New data from Western Australia's Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) reveals a clear academic advantage for students who tackle challenging subjects. The figures show that pupils who enrol in advanced mathematics courses or study a foreign language are far more likely to achieve a higher Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).
The Power of Subject Choice on ATAR Outcomes
The recently released TISC statistics for the 2023-24 period highlight a significant trend. Students who completed at least one ATAR mathematics course saw a substantial boost in their results. An impressive 45.5 per cent of these students attained an ATAR of 80.00 or above. In stark contrast, only 16.7 per cent of students who did not take any ATAR maths reached that same high benchmark.
The advantage was even more pronounced for those who pursued the most demanding mathematical subjects. Among students who studied both Calculus and Specialist Mathematics, a remarkable 71.4 per cent scored an ATAR above 90.00. This pattern underscores the considerable scaling benefits that difficult subjects can provide in the final ATAR calculation.
Foreign Languages as a Key to Academic Success
The TISC report also identified foreign language study as a major predictor of high achievement. The data indicates that students of languages like Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, and Korean consistently outperformed their peers. A striking 54.8 per cent of language students achieved an ATAR of 80.00 or higher, compared to just 28.1 per cent of non-language students.
This correlation suggests that the skills developed through language learning—such as enhanced cognitive ability, discipline, and pattern recognition—translate powerfully into overall academic performance. The trend held true across different language offerings, reinforcing the value of including a language in a senior secondary study plan.
Implications for Students and Educators
These findings carry important messages for students planning their Year 11 and 12 subjects, as well as for schools and policymakers. The evidence strongly supports encouraging capable students to embrace academic rigour. Choosing advanced maths or a language is not just about learning specific content; it's a strategic decision that can open doors to more competitive university courses and future career paths.
For universities, the data reaffirms the ATAR's role in identifying students who have challenged themselves and demonstrated high-level analytical and learning skills. As the primary mechanism for undergraduate admissions in WA, the ATAR system continues to reward those who undertake and excel in demanding subjects.
The TISC data provides a clear, fact-based insight into the educational landscape. It shows that in Western Australia, a student's subject selection is a powerful lever for academic success, with advanced mathematics and foreign language studies standing out as proven pathways to a higher ATAR.
