ATARtools › Subjects › Algorithmics (HESS)
Algorithmics (HESS): scaling 2026, assessment & grade cut-offs
official VTAC & VCAA data · 2026 forecastA raw study score of 40 in Algorithmics (HESS) scaled to 47.0 in the 2025 VTAC report, and is forecast to scale to about 46.9 in 2026. Algorithmics (HESS) scales up: a raw score is worth more than its face value; at a raw 40 its scaling has risen by 1.0 points since 2022. The 2025 mean study score was 37.3.
Algorithmics (HESS) scaling: raw to scaled study scoreOfficial VTAC scaling reports 2022–2025, plus the 2026 forecast (a recency-weighted blend of the last six reports).
| Raw study score | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 51.0 | 50.0 | 51.0 | 51.0 | 50.8 |
| 45 | 49.0 | 49.0 | 49.0 | 50.0 | 49.5 |
| 40 | 46.0 | 47.0 | 47.0 | 47.0 | 46.9 |
| 35 | 42.0 | 43.0 | 43.0 | 43.0 | 42.9 |
| 30 | 37.0 | 39.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 |
| 25 | 32.0 | 33.0 | 33.0 | 31.0 | 31.8 |
| 20 | 25.0 | 26.0 | 26.0 | 24.0 | 24.8 |
Scaled scores between VTAC's published anchor points are interpolated. See every subject's scaling curve and the method and accuracy.
How Algorithmics (HESS) is assessedDefault weights from the VCAA study design; the calculator lets you edit them.
| Assessment | Type | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 3 SACs | school-assessed | 12% |
| Unit 4 SACs | school-assessed | 8% |
| School-assessed Task (SAT) | school-assessed | 20% |
| End-of-year exam | external | 60% |
Algorithmics (HESS) grade cut-offs 2026: forecastThe lowest mark each grade starts at, forecast from the last three years' official VCAA cut-offs. Typical error is shown as "likely ±".
Coursework Units 3–4 school-assessed · out of 150 · forecast state average 72%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 138 | 126 | 111 | 89 | 74 | 57 | 45 | 35 | 25 | 14 |
| likely ± | 1.6 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 2.5 |
| 2025 actual | 138 | 125 | 110 | 84 | 67 | 56 | 47 | 35 | 25 | 15 |
| 2024 actual | 139 | 127 | 113 | 95 | 83 | 60 | 49 | 40 | 30 | 15 |
| 2023 actual | 139 | 127 | 113 | 97 | 82 | 54 | 27 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
School-assessed Task school-assessed · out of 100 · forecast state average 73%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 97 | 87 | 78 | 64 | 55 | 44 | 29 | 21 | 15 | 9 |
| likely ± | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 1.7 |
| 2025 actual | 97 | 86 | 76 | 60 | 51 | 37 | 21 | 16 | 13 | 10 |
| 2024 actual | 96 | 89 | 81 | 70 | 62 | 55 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 |
| 2023 actual | 98 | 90 | 78 | 68 | 59 | 47 | 40 | 24 | 12 | 6 |
Written Examination external · out of 200 · forecast state average 57%
| A+ | A | B+ | B | C+ | C | D+ | D | E+ | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 forecast | 160 | 148 | 134 | 116 | 93 | 75 | 61 | 47 | 38 | 20 |
| likely ± | 6.2 | 7.0 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.2 | 6.2 | 3.6 |
| 2025 actual | 166 | 154 | 138 | 120 | 92 | 74 | 58 | 45 | 40 | 20 |
| 2024 actual | 159 | 145 | 134 | 118 | 100 | 84 | 71 | 56 | 40 | 20 |
| 2023 actual | 139 | 127 | 116 | 99 | 82 | 61 | 51 | 35 | 23 | 20 |
Cut-offs change every year with how hard the assessment is, so a harder paper can move every grade together. See the full 2025 grade distribution for Algorithmics (HESS) →
About Algorithmics (HESS)
Formal algorithm design, data structures, computability and complexity — a university-style CS subject with a big SAT.
- Highest-scaling computing study (30 → ~38)
- Direct preparation for CS degrees
- HESS status signals rigour to selectors
Typical time commitment: 6–8 hours a week outside class.
The SAT (20%) runs across both units — start the project early.
Algorithmics (HESS) questions
What does a study score of 40 in Algorithmics (HESS) scale to?
In the 2025 VTAC scaling report a raw 40 in Algorithmics (HESS) scaled to 47.0. ATARtools forecasts about 46.9 for 2026, from a recency-weighted blend of the last six reports. Treat it as a guide: VTAC publishes the real 2026 numbers in December.
Is Algorithmics (HESS) scaled up or down?
Algorithmics (HESS) scales up: a raw score is worth more than its face value. In 2025 a raw 30 scaled to 38.0, a raw 40 to 47.0 and a raw 45 to 50.0. For 2026 the forecast is 38.0, 46.9 and 49.5. At a raw 40, scaling has risen by 1.0 points since 2022.
What mark do I need for an A+ in the Algorithmics (HESS) Written Examination?
We forecast the 2026 A+ cut-off at about 160 out of 200 (likely ±6.2 marks) and an A from about 148. For reference the A+ cut-off was 166 in 2025, 159 in 2024 and 139 in 2023. The forecast is the recency-weighted average of the last three years' official cut-offs.
How is Algorithmics (HESS) assessed?
Unit 3 SACs (12%), Unit 4 SACs (8%), School-assessed Task (SAT) (20%), End-of-year exam (60%). School-assessed marks are statistically moderated against the external exam results, then the study score is scaled by VTAC for the ATAR.