Education Experts Criticise ATAR System For Being "Confusing, Inconsistent And Misunderstood"

An inquiry into Australia's university entrance system has been labelled confusing and inconsistent by the Higher Education Review panel.

The review, reported by the ABC, found only 31 per cent of students who enter higher education do so on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks (ATAR).

One particular concern raised was about lower socio-economic class students, who were alienated from higher education because they did not understand the system.

Where there's a problem, there has to be a solution, right?

Recommendations have been made to improve the quality and consistency of information around entry requirements.

Students should get the info needed to make decisions about their future. Admissions transparency report: https://t.co/Lw1ONPJH4O #highered https://t.co/DZLEzCxNcz

— Simon Birmingham (@Birmo) November 15, 2016

Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham is concerned universities aren't being entirely clear on "actual cut-off scores".

"The inflation of ATAR cut-offs by some universities is about trying to make their university course they're offering look more prestigious, look more exclusive, when in reality it might be something different."

Birmingham has called out some universities for having a "lack of transparency".

Professor Peter Shergold, chairman of the Higher Education Review Panel, said the major issue is that people are led to believe their ATAR score is the "be all and end all".

"They need to know if an ATAR score is required, what that ATAR score is, including bonus points — but they also need to know about alternative pathways," he advised.

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