative to other Australian students). The IB score is a curriculum-based grade (how well you performed against fixed criteria). They measure fundamentally different things — the conversion maps one onto the other statistically. Learn how ATAR ranking works at What is ATAR.

IB to ATAR Conversion Table (2026 Entry)

The table below shows the official conversion from IB Diploma scores to ATAR-equivalent Combined Ranks for university offers from August 2026. This schedule is calculated by ACTAC (Australasian Conference of Tertiary Admission Centres) and used by all Australian TACs — UAC, VTAC, QTAC, TISC, and SATAC.

⚠️ Important: The conversion changes every year based on cohort performance. Always check the latest schedule on uac.edu.au before relying on these figures for your preferences.

IB Score	ATAR Equivalent (High)	ATAR Equivalent (Low)	Competitiveness
45	99.95	99.85	🏆 Top 0.05–0.15%
44	99.75	99.50	🏆 Top 0.25–0.50%
43	99.35	98.90	🏆 Top 0.65–1.10%
42	98.75	98.20	Medicine, top law
41	98.00	97.30	Competitive law, dentistry
40	97.05	96.30	Law, pharmacy, advanced science
39	96.00	95.25	Most Go8 courses
38	95.00	94.25	Engineering, commerce (Go8)
37	93.95	93.00	Competitive programs
36	92.65	91.45	Engineering, allied health
35	91.05	89.75	90+ ATAR zone
34	89.30	88.15	Most university programs
33	87.80	86.20	Science, business, IT
32	85.55	84.00	Broad university access
31	83.55	82.00	Education, arts, social science
30	81.45	79.90	World average zone
29	79.35	77.65	Many degree programs
28	77.05	75.20	Nursing, social work
27	74.55	72.65	Arts, humanities
26	72.00	69.75	Some regional programs
25	68.90	66.90	Limited entry programs
24	66.30	64.25	Minimum diploma — pathway options

💡 Why a range? Each whole IB score maps to a range because the IBAS (IB Admissions Score) breaks each whole number into finer increments (0.25, 0.50, 0.75). An IB 40 with a strong IBAS of 40.75 converts higher than an IB 40 with an IBAS of 40.00. More on this below.

How is IB Converted to ATAR?

IB students do not receive an ATAR directly. Your IB results are converted to an ATAR-equivalent Combined Rank by the Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC) in your state. The conversion is coordinated nationally by ACTAC, so the same table applies across all states — but each TAC handles the process slightly differently.

State-by-State Process

State/Territory	TAC	How It Works for IB Students
NSW & ACT	UAC	Automatic if you grant permission through your school. UAC receives your IB results and calculates your Combined Rank using the IBAS. You can also apply for subject adjustment factors.
Victoria	VTAC	VTAC receives your results and may calculate a Derived IB Rank. Register through VTAC and ensure your IB school releases results.
Queensland	QTAC	Apply through QTAC. Your IB score converts to an ATAR equivalent using the national ACTAC table. Some universities accept IB directly.
Western Australia	TISC	Apply through TISC. Your Combined Rank is calculated from the ACTAC conversion. Some UWA pathways accept IB directly.
SA & NT	SATAC	Apply through SATAC. The ACTAC conversion applies. University of Adelaide offers credit for higher-level IB subjects.
Tasmania	UTAS direct	University of Tasmania accepts IB applications directly. Contact UTAS admissions for conversion details.

⚠️ Action required: The conversion is not always automatic. In NSW/ACT, you must give permission through your school for IB results to be released to UAC. In other states, you apply through the relevant TAC and nominate IB as your qualification. Do this early — don’t assume it happens on its own.

What is the IBAS (IB Admissions Score)?

Since November 2022, Australian students sitting the IB receive an IB Admissions Score (IBAS) alongside their regular IB score. The IBAS adds decimal precision — 0.25, 0.50, or 0.75 — to your whole-number score, creating a finer-grained ranking.

How the IBAS is Calculated

ACTAC looks at where you sit within each grade band across your six subjects. Two students with the same IB total (say, 38) can receive different IBAS values — 38.25 vs 38.75 — based on how strongly they performed within their subject-level grades. The student at the top of multiple grade bands gets a higher IBAS.

Worked Example

Detail	Student A	Student B
IB Diploma Score	38	38
IBAS	38.75	38.25
Combined Rank	~95.00	~94.25
Difference	0.75 ATAR points — enough to change a course offer

💡 Who gets an IBAS? Only students who sat their IB exams in Australia from November 2022 onwards. Students who completed IB overseas or before November 2022 are converted using the whole-number score table, where IB 45 = 99.95, IB 40 = 96.80, IB 24 = 65.70. The whole-number table is slightly more generous at some score points.

IB vs ATAR: Key Differences

The IB and ATAR are fundamentally different systems. Understanding the differences helps you make sense of the conversion and choose the right pathway.

Feature	IB Diploma	ATAR
What it measures	Curriculum-based achievement (how well you learned the content)	Percentile rank (your position relative to other students)
Maximum	45 points	99.95
Subjects required	6 (3 HL + 3 SL) — mandatory	4–6 depending on state
Subject choice	Fixed groups — must take one from each of 6 areas	Open — choose from state offerings
Assessment	Internal assessments (20–30%) + external exams (70–80%)	Varies by state (VCE: 50% SAC + 50% exam, HSC: 50/50, QCE: 25/75, etc.)
Bonus components	TOK + Extended Essay = up to 3 extra points	No bonus points in the ATAR itself
Scaling	No individual subject scaling — score is absolute	Subjects are statistically scaled before ATAR calculation
Recognition	International — accepted in 150+ countries	Australia only
Curriculum	Same worldwide	Different per state (VCE, HSC, QCE, WACE, SACE)

💡 The scaling difference matters. In state ATAR systems, your raw mark gets scaled based on cohort strength — a 75 in Specialist Maths may scale up to 85+. IB subjects don’t scale individually. Your entire IB total converts as one number. This means there is no “gaming the system” with subject selection in IB the way there is with ATAR. Learn more about how scaling works at ATAR Scaling Explained.

Which IB Score Do You Need for Popular Courses?

The table below shows typical IB scores needed for competitive courses at Group of Eight (Go8) universities, alongside the ATAR equivalents. These are indicative — cutoffs change yearly and some courses have interviews, aptitude tests, or prerequisite subjects on top of the score.

Course	IB Score Needed	ATAR Equivalent	Notes
Medicine (undergrad)	43–45	99.0–99.95	Plus UCAT and interview. HL Chemistry or Biology often required.
Law (Go8)	40–42	96.30–98.75	Some accept 38+ combined with portfolio or test scores.
Dentistry	40–43	96.30–99.35	HL Chemistry or Biology usually prerequisite.
Engineering (Go8)	36–38	91.45–95.00	HL Maths required. Physics HL recommended.
Commerce / Business (Go8)	36–38	91.45–95.00	Maths at SL or HL. Lower at non-Go8 universities.
Science (Go8)	34–36	88.15–92.65	HL in relevant science subject (Chemistry, Physics, Biology).
Pharmacy	35–38	89.75–95.00	HL Chemistry usually required.
Nursing	28–32	75.20–85.55	Some universities require HL Biology or Chemistry.
Education / Teaching	27–30	72.65–81.45	Literacy and numeracy test (LANTITE) also required.
Arts / Humanities	25–30	66.90–81.45	Broad entry. Some Go8 programs need 34+.

🚨 Prerequisites matter more than the total. Many courses require specific Higher Level subjects — for example, Engineering typically requires HL Mathematics, and Medicine requires HL Chemistry or Biology. A perfect IB 45 will not get you into Medicine if you did not take HL Chemistry. Check prerequisite subjects on ATAR Requirements for Courses.

Do Australian Universities Accept IB Scores?

Yes — every Australian university accepts the IB Diploma for undergraduate admission. The IB is treated as equivalent to an Australian Year 12 qualification, and your score is converted to a Combined Rank (ATAR equivalent) through the ACTAC conversion table.

How to Apply as an IB Student

You apply through the same TAC that handles all university applications in your state: UAC (NSW/ACT), VTAC (VIC), QTAC (QLD), TISC (WA), or SATAC (SA/NT). Register on their website, select “IB Diploma” as your qualification, list your preferences, and ensure your school releases your results to the TAC.

Prerequisites: Higher Level vs Standard Level

Australian universities distinguish between HL and SL when setting prerequisites. Most STEM courses require specific HL subjects. A few key rules:

HL subjects are generally treated as equivalent to a state’s highest-level course (e.g., VCE Units 3 & 4, HSC Band 5–6 equivalent).
SL subjects may meet general prerequisites but often do not satisfy prerequisite requirements for competitive STEM programs.
Some Go8 universities grant course credit for HL subjects scored at 6 or 7 — effectively skipping first-year units (University of Adelaide, University of Queensland, and others offer this).

Adjustment Factors and Bonus Points

IB students are eligible for the same adjustment factors (equity, school, location) that domestic ATAR students receive. In NSW, UAC applies subject adjustment factors automatically if you grant permission. In Victoria, VTAC may apply Access Melbourne or similar schemes. Check your specific TAC for details — these can add 1–5 points to your Combined Rank and make a real difference.

IB vs Choosing an ATAR Pathway: Which is Better?

If your school offers both the IB and the local ATAR pathway (VCE, HSC, etc.), the choice depends on your goals, strengths, and what you value in your final two years.

Factor	IB Diploma	State ATAR Pathway
Subject flexibility	❌ Limited — must take one from each of 6 groups (Language, Sciences, Maths, Humanities, Arts, second language)	✅ Open — choose any combination from your state’s list
Workload	Higher — 6 subjects + TOK + Extended Essay + CAS	Moderate — typically 5–6 subjects, no mandatory essay or service
Scaling advantage	None — no individual subject scaling. Your total converts as one number.	Possible — strategic subject selection can boost your scaled score
International mobility	✅ Strong — recognised by universities worldwide	❌ Limited — ATAR is recognised primarily in Australia
Critical thinking focus	✅ Extensive — TOK and Extended Essay develop research and philosophy skills	Varies — depends on subject selection
University credit	✅ Some unis grant credit for HL 6 or 7	Rarely — some accelerated pathway exceptions
Conversion risk	Your ATAR equivalent changes yearly — you can’t predict it precisely	Direct ATAR — no conversion needed
Best for	Students who want broad education, international options, or are strong across all subject areas	Students who want to specialise, leverage scaling, or target a specific ATAR

💡 My honest take: If you are targeting a specific ATAR for an Australian university and you have the option, the state ATAR pathway gives you more control — you can pick subjects that scale well and play to your strengths. But if you are a strong all-rounder who might study overseas, or you value the broader IB education, the IB is an excellent pathway. Neither is objectively “better.” Use the ATAR Predictor to estimate where you would land in the ATAR system, or compare subject scaling with the Scaling Comparison Tool.

Tips for IB Students Applying to Australian Universities

1. Check HL Prerequisites Early Many courses require specific Higher Level subjects. If you pick SL Chemistry and later want to apply for Medicine or Engineering, you are locked out regardless of your total IB score. Confirm prerequisites before you finalise your subject choices in Year 11. Check course requirements at ATAR Requirements for Courses.

2. Register with Your State’s TAC Before the Deadline UAC, VTAC, QTAC, TISC, or SATAC — whichever applies to you. Registration opens mid-year and has early-bird and final deadlines. Don’t assume your school handles it. Register yourself and confirm your IB results will be released to the TAC.

3. Understand the IBAS — It Is Not Just Your IB Total Since November 2022, Australian IB students receive an IBAS with decimal precision. Your position within each grade band matters. A strong performance at the top of a 6 is better than scraping a 6 in every subject. Push for the highest possible marks within your grades, not just the grade boundary.

4. Don’t Neglect TOK and the Extended Essay Those 3 bonus points convert directly into ATAR points. The difference between IB 38 and IB 41 is approximately 3 ATAR points (94.25 vs 97.30). An A in TOK and the EE can be the difference between getting into your first-choice course and missing out.

5. Apply for Adjustment Factors IB students qualify for the same equity, school, and location adjustments as ATAR students. In NSW, UAC applies these automatically if you grant permission. In other states, you may need to apply separately. These can add 1–5 points to your Combined Rank — that is free marks.

6. Use the Change of Preference Window After your IB results drop (typically mid-to-late December), TACs open a change of preference window. This is your most strategic moment. Convert your IB score to an ATAR equivalent, check it against actual cutoffs from previous years, and reorder your preferences accordingly. Don’t leave your original list unchanged.

7. Ask About HL Credit at Your Target University Several Go8 universities grant course credit for Higher Level subjects scored at 6 or 7. This can shorten your degree by a semester or let you take electives instead of repeating content you have already mastered. Contact the admissions office of your target university directly.

8. Run Multiple Scenarios with Calculators Model your best-case, likely, and worst-case IB scores. Convert each to an ATAR equivalent using the table above or the ATAR Predictor. Then check those ATARs against course cutoffs. This gives you a realistic range for setting preferences — not a fantasy based on your peak performance.

9. Consider Domestic Offer Rounds vs International Rounds If you completed IB at an Australian school, you are treated as a domestic applicant and go through the standard TAC offer rounds. If you completed IB overseas, you may need to apply as an international student with different deadlines, fees, and requirements. Confirm which category you fall into early.

10. Don’t Panic About Mid-Range Conversion Drops The 2026 conversion showed mid-range IB scores (high 20s to 33) dropping by 1.2–1.8 ATAR points compared to the previous cycle. This happens when the IB cohort performs differently year to year. Focus on maximising your score — the conversion is outside your control. A higher IB score always converts to a higher ATAR equivalent.

Frequently Asked Questions

An IB score of 45 converts to an ATAR equivalent of 99.85–99.95, depending on your IBAS (IB Admissions Score). To reach the maximum 99.95, you typically need an IBAS of 45.50 or higher, which requires strong performance at the top of your grade bands across all six subjects. See the full table above or check What is ATAR to understand the ranking.

An IB score of 40 converts to an ATAR equivalent of approximately 96.30–97.05 (2026 schedule). This puts you in the top 3–4% of the cohort — competitive enough for law, advanced science, and most Go8 programs. The exact figure depends on your IBAS and shifts slightly each year.

Your IB score is converted to an ATAR-equivalent Combined Rank by your state’s Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC) — UAC in NSW/ACT, VTAC in Victoria, QTAC in Queensland, TISC in WA, or SATAC in SA/NT. The conversion uses the ACTAC schedule, which is recalculated every year. If you sat the IB in Australia from November 2022 onwards, your IBAS (with decimal precision) is used. Otherwise, the whole-number score table applies.

Yes — the core ACTAC conversion table is national. All TACs (UAC, VTAC, QTAC, TISC, SATAC) use the same schedule to convert IB scores to Combined Ranks. However, the way each TAC applies adjustment factors (equity, location, school) can vary. So your base Combined Rank is the same everywhere, but your adjusted rank may differ depending on which state you apply in.

No. In the state ATAR systems, each subject is individually scaled based on cohort strength — so a raw 80 in Specialist Maths might scale up to 90+. IB subjects are not scaled individually. Your entire IB Diploma score (out of 45) is converted as a single number. This means there is no benefit to choosing “high-scaling” IB subjects — every point contributes equally to your total. Learn how ATAR scaling works at ATAR Scaling Explained.

The IB Admissions Score (IBAS) adds decimal precision (0.25, 0.50, 0.75) to your whole IB score. It measures where you sit within each grade band across your six subjects. Two students with the same IB total — say, 38 — can receive different IBAS values (38.25 vs 38.75) and therefore different ATAR equivalents. The IBAS only applies to students who sat the IB in Australia from November 2022 onwards.

Yes — every Australian university accepts the IB Diploma for undergraduate admission. Your IB score is converted to a Combined Rank (ATAR equivalent) through the ACTAC schedule, and universities use it for selection the same way they use ATARs. Some universities also grant course credit for Higher Level subjects scored at 6 or 7. Check ATAR Requirements for Courses for specific cutoffs.

The ACTAC conversion table is recalculated every year, typically released in December after IB results come out (IB results for November 2026 sessions are expected Friday 18 December 2026). The conversion shifts based on how the IB cohort performed relative to the ATAR cohort that year. Always check uac.edu.au for the latest official table before finalising your university preferences.

Most undergraduate medical programs at Go8 universities require an IB score of 43–45, which converts to an ATAR equivalent of approximately 99.0–99.95. However, the IB score alone is not enough — you also need a competitive UCAT score, a successful interview, and prerequisite subjects (typically HL Chemistry or Biology). Some universities offer graduate-entry medicine, which has different requirements.

The workload is generally heavier — IB requires six subjects plus Theory of Knowledge, an Extended Essay, and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service), while most ATAR pathways require five to six subjects with no mandatory research essay or service component. However, “harder” depends on the student. If you are strong across all subject areas, IB can be rewarding. If you want to specialise in three or four subjects and leverage scaling, the ATAR pathway may produce a better rank with less total effort.

Yes — several Australian universities grant course credit or exemptions for Higher Level IB subjects scored at 6 or 7. The University of Adelaide, University of Queensland, and Griffith University are among those with established IB credit policies. This can shorten your degree by a semester or free up space for electives. Contact the admissions office of your target university to check their specific policy.

Yes — directly. TOK and the Extended Essay contribute up to 3 bonus points to your IB total. Since the ATAR conversion is based on your total IB score, those 3 points translate to roughly 2–4 ATAR points depending on where you sit on the scale. For example, moving from IB 38 to IB 41 shifts your ATAR equivalent from approximately 94.25 to 97.30. Don’t treat TOK and the EE as throwaway assignments.

Final Thoughts

The IB to ATAR conversion is not as mysterious as it seems. Your IB Diploma score — including the bonus TOK and Extended Essay points — converts to an ATAR-equivalent Combined Rank through a national ACTAC table that every Australian TAC uses. The IBAS adds decimal precision for students who sat the IB in Australia since November 2022, so your position within grade bands genuinely matters.

I really suggest you focus on three things: maximise your IB total (every point moves the ATAR needle), confirm your HL subjects meet prerequisites for your target courses, and register early with your state’s TAC so your results flow through automatically. After results drop in December, use the change of preference window to lock in your best options based on your actual Combined Rank.

Estimate your ATAR from any state system using our 30-Second ATAR Predictor, or compare scaling across subjects with the Scaling Comparison Tool.

— Daniel Mitchell, calcATAR