Students in the VCE, HSC, QCE, WACE and SACE receive an ATAR directly. IB Diploma students in Australia don't. Instead, your IB score is converted into an IB Admissions Score (IBAS), which is then converted into an ATAR equivalent that universities use alongside everyone else's ATAR.
This guide explains how that conversion works for IB students who sit the November 2026 exams and apply for university study starting in 2027. It includes the official IBAS to ATAR table, a calculator, what's changed since last year and the key dates.
Key Takeaways
- Australian IB students receive an IBAS, which adds 0.25-point steps to their Diploma score, and this converts to an ATAR equivalent.
- Under the 2026 conversion, an IBAS of 45.50 or above converts to a 99.95 ATAR equivalent. A whole score of 45 alone is not enough.
- You need an IBAS of about 39.00 for a 95.25, 35.25 for a 90.30 and 31.00 for an 80.50.
- Conversions for an IBAS of 36 and above are almost unchanged from last year, but an IBAS below 34 now converts to an ATAR equivalent up to 1.8 points lower.
- November 2026 IB results are released on 17 December 2026, and IBAS the following day (IB Schools Australasia, 2026).
What Is Your IB Score?
Every IB Diploma student receives a total score out of 45, made up of two parts:
- 42 points from six subjects (three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level), each graded out of 7.
- 3 points from the combination of Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay.
The marks needed for each grade (the grade boundaries) change every exam session and vary from subject to subject. For a full explanation, read our guide to how the IB is graded.
Why Isn't Your IB Score the Same as an ATAR?
An IB score measures achievement, while an ATAR is a rank. There's no limit to how many students can score 45 out of 45, but only a small fraction of students can receive an ATAR of 99.95.
Because a whole number out of 45 isn't fine-grained enough to compare IB students fairly with students in state systems, Australia's tertiary admissions centres (through ACTAC, the Australasian Conference of Tertiary Admissions Centres) introduced the IBAS. It has applied to students sitting the IB in Australia since the November 2022 session.
What Is the IBAS?
Your IB Admissions Score (IBAS) is a more precise version of your Diploma score. It adds a decimal in 0.25-point steps to show where you sit within each grade band. For example, a student with a Diploma score of 41 might receive an IBAS of 41.75 if their marks sit near the top of their grade bands.
Your IBAS is then converted into an ATAR equivalent. In NSW and the ACT, UAC calls this a Combined Rank. In Victoria, VTAC calls it a Notional ATAR. Either way, universities treat it the same as an ATAR for selection.
How Is the IBAS Calculated?
The IB provides the tertiary admissions centres with your mark in each subject, not just your grade. They use it to work out where your mark falls within your grade band:
1. For each subject, find your position within the grade band. For example, if a 6 in Biology SL covers marks from 60 to 69 and you scored 68, you're near the top of the band. 2. Average your position across all six subjects. 3. Round that average to the nearest 0.25 and add it to your Diploma score.
Because the IBAS only adds decimal places to your Diploma score, it is never lower than your whole-number score. Two students with the same Diploma score can therefore receive different ATAR equivalents.
IBAS to ATAR Conversion Table 2026
This is the official ACTAC conversion for Australian students applying to university in 2026 for study starting in 2027, published by IB Schools Australasia, UAC and VTAC. It applies to students who sit the IB in Australia.
Convert Your IBAS to an ATAR Equivalent
Enter your IBAS below to see your 2026 ATAR equivalent.
Key IBAS Thresholds
A whole score of 45 on its own isn't enough for a 99.95. You need an IBAS of at least 45.50, which means sitting well inside the 7 band across your subjects.
What's Changed From Last Year?
The table is reviewed each year. Comparing the 2026 conversion with the one used for 2026 university entry shows a clear pattern:
Worth knowing: For an IBAS of 36 and above, the conversion has barely moved, by 0.10 or less. Below 34, the same IBAS now converts to an ATAR equivalent up to 1.8 points lower than last year. If you're aiming for a course with a cut-off in the 70s or low 80s, check it against this year's table rather than last year's.
If You Aren't Awarded the Diploma
Students who aren't awarded the Diploma can receive an ATAR equivalent if they apply to universities in NSW and the ACT. They must have completed the full Diploma Programme (or be a retake candidate), scored 20 or more, completed TOK, the Extended Essay and CAS, and not received an N or P for any subject. Scores of 30 or above convert to 79.30, down to 54.80 for a score of 20. In Victoria, students may instead receive a Derived IB Rank through VTAC. Other states don't offer an ATAR equivalent for students without the Diploma, but you may still be able to apply directly to a university or through a school recommendation scheme.
Key Dates for November 2026 IB Students
- Thursday 17 December 2026: IB results released at candidates.ibo.org, using your personal code and candidate PIN.
- Friday 18 December 2026: Your IBAS and ATAR equivalent are released by your tertiary admissions centre (UAC, VTAC, QTAC, TISC or SATAC).
- A few days after results: Component grades become available.
- Before 15 March 2027: Deadline for your IB coordinator to request a re-mark (Enquiry Upon Result).
- Late February to early March 2027: Your official IB Diploma and Certificate of Results are sent to your school.
📌 Make sure your school has given the IB permission to release your results to your tertiary admissions centre. Without it, your IBAS and ATAR equivalent won't be calculated.
Still sitting your exams? See our IB exam timetable 2026 for every paper's date and session.
Meeting University Subject Prerequisites
Some courses require a minimum result in a specific subject, such as Mathematics or Chemistry. For these prerequisites, universities use your IB subject grade out of 7, not your IBAS. Each admissions centre has its own way of comparing IB subjects with local subjects, so check the UAC IB applicants page, the VTAC IB students guide (which includes a prerequisite conversion tool) or the university directly.
How Do Australian IB Students Compare?
Australian IB students consistently outperform the global IB cohort. In the November 2025 session, according to IB Schools Australasia:
Australasian students made up only about one in eight November 2025 candidates, but about one in three of all scores of 40 and above. Under the 2026 conversion, the Australian average of 34.5 equals an ATAR equivalent of 89.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
What IB score do you need for a 99.95 ATAR?
Under the 2026 conversion, you need an IBAS of at least 45.50. A whole Diploma score of 45 with an IBAS of 45.00 converts to 99.85.
What IB score equals a 90 ATAR?
An IBAS of 35.25 converts to an ATAR equivalent of 90.30, and 35.00 converts to 89.90.
Is the IBAS ever lower than my IB score?
No. The IBAS adds between 0.00 and 0.75 to your Diploma score, so it's always equal to or higher than your whole-number score.
When do IB students in Australia get their ATAR?
November 2026 IB results are released on 17 December 2026, and your IBAS and ATAR equivalent are released the next day, 18 December 2026.
Does the IB conversion change every year?
Yes. ACTAC reviews the conversion each year. In 2026, an IBAS of 36 and above converts almost exactly as it did last year, while an IBAS below 34 converts to an ATAR equivalent up to 1.8 points lower.
Need Help With Your IB Studies?
Every 0.25 of IBAS can move your ATAR equivalent, especially near course cut-offs. Our IB tutors offer one-on-one support across Australia, in person and online, for every IB subject, from Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches to Chemistry and English Literature. See how one student improved in IB Chemistry and English Literature with personalised support.
