QTAC, the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre, is the body that scales QCE results, calculates the ATAR, and manages university applications for Queensland students. QCAA sets the subjects and runs the assessment; QTAC scales those results, works out your ATAR from your best five, and processes your university preferences.
Key takeaways
- QTAC is the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre.
- It scales QCE results and works out your ATAR.
- It also manages your university applications and preferences.
- QCAA is different: it sets the subjects and runs the assessment.
- So QCAA gives you your subject results; QTAC gives you your ATAR.
- You register with QTAC during Year 12 to apply for university.
What is QTAC?
QTAC stands for the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre. It is a central body that handles university admissions for students in Queensland.
Rather than applying to each university separately, you apply once through QTAC and list your course preferences. QTAC then processes those applications on behalf of the universities.
What does QTAC do?
QTAC does three main jobs. It scales your QCE results. It calculates your ATAR from your best five scaled results. And it manages your university applications and preferences.
So QTAC is involved at both ends: it turns your QCE results into an ATAR, and it uses that ATAR to process your university offers.
QTAC versus QCAA: what is the difference?
This trips up a lot of students. QCAA, the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority, runs the QCE. It sets your subjects, runs the assessment, and gives you your subject results.
QTAC takes over from there. It scales those results and works out your ATAR. In short: QCAA gives you your subject results; QTAC gives you your ATAR. They are two separate bodies with two separate jobs.
How QTAC works out your ATAR
Once QCAA releases your subject results, QTAC scales each subject, based on how strong its cohort is. It then takes your best five scaled results and combines them into a total.
That total is ranked against your age group and turned into your ATAR, from 0.00 to 99.95. We cover the full process in how is ATAR calculated in QLD.
Applying to university through QTAC
During Year 12, you register with QTAC and list your university course preferences, in order. You can change these preferences up to certain deadlines, including after you receive your ATAR.
After results, QTAC matches your ATAR and selection rank against course cutoffs and sends offers in rounds. You do not apply to each university separately — QTAC handles it centrally.
Key QTAC dates
The QTAC year has a few key moments: registration and preference deadlines during the year, ATAR release in mid-December, and offer rounds through January and February.
QTAC publishes exact dates on its website. It is worth noting the preference-change deadlines, because you can adjust your choices after seeing your ATAR. See the QLD results timeline.
Estimate your ATAR
You can estimate your ATAR before QTAC releases the official one. Our QLD ATAR calculator uses scaling to estimate your ATAR from your subject results.
It is a guide, not your official QTAC result, but it helps you plan your preferences with realistic expectations.
Common questions
What is QTAC?
QTAC is the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre, the body that manages university admissions for Queensland students. It scales QCE results, calculates the ATAR, and processes university applications.
What does QTAC do?
QTAC scales your QCE results, works out your ATAR from your best five, and manages your university applications and course preferences. It handles admissions centrally, so you apply once rather than to each university.
Is QTAC the same as QCAA?
No. QCAA sets the subjects and runs the assessment, and gives you your subject results. QTAC scales those results and works out your ATAR. QCAA gives you your results; QTAC gives you your ATAR.
How does QTAC work out my ATAR?
QTAC scales each QCE subject based on its cohort, takes your best five scaled results, combines them into a total, and ranks that total into an ATAR from 0.00 to 99.95.