Marine Science — QLD QCE scaling 2024

QTAC's verbatim 2024 scaling for Marine Science (QCAA code 0047). Raw median 72/100 mapped to scaled 60.41; top-decile raw 86 mapped to scaled 81.49.

Raw → scaled distribution (2024)

Percentile	Raw mark (/ 100)	Scaled mark (/ 100)	Adjustment
P99	92	87.39	-4.6
P90	86	81.49	-4.5
P75	80	73.65	-6.3
P50 (median)	72	60.41	-11.6
P25	65	47.32	-17.7

How Marine Science scaled in 2024

This subject scales close to neutral. The candidature performs around the senior-secondary cohort median, so raw marks and scaled marks track each other closely. Scaling is not a major factor either way for this subject.

For Marine Science specifically: a median student in the cohort had a raw mark of 72/100 and ended up with a scaled mark of 60.41/100 — an adjustment of -11.6 from raw to scaled. A top-decile student (P90) had a raw mark of 86 mapping to scaled 81.49 — adjustment of -4.5.

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 Marine Science ↑

Year	Scaled mean (/ 100)
2022	59.3
2023	59.53
2024	60.41

Scaling has risen by +1.1 points over 2 years (2022: 59.3 → 2024: 60.41). This typically reflects a strengthening candidature — more high-achievers picking this subject relative to other subjects.

3-year trend data sourced from the QTAC annual scaling reports 2022–2024. See all scaling trends.

Tutor rate context for Marine Science

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 Marine Science
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:

1. The median (P50) shows the typical adjustment for an average performance in Marine Science. Negative — average performances are scaled down because the candidature underperforms in other subjects on average.
2. 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".
3. The spread P25→P90 (47.32 → 81.49, a 34.2-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