Date with destiny for 28k students as ATAR results released

Emotional videos have captured the moment some of Qld’s top graduates received their ATAR results with a quarter of the 28,000 students participating landing an ATAR of 90 or above.

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It is no small task to achieve full marks in your final year of high school, but that is exactly what these students did.

More than 28,000 Queensland graduates have received their ATAR results, with a quarter of these landing an ATAR of 90 or above.

And 36 students achieved the top ranking of 99.95 – two more than the 2023 cohort.

In an emotional video released on Friday, two top students and their families could be seen laughing in disbelief as they find out they’ve achieved the highest Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank possible.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School student Kaiyu Su was one of those graduates who learnt of her impressive feat beside her mum and dad.

“Wow,” her parents said in unison as they learnt of her ATAR score of 99.95.

“My parents have been super supportive throughout my whole schooling. From all of the little things like taking me to school, packing me lunch,” Kaiyu said.

Reaction as Qld students receive top ATAR scores

“And just like the emotional support was really important in year 12, I think. It’s a very hectic ... very gruelling year and I couldn’t have done it without them.”

The recent graduate hoped to study computer science and maths at university next year.

Kelvin Grove State College student Lachlan Howie was greeted with a huge hug from mum when he learned of his top score.

“I was hoping to get a 99.95 but I wasn’t certain,” Lachlan said.

“It feels good. I want to go to uni and do maths and engineering.”

To celebrate? Lachlan plans to get Thai take-out and commemorate his achievements at home with his family.

“That is a bit of a staple for special occasions. I like to get pad Thai,” he said.

Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre CEO Chris Veraa congratulated the graduating class of 2024, urging them to bask in the joy of the moment with their friends and fellow graduates.

“The release of ATAR is such a huge milestone for our young people and I’m incredibly excited to share it with them,” he said.

“It’s that final moment that caps off all the hard work of school; encouraging the graduates to look back with huge pride on what they’ve achieved, and look forward with excitement to what comes next.”

Star students Lachlan Howie and Kaiyu Su.

Among those awaiting their results was Brisbane State High School graduate Heather Mai, who said she was planning on studying medicine at the University of Queensland.

“I am absolutely terrified about getting my score – I feel like my heart is going to pop out my chest but I am also really excited,” Heather said.

“I made a bet with one of my friends on what my ATAR will be. So if I win that bet, he has to pay for Korean barbecue, and if I lose, then I have to pay.”

Brisbane State High School principal Greg Pierce said the staff and students were looking forward to receiving a very positive set of ATAR results.

Arnav Shah said he was really nervous for his results and planned to celebrate with his family after finding out on Friday.

“I am actually really nervous – I’ve got my results, and I have a rough idea of what I’m going to get,” he said.

“The course I want to get into is obviously really dependent on my ATAR.”

Other graduates took to social media, including TikTok to reveal their results,

The results will be another milestone for the tens of thousands of students who now eagerly await the first round of university offers on December 23.