Your ATAR isn’t always the number universities rank you on. Many add bonus points on top. This gives your selection rank. Selection rank = ATAR + bonus points.
You can earn bonus points in several ways. Examples include subjects linked to your course. You can also earn them for living in a regional area. Hardship and equity schemes count too. So do elite athlete and school recommendation schemes. Most universities cap the total near 10 points. Your selection rank can never go above 99.95. Each university sets its own rules. So treat this as an estimate and check the details.
The main types of adjustment factors
Adjustment factors fall into a few groups. Subject bonuses reward studying a subject linked to the course, like a language or a higher maths. Equity schemes, such as Educational Access (EAS), help students who faced disadvantage. Regional and rural bonuses use your home postcode. There are also schemes for elite athletes and for some school partnerships.
Two rules matter most. First, each scheme has its own cap, often 2 to 5 points. Second, your final selection rank can never pass 99.95. So a student already near the top gains little, while a student in the 80s can gain real ground.
The points you add here feed into your selection rank. If you live in the country, the regional bonus calculator is more specific. For the official equity scheme, see the UAC adjustment factors page.