VCE results 2019: ATAR scores released to Victorian students
Jubilation, tears of joy — and overwhelming relief. The top scorers in Victoria’s class of 2019 are still over the moon after discovering their results this week. This is how they fared.
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Private and select entry schools across Victoria have dominated the list of perfect scores in this year’s VCE as the 2019 class results were finally unveiled on Thursday.
A total 45,565 students learnt their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) at 7am, many sharing their reaction across social media.
The 2019 class booted their 2018 predecessors, raising the average ATAR by more than two points, to 67.74. And girls outperformed boys — 68.86 to 66.42.
But the boys dominated the pool of perfect scorers.
Thirty-seven students earned a top ATAR of 99.95 — 29 of them boys and eight girls.
Of the 37 top scores, two were from a non-select public school.
Box Hill High School had the first ever perfect result in its history.
Forty per cent of its 2019 class got a rank over 90.
“We have a bunch of very dedicated students here,” principal Losh Pillay said, as she also acknowledge the dedication of staff.
“The teachers spend hours of their time outside of the class with students.”
She said the school was “very proud of the results of all our students this year”.
Another public school, Balwyn High, had a perfect score while 20 of its students had ATARs above 99.
Both Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar had six students each achieve the top rank.
Camberwell Grammar followed, with four students getting 99.95 as principal Dr Paul Hicks said he was “equally proud of those students” whose scores may not make it into newspapers or league tables.
“No score on its own can reveal the story behind a student’s year,” he said.
Haileybury Girls student Georgia Lyras Musgrave hopes to save lives as a doctor — much like those who saved her father from cancer — after she was dubbed among the brightest in Victoria.
Haileybury recorded its best results “by any measure”, with three students receiving the top rank of 99.95.
Georgia, 18, thought there was little chance she’d get the score for the Chancellor’s Scholars Biomedicine course she had her eye on, which is a Commonwealth supported placement.
So she pre-booked a meeting with her career counsellor to change her preferences.
But she never made it to the counsellor session — she was one of just 37 Victorian students to earn the top ATAR of 99.95.
“I couldn’t actually believe it — I logged out and logged back in a few times because I didn’t believe it,” she said.
Georgia was offered a scholarship through Melbourne University’s Chancellors Scholars program, along with 75 others who achieved over 99.90.
She now plans to become a doctor.
“My dad got diagnosed with tonsil cancer when I was in year 6,” Georgia said.
“I have these really vivid memories of spending Easter in the rehab room, doing an Easter egg hunt with the nurses while he was having treatment.
“It really pushed me towards that (a future in medicine).”
Principal Derek Scott said 57.6 per cent of students from Haileybury Girls College and 52.2 per cent of Haileybury College students achieved an ATAR in the top 10 per cent (ATAR 90+).
“The results are a record for a Haileybury cohort and, by any measure, are at the very top of performances by Victorian and Australian schools,” he said.
The Huntingtower school dux also claimed a top ATAR while the median rank was 93.3.
Almost three in five of its students got an ATAR over 90.
Mount Scopus in Burwood had a third of students achieving an ATAR of 95 and above, with 6.2 per cent of the class earning a rank above 99.
School dux Isaac Rozental earned a perfect ATAR.
Principal Rabbi James Kennard paid tribute to “many students who exceeded expectations” and teachers who helped get them there.
Korowa Anglican Girls’ had almost one fifth of its cohort earn an ATAR 99 and above.
And Mulgrave school Mazenod College had eight students achieve a ATAR of 99 and above, but it’s also hailing a Year 11 student who earned a perfect study score of 50.
Mentone Grammar prefect Zac Angus is “stoked” to learn he got a perfect score of 99.95 after a restless night.
“Mum was in tears when I told her,” the 18-year-old told the Herald Sun.
“I was pretty nervous, I was lying up all night. I was hoping to go alright but I wasn’t expecting that.”
Zac smashed science and maths subjects physics, chemistry, specialist maths and maths methods to earn his top rank, but kept things balanced with volleyball and footy through the year.
“You need to balance it out,” he said.
“I reckon being able to get out on the sporting field and clearing your mind helps.”
The secret recipe to his top score also included part time work — he maintained one shift a week at Parkdale Charcoal Chicken.
“Chicken is the secret to the success,” he said.
Zac is hoping to get into Medicine at Monash University.
“There’s still interviews for that but hopefully the ATAR helps,” Zac said.
Brighton Grammar dux James Mitchell thought he “messed up my exams”.
But he woke late this morning to find out he got a perfect 99.95, with his best study score a perfect 50 in English Language.
“It’s been a complete head rush,” said James, who hopes to study science or commerce.
Bendigo’s Girton Grammar had a fifth of its cohort achieve results in the top 10 per cent of the state.
“The students have supported one another, and our teachers have been there for the students every step of the way,” Acting Head Dr Emma O’Rielly said.
Methodist Ladies’ College dux Lucinda Xiao is one of eight girls across the state to take out a perfect ATAR, while the school principal Diana Vernon congratulated students on their talents that “aren’t always reflected in an ATAR”.
Penleigh and Essendon Gramma r student Douglas Heal also earned a 99.95, while the school had a median ATAR of 87.35.
Almost 50,000 Victorian students on Thursday officially graduated the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).
Vermont Secondary’s Preet Patel was so good at maths he created his own trial specialist exam to help his classmates prepare.
So it was no surprise he aced specialist mathematics — his third perfect maths score in as many years — on his way towards an ATAR of 99.90.
Preet thanked his “amazing family for sparking my interest in maths”.
Thursday’s results mark the end of an era after 13 years of school — especially so for Wantirna College triplets Erin, Jordie and Keely Plymin, 18.
The trio will all embark on separate routes next year after spending a lifetime together.
Erin is looking at sport sciences, Jordie will apply for the police force and Keely wants to work with animals.
Erin and Jordie received an ATAR just two points the difference, while Keely — identical to Jordie — opted for an unscored VCE.
“We’re all looking at something totally different,” said Keely, who works as a stable hand and took equine studies.
“It’s going to be weird not being with each other all the time.”
Rowville Secondary’s Eliana Bravington checked off the VCE with an ATAR of 75.45, now she’s packing her bags and heading to the US.
The 18-year-old scored a basketball scholarship at California Baptist University.
“I couldn’t sleep this morning, I woke up at 3.30am, stayed up for 40 minutes, went back to sleep, then got up at 6,” she said.
Greensborough Secondary College’s Gabby Newton has had little time to worry about Thursday, going straight from exams into pre-season as the number 1 AFLW draft pick.
“It’s been a great distracter,” the Bulldogs recruit said.
The 18-year-old has already nabbed early entry into Bachelor of Science at La Trobe University, easing the pressure even further.
“It’s calmed my nerves a bit,” she said.
“I was definitely more nervous about the draft.”
A record number of students, almost 14,000, also completed their Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).
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Toorak College had 43 per cent of its students earning an ATAR 90 and above with top performances across the board in languages, politics, science, maths, history and the arts.
“Our students truly soared beyond their expectations this year,” principal Kristy Kendall said.
The dux of the school was Christine Ng who earned a 99 ATAR.
John Monash Science School says its highest ATAR was 99.9.
A total 26% of their students achieved an ATAR of 95 or better and 50 per cent 90 or better,
Of the 228 student cohort, 183 achieved an ATAR over 80 and 213 over 70.
Shelford Girls Grammar in Caulfield had more than half its students receive ranks over 90, with a median ATAR of 92.40.
Education minister James Merlino said some students may not get what they hoped for “but just remember that your results do not define you”.
“There are many pathways to success including higher education, TAFE, traineeships and full-time work,” he said.
“Completing VCE is an incredible moment and I want to congratulate the class of 2019 for reaching this milestone.”
ATARS are available from 7am on the ATAR mobile app or at resultsandatar.vic.edu.au
PERFECT SCORERS
37 Victorian students earned the top ATAR of 99.95.
• Melbourne Grammar: 6 - Fedele De Campo, Baoji Lu, Yilin Feng, Matthew Wong, Jared Ling, Edward Xu
• Scotch College: 6 - Rupert Balfe, Tianqi Feng, Matthew Lee, Harrison Liu, William Sutherland, Yulin (Kevin) Wu
• Camberwell Grammar: 4 - Ian Chen, Lachlan Doig, James Gunasegaram and Andrew Zeng
• Haileybury: 3 - Georgia Lyras Musgrave
• Trinity Grammar: 2 - Ned Grimsey, Daniel Gu
• Xavier: 2 - Patrick Grave and Jeffrey Ma
• Nossal High: Ruby Bai
• Melbourne High: Pedraam Hosseini
• Balwyn High: Cathryn Wu
• Box Hill High: 1 student, name not revealed
• Mac. Robertson Girls’ High: 1 student, name not revealed
• Camberwell Girls Grammar: 1 student, name not revealed
• Huntingtower School:1 student, name not revealed
• Presbyterian Ladies’ College: Kethmi Gamage
• Brighton Grammar: James Mitchell
• Methodist Ladies’ College: Lucinda Xiao
• Mentone Grammar: Zac Angus
• PEGS: Douglas Heal
• Mount Scopus: Isaac Rozental
• Carey: Eugene Wang
BY THE NUMBERS
• 49,324 students graduate the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) in 2019
• 45,465 students receive an ATAR
• Average ATAR was 67.74, 68.86 for girls and 66.42 for boys
• 37 students got a perfect score of 99.95
• 29 boys and eight girls got the top rank
NEXT WEDNESDAY IN YOUR HERALD SUN AND HERALDSUN.COM.AU
• 2019 VCE top scorers
• 28-page souvenir liftout
• 19,000+ names
• Searchable database of top scorer names at heraldsun.com.au
HOW DO YOU FIND OUT YOUR ATAR?
ATAR and VCE results were released at 7am.
Results are only available on the website and mobile app until December 16 at 5pm.
You can receive your VCE results and ATAR in different ways.
1. Web: Log on to the VCE Results and ATAR website resultsandatar.vic.edu.au
2. App: You can use the Results and ATAR app for Apple or Android devices. You can download it from the app store at any time
3. Email: Students have to provide their email address and be recorded on the Victorian Assessment Software System
4. Mail: You can wait for your results to arrive in the mail on December 16. Only students who have paid all processing fees will receive an ATAR statement in the mail.
VCE and VCAL certificates are distributed by schools and colleges, rather than mailed with the results.
WHAT IS THE ATAR?
The ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, which is a tool designed to assist tertiary institutions when selecting students for courses.