English — QLD QCE scaling 2024
QTAC's verbatim 2024 scaling for English (QCAA code 0001). Raw median 70/100 mapped to scaled 70.06; top-decile raw 91 mapped to scaled 90.38.
Raw → scaled distribution (2024)
| Percentile | Raw mark (/ 100) | Scaled mark (/ 100) | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| P99 | 99 | 94.1 | -4.9 |
| P90 | 91 | 90.38 | -0.6 |
| P75 | 82 | 83.82 | +1.8 |
| P50 (median) | 70 | 70.06 | +0.1 |
| P25 | 59 | 53.05 | -6.0 |
How English scaled in 2024
This subject scales up. The candidature performs slightly above the cohort median across all subjects, so raw marks are adjusted upward in the scaling process. A typical raw mark scales to a slightly higher scaled mark.
For English specifically: a median student in the cohort had a raw mark of 70/100 and ended up with a scaled mark of 70.06/100 — an adjustment of +0.1 from raw to scaled. A top-decile student (P90) had a raw mark of 91 mapping to scaled 90.38 — adjustment of -0.6.
QCE General subjects are scored 0–100 raw. QTAC's inter-subject scaling runs a 40-iteration calibration algorithm that maps each subject's raw distribution to a scaled distribution based on how that subject's students performed across all their other subjects. The scaled mark is what counts for the ATAR aggregate; the raw mark is what your QCE certificate reports.
3-year scaling trend for English ↓
| Year | Scaled mean (/ 100) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 70.65 |
| 2023 | 69.8 |
| 2024 | 70.06 |
Scaling has fallen by 0.6 points over 2 years (2022: 70.65 → 2024: 70.06). This typically reflects a weakening candidature — the average student in this subject is performing relatively less well in their other courses than they used to.
3-year trend data sourced from the QTAC annual scaling reports 2022–2024. See all scaling trends.
Tutor rate context for English
Subject complexity classification: medium. Based on our subject-complexity model, this subject typically carries a no uplift adjustment to the base AU tutor rate band — partly because of the qualified-tutor pool size, partly because of subject-specific marking and exam complexity.
| Tutor tier | Typical rate for English |
|---|---|
| University-student tutor | $60/hr |
| Experienced graduate | $80/hr |
| Registered teacher | $110/hr |
| Subject specialist | $140/hr |
Estimates from the AU rate synthesis at /rates/. Use the rate estimator to add city and delivery format.
What this means for ATAR planning
Three reads of this scaling distribution matter for QCE students:
- The median (P50) shows the typical adjustment for an average performance in English. Roughly neutral.
- The P90 row shows where strong students land. Even in subjects with a low median scaled position, strong individual students typically score well in scaled terms — look at the P90 column before deciding a subject is "bad".
- The spread P25→P90 (53.05 → 90.38, a 37.3-point spread) shows the room for movement within this subject. Bigger spreads mean tutoring leverage is higher.
Caveats
- This is 2024 data. QTAC recomputes scaling each year.
- QTAC publishes only subjects with 50+ students. Small-candidature subjects are excluded from the percentile tables.
- Applied subjects (e.g., Essential English, Sport & Recreation) use a different scaling scheme (3-band C/B/A) — see the QLD QCE overview for the Applied subject scaling table.
- To be ATAR-eligible in QLD, students need at least a C in English, EAL, Literature, English & Literature Extension, or Essential English. Only 50.1% of the 2024 cohort (28,845 of 57,594) was ATAR-eligible.
Related resources
ATAR scaling calculator
Interactive tool using verbatim 2024 figures from UAC, VTAC, and QTAC.
Tutor rate estimator
Pick subject × city × tutor tier × delivery for a fair-market band.
All QLD QCE subjects
Top + bottom scaling subjects, full subject list with linkable detail.
QLD QCE curriculum guide
Subject directory + links to the official QCAA syllabus pages.
QCAA — official
The curriculum authority's own published syllabus for this subject.
How to choose a tutor
12 questions to ask before committing to a tutor for this subject.
- QTAC — ATAR Report 2024 (22-page PDF, February 2025), Table 6.
- QCAA — Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (curriculum authority).