I’m a bit more of the opposite here so I’d like to add in a different opinion. As jazz mentioned above, the ATAR is more or less a guaranteed entry into uni. If you get a good ATAR, that’s great, be proud of yourself. But there’s no reason to feel bad if you don’t get the ATAR you wanted. Fortunately enough as you may be familiar with there are different pathways to get into uni. The ATAR is just one method. My main opinion is this: as long as you create an achievable degree goal and you can get into that degree, that is the only thing that matters. It’s great that you want a 99.5 ATAR and it’s good that you think you can reach that, but also consider if it’s achievable based on your current grades. After all it’s easier said than done. If you don’t think it’s achievable then I’d highly recommend to lower your standards so that you’re not disheartened if you don’t get it. In response to where you said that you couldn’t bear to imagine if you didn’t get 98.5, please take a second to think about how high that ATAR is, and imo I think you’d sound a little ungrateful to be sad over not achieving that kind of rank (98.5 is damn high, it’s not low at all). So you don’t get 98.5 ATAR, boo-hoo what are you going to do? This is my point - make achievable goals you’re actually highly likely going to achieve. One more thing, remember that nobody is going to care about your ATAR in uni. When you’re living life 2 or 3 years later what’s going to be on your mind? The fantastic people/friends you’ve met in uni or the time you didn’t achieve the ATAR you wanted? You’re already going to go to uni as I’m sure you are well capable of it and achieving an ATAR which can guarantee that so RELAX. You’re FINE. Don’t get into the course you want? Alright, apply for something which interests you which has a lower ATAR requirement, or figure out ways you can get into the course you want through another course or through another uni. Hope this helped, and just remember that as long as you know you can reach your degree goal with your grades and your work ethic, that’s all that matters, not your ATAR.