Geelong students get their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)
Thousands of Geelong students have received their ATAR scores after 13 years of schooling, with one graduate describing the nerve-racking wait and overwhelming relief.
Scroll down for rolling coverage of Geelong’s 2025 duxes.
The wait is over.
After 13 years of schooling, thousands of Geelong students woke to their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) scores on Thursday morning.
Geelong High graduate Amy Farago said she had been so nervous in the lead up to Thursday morning, and had been playing out how the moment could go for days in her head.
“I was so nervous, last night it was in my dreams, just opening my results again and again all the different ways it could go,” she said.
On Thursday morning she woke up and opened the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) app.
“I was in the lounge room sitting on the couch,” she said.
Amy said she waited until both her parents could come and sit beside her to open her results.
Immediately, she said, she was flooded with relief.
“My overall ATAR is 86.95,” she said.
“It was definitely a relief.
Next, she said, she’ll turn her mind to planning for next year and beyond.
“I want to go to Deakin Burwood and do a Bachelor of Film, Television, and Animation,” she said.
Across the state, more than 65,586 students completed VCE – a completion rate of 97.3 per cent.
Of these, 9777 achieved their VCE Vocational Major.
Acting Education Minister Lizzie Blandthorn congratulated students receiving their VCE and Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) results today, for the commitment and dedication shown.
“I wish you all the best as you embark on the next chapter of your lives, whether that is at university or TAFE, in apprenticeships or traineeships, in joining the workforce or taking a well-earned break for now,” she said.
Students were handed 23,494 study scores of 40 or above, with 15,339 students achieving at least one study score of 40 or above.
There was 719 study scores of the maximum 50 achieved across the state, with 664 students achieving at least one study score of 50.
Chief executive officer Andrew Smith said the VCAA was proud to join students’ families, teachers and the broader Victorian community to recognise and celebrate the achievements of every student who received their results today.
Geelong High principal Davin Reid said he was proud of all the year 12 cohort had achieved.
“Congratulations to our students,” she said.
“We’re just so happy for our kids for the effort they’ve put in.
“I can’t take the credit, as the principal I sit in the background while the children do the hard work.
“And they’ve done so well.”
Mr Reid said Geelong High School had 25 students with study scores over 40, results which reflected a high quality of the teaching.
“We’ve got seven students with an ATAR above 90, 13 above 80,” he said.
“All these students have come from local government primary schools, so it is a real credit to them too.”
But Mr Reid said students should remember the ATAR would not define them.
“Tick that box and move on to a bigger and better future,” he said.
Belmont High School 2025 Dux
Belmont High School dux for 2025 Declan Chandler achieved an ATAR of 99.6.
Declan said he was “pleasantly surprised” to see such a high number, despite his high expectations.
“I want to thank my parents, teachers and friends for all the support,” he said.
Declan received a study score of 44 in Indonesia, 40 in Math Methods, 42 in Specialist Maths and 41 in Music Composition and 43 in English Language.
Christian College 2025 Dux
The Christian College dux Lucy McKeegan scored an ATAR of 99.55.
Geelong High School 2025 Dux
Mattias Aidt achieved dux of Geelong High with a near perfect ATAR of 99.8.
Matt said he had his eye on a score of 99, and he was grateful to over achieve.
“My mind was blown, I definitely wasn’t expecting 99.80,” he said.
“I’m proud of myself but also I’m proud of everyone who helped me get here.”
Matt said he was most surprised to received a 47 in English.
“I thought I was no good at English, but I put a lot of effort into learning how to enjoy it,” he said.
“It goes to show, at the end of the day it’s passion and love for a subject that gets you results.”
He said he was also motivated by his “gifted and passionate” teacher Steve Brown and diving into his physics extension subject over 2025.
Last year he received a 46 in VCE Physics.
“There’s something expressive and artistic in studying physics and maths – you’re studying the universe.”
Matt has been awarded a Hansen Scholarship – “a huge privilege” – at Melbourne University, where he’ll major in physics as part of a Bachelor of Science.
Principal Mr Reid said the school was “very happy for him”.
“Matt’s a great kid, he’s always been about supporting others and making sure others succeed too,” he said.
“He has worked extremely hard and dedicated himself to all aspects of school life.
“We’re so happy for him.”
Geelong Grammar 2025 Dux
At Geelong Grammar School, the top VCE student for 2025 was Isabella Cameron, achieving an ATAR of 99.4.
Isabella was among 27 VCE students at the school to achieve an ATAR of 90+.
The school’s International Baccalaureate students are yet to received their results.
“It’s definitely very surreal,” Isabella said opening her score was “exciting”.
“I always aimed to get high 90s but didn’t think I’d get this high … it’s pretty exciting!” she said.
“I’ve always been very academic, ever since primary school, and I’ve always loved school. I think I’m quite competitive as well, so sport is always something I’ve enjoyed.”
“I would go to the library every day and just being surround by high achieving kids who had really big aspirations was really motivating for me.”
Isabella plans to study Commerce at the University of Melbourne next year and we wish her every success, and commend her on her remarkable VCE results.
The school’s median ATAR for the VCE cohort was 78.05.
Kardinia International College 2025 Dux
The Kardinia International College 2025 VCE dux was Ameera Giado, with their IB scores to be released on December 18.
Ameera achieved an ATAR of 99.4, with study scores of 47 in English, 45 in Mathematical Methods, 45 in Visual Communication Design and 41 in Biology.
The school said Ameera woke at 4.00am in Indonesia to see her score before jumping on a flight to Japan.
When she first saw her results, the school said, she instantly started jumping and hugging her Mum and Dad – waking up her whole family in the process.
Ameera hopes to study Medicine at Monash University.
Geelong Lutheran College 2025 Dux
Geelong Lutheran College dux this year is Joy Im, with an ATAR of 99.65.
Among Joy’s results were six study scores over 40, including a perfect score of 50 in History: Revolutions, 46 in Literature, 45 in Global Politics, 43 in German, 42 in General Mathematics and 41 in English.
Joy said she was “surprised” to see her results this morning.
“I was very happy with my German and History Study Scores,” she said.
Joy said she would be undertaking a Navy Officer Training year in 2026 before starting with ADFA studying a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Politics.
Lara Secondary College 2025 Dux
The dux for Lara Secondary College is Skye McMaster with an ATAR of 90.45
North Geelong Secondary College 2025 Dux
At North Geelong Secondary College, the dux for 2025 is Caitlin Jennings with an ATAR of 95.2.
Caitlin studied Specialist Maths, Maths Methods, General Maths, English, Biology and Psychology.
Northern Bay P-12 College 2025 Dux
The Northern Bay P-12 College school dux achieved an ATAR of 91.2.
Matthew Flinders College 2025 Dux
The 2025 Matthew Flinders Secondary College dux, Giang Dang, achieved an ATAR of 96.9.
The Geelong College 2025 Dux
Newtown’s Joseph ‘Jo’ Afford, 18, said he woke at 7am to see his ATAR of 99.8.
“I was going to sleep but I couldn’t,” he said.
“Then Mr Young the principal called me at 9am to tell me I was the dux.
“I’ve very happy.”
Jo achieved a study score of 44 in Specialist Maths, 50 in General maths, a 32 in Latin.
He is hoping to study Engineering at Melbourne or at a university in the UK.
He said he loved school and would miss the “friendly competition”.
“But I’m happy to move on to bigger things,” he said.
The school’s principal Simon Young said they were incredibly proud of the academic success and of their dux, Joseph ‘Jo’ Afford.
“He’s worked really hard to achieve (dux) so we couldn’t be more proud,” he said.
“He’s a great example that you can be heavily involved in the school and still do remarkably well academically.”
Sacred Heart College Geelong 2025 Dux
At Sacred Heart College Geelong, Hattie Ingle took out the top spot with an ATAR of 99.60.
Saint Ignatius College Geelong
At St Ignatius College Geelong, the 2025 College Dux is Amelie Anderson with a score of 95.75.
Amelie studied Indonesian, French, Mathematical Methods, Chemistry and Literature.
Principal Mr Michael Exton said the college was delighted with her results.
St Joseph’s College Geelong 2025 Dux
Brodie Elphinstone was the 2025 St Joseph’s College Geelong dux, with an ATAR of 99.15. Brodie received an English Language score of 35, a Maths Methods score of 47 and a Physics score of 47.
He also completed Specialist Maths (36), Systems Engineering (45) and General Maths (44).
St Joseph’s College College Principal Tony Paatsch congratulated Brodie on the high scores, along with all the school’s year 12s.
“The College congratulates each of our VCE students, we are very proud of your performance,” he said.
Surf Coast Secondary College 2025 Dux
At Surf Coast Secondary, Tyson Smith took out 2025 College dux with an ATAR of 98.1.
Bellarine Secondary College 2025 Dux
The Bellarine Secondary College 2025 dux is Ella Brown 96.1
More school duxes will be updated as results are revealed.
Originally published as Geelong students get their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)
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