Your selection rank is what universities use to rank you. It is your ATAR plus any bonus points you qualify for. Selection rank = ATAR + bonus points. It is capped at 99.95.
This matters because course cut-offs are selection ranks, not raw ATARs. Say a course cut-off is 90. Your ATAR is 87, but you qualify for 3 bonus points. Your selection rank is then 90. So you can meet the cut-off. Bonus points come from subject, regional, equity, athlete and recommendation schemes. Most universities cap the total near 10 points. Schemes vary, so treat this as an estimate.
Where bonus points come from
Bonus points are called adjustment factors. They are extra points added to your ATAR for things outside a normal exam. Each university runs its own scheme, so the rules differ by course and campus.
Common types include subject bonuses for studying a related subject, like maths for an engineering degree. Equity schemes such as Educational Access (EAS) help students who faced hardship. Regional and rural schemes add points based on your home postcode. Some schools also run recommendation schemes. Most students gain about 5 to 10 points in total, and each scheme has its own cap.
To estimate the parts, use our bonus points calculator or, if you live outside a city, the regional bonus calculator. To check the ATAR you start from, try the ATAR predictor. For the official equity scheme and its rules, see the UAC adjustment factors page.