Gasps, tears, wows: Moment Queensland’s top ATAR students received results

An emotional video has captured the moment some of Queensland’s top 33 students found out they got a perfect ATAR score in company of loved ones. WATCH IT HERE

• Students in dark after delays

Nearly 30,000 Queensland students received ATAR results online this morning with 33 of the state’s brightest achieving the perfect score of 99.95 as cameras captured their raw emotion.

After a nerve-racking and likely sleepless night, the ATARs were released online to 27,245 students through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre.

More than 50 per cent of the total Year 12 cohort were eligible for an ATAR this year, consistent with 2021 results.

About 25 per cent of students were awarded an ATAR of 90 or above, while the entire cohort’s median ATAR coming in at 79.20.

The moment Queensland Yr 12 students discover their perfect ATAR results. Photo: QTAC

About 6500 students, or 23 per cent of last year’s cohort, received an ATAR of 90 or above, with the median ATAR for the 2021 graduating class sitting at 78.55. 32 students achieved the highest possible ATAR in 2021.

Australian Christian College graduate Kate Sanderson was one of the 33 students to achieve a perfect ATAR of 99.95.

Chanel Li 17, Harry Sheppard 17, Kate Sanderson 18, Chun Tsung Lee 17, Laura Webb 17 were all named as Queensland’s top students. Photo Steve Pohlner

It comes after the cohort graduated following three years of major hurdles from the pandemic which shut down schools and enforced at home learning, followed by floods and flu.

Kate said the score and graduating alongside her classmates was a “wonderful relief” to share together in person.

“I think Year 12 itself is quite daunting, so it was definitely an added pressure of having to face the Covid closures and just the unknown of Covid,” Kate said.

“It definitely did worry me and my peers but it was great to see we can graduate together.”

Kate was hoping to be accepted into a bachelor of medical science at Griffith University.

The moment Kate found out her perfect score. Photo: QTAC

Aakash Bhattacharya of Mansfield State High School was another of the state’s perfect students.

With 2022 largely uninterrupted compared to the first two years of the pandemic, Aakash said it was a far better schooling experience.

“It was very good, I was quite relieved that nothing happened because if we missed some of the crucial learning at the end - online learning it’s incomparable to in-person learning, so I was very grateful,” Aakash said.

Askash and his family were stunned in the moment after he found out his results.

“I didn’t really expect it to, I just expected I would have to work a lot harder myself to try to keep myself on top of everything with online learning, but luckily nothing too bad happened.”

Aakash was overcome with emotion when he learnt of his perfect score and received hugs from family.

Mansfield State High School’s Aakash Bhattachary achieved an ATAR of 99.95. Photo Steve Pohlner

Brisbane State High School graduate Xiang Ning Li and her mother let out gasps when she saw her score.

Xiang Ning Li and her mother’s reaction to the news was priceless. Photo: QTAC

John Paul College graduate Shreyas Raman was among the 33 students in the state to achieve the highest possible ATAR 99.95. He plans to go into an Engineering and Science degree at UQ next year and also hopes to get a UQ scholarship.

“I’m really relieved and very pleased with my result, there was a lot of expectation,” he said.

“My heart was beating so fast and as soon as I saw it, I let out a sigh of relief. I had my family all around me as well and I just broke out smiling.”

Matthew Flinders Anglican College graduate Laura Webb also got a 99.95 ATAR. She plans to start a Medicine degree at either Griffith or UQ next year and hopes to go into a career involving surgery.

“At first I didn’t really believe it, I thought it must have been a mistake - it was so crazy,” she said.

“I can’t really believe school is over, it still feels like I’m going to go back next year, it hasn’t really settled in yet.”
St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School students Kavindi Athuraliya and Chloe Lao both attained ATARs of more than 99.

Kavindi plans to follow her father’s footsteps and pursue an engineering career while Chloe wants to go into medicine, inspired after volunteering in aged care.

12 per cent of St Aidan’s girls achieved an ATAR of 99 and above, up from 8 per cent in 2021.

Immanuel Lutheran College dux Fraser Waddy is set to pursue a bachelor of medicine after achieving an ATAR of 99.45.

“Both my parents work in the medical field and medicine has always interested me,” Fraser said.

“I want to help others and I’ve seen the impact doctors have when family members are ill and the relief and joy when they recover.”

Parklands Christian College student Taimen Leau scored an ATAR of 99.55 and wants to do a double degree in mathematics.

Taimen plans to one day study a major in aerospace engineering.

Whitsunday Anglican School graduate Pranav Sivanujan became the school’s first student to receive an ATAR of 99.95.

West Moreton Anglican College dux Jarrod Marshall was the school’s top achiever with an ATAR of 99.55, followed by Emily Davis with 98.75, Lachlan Gough with 98.55, and Ryan Roberts with 96.95.

QTAC chief executive Dr John Griffiths said it was pleasing to see students qualifying for their ATAR with a range of QCAA General subjects, Applied subjects and VET (vocational education and training) qualifications.

“This is the start of the next chapter of your life. QTAC is here to support you with your tertiary choices,” Dr Griffiths said.

He congratulated all students on their perseverance in completing their studies across 2021 and 2022 including periods of home schooling.

“The resilience demonstrated will provide you with an excellent platform for whatever you aspire to in future years. If you didn’t receive the ATAR you were expecting, don’t despair - there are many pathways available to you. The ATAR does not define you,” he said.

Education Minister Grace Grace took to social media to congratulate the class of 2022 on an “outstanding” year.

“A big thank you to the teachers, principals, school staff, families, and carers who have provided so much support,” Ms Grace said.

“Don’t forget, if you didn’t get the outcome you wanted there are always other pathways you can take.”