VCE results 2018: Tips for low ATAR results, how Victorian students fared
VCE results are flooding in as more than 40,000 students finally get their ATAR scores. Some of the top school results are also emerging, with an exclusive college in Melbourne’s inner east responsible for one in six of all perfect scores.
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Students across the state have learned how they fared in the VCE, with more than 40,000 students finally getting their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank after 13 years of study.
From 7am, 47,376 VCE students logged on to find out their ATAR and study scores.
Overall, Victorian students averaged an ATAR of 65.22 — 66.29 for females and 63.96 for males.
Of those to achieve 99.95, 24 were male and 12 were female.
MORE: SCHOOL TEACHES VCE STUDENTS WRONG COURSE
St Bede’s College student Adam Dingli was woken by his mum shortly after 7am so she could celebrate his results with him before she went to work.
The 18-year-old went onto the website to discover he was among 36 Victorians to achieve the top rank of 99.95.
“There was a couple of tears,” he said.
“I was sort of hoping for a good score, I knew it was a chance (for the top rank).
“Though, once I finished exams I was more neutral, what’s done is done.”
But exams aren’t over for the Cheltenham teen, who now looks to clock his final 20 hours driving before he can sit for his P-plates.
I don’t usually brag, but have to congratulate my daughter on getting a 95.65 #ATAR score for her #VCE See #GoPies supporters aren’t dumb like some people make us 😜😎
— Collin G Wood âš«ï¸âšªï¸ (@Collin_G_Wood) December 13, 2018
REPORT: ONE IN FOUR UNI ADMISSIONS BASED ON ATAR
YEAR 12 RESULTS NOT ONLY MEASURE OF SUCCESS
Of the students who earned a 99.95, one in six of them was from Scotch College in Hawthorn — six boys in total.
Melbourne Grammar School had the second highest number of students achieving 99.95, with five pupils.
Seven students from government schools achieved the top rank.
Among them were pupils from Princes Hill Secondary, Mac.Robertson Girls’ High, Melbourne High, Balwyn High and for the first time in its history, Viewbank College.
A number of schools celebrated having at least one in ten of their pupils achieving an ATAR of 99 and above, including Scotch, Korowa Anglican Girls’ School, Lauriston Girls School, Presbyterian Ladies’ College and Melbourne Grammar School.
Mount Scopus had two students achieve an ATAR of 99.85, Jemma Miller and Jack Bassat — the younger brother of last year’s dux, Matthew.
Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School congratulated its dux Anne Elias with a 99.8, with one in four girls achieving an ATAR of 95 and above.
What in the world Justin #atar pic.twitter.com/rQxh4FDhKS
— Daniel (@dnllim) December 13, 2018
I've got a happy child this morning #ATAR #VCEresult#proudparent
— ð˜”ð˜¢ð˜µð˜µ ð˜ð˜°ð˜±ð˜¤ð˜³ð˜¢ð˜§ð˜µ (@Matt_Hopcraft) December 13, 2018
Those who didn’t get the result they wanted have been reminded there are plenty of other avenues to achieve goals.
“The end of year 12 is the beginning of everything else you are going to do,” said Monash University’s director of education futures, Professor Deb Corrigan.
“There are a lot of successful people who have not done well at school, so it is never the end of the world.”
Among ideas for students to consider were taking a year off, enrolling in TAFE or even getting a full-time job before launching into further study.
“Make your uni years count — that might mean not going straight away,” Prof Corrigan added.
Tintern Grammar student Ella Donoghue is hedging her bets. Unsure if she will achieve the ATAR needed for a law degree, she hopes to take up a Bachelor of Arts at Melbourne University, then perhaps do a postgraduate degree in law.
“I can’t change my ATAR, I’ve just got to work the best with what I’ve got,” she said. “I think people, especially early on, who decide what they want to do can have that one focus and miss other opportunities that come their way.”
WE MUST FIND NEW WAYS TO MEASURE STUDENT GROWTH
Peta Sigley, from resilience organisation Springfox, said it was “valid to feel upset and disappointed” in getting unexpected results. “But at what point does adversity become a challenge, and at what point does a challenge become an opportunity?” she asked.
She urged students not to “wear the burden of that disappointment” and instead focus forward and celebrate their freedom as they embarked “on the summer of their lives”.
Education Minister James Merlino said those completing VCE or VCAL “should be very proud of yourselves” — and said it was “only one step in your life journey”. Students with questions about results should contact their school or the Post Results and ATAR Service on 1800 653 080.
WHO GOT 99.95?
Scotch College — 6
Christopher Chamberlain, Jason Hu, Nicholas Marks, Christopher Sparks, Ziang (Tommy) Wei and Joshua Yong
Melbourne Grammar School — 5
Enoch Fan, Austin Haynes, Lachlan King, Andrew Shen and Thomas Sutherland
Haileybury — 3
Emily Cao, Naman Chaudhry and Michael Malek
Melbourne Girls Grammar — 3
Sarah Gigante, Isobel Nicholls, Alexandria Un
Camberwell Grammar — 2
Jake Brown and Sepehr Tahmasebi
Caulfield Grammar — 2
Jerry Mao and Emmy Sawires
Mac.Robertson Girls’ — 2
Melbourne High — 2
Balwyn High — 1
Glen Waverley SC — 1
Yifan Guo
Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School — 1
Isabella Nolan
Princes Hill SC — 1
St Bede’s — 1
Adam Dingli
St Kevin’s — 1
Luis Fennessy
Xavier College — 1
Harry Amad
Viewbank College — 1
Tianle (Jessica) Wang
*Further schools are yet to release their results
WHAT IS SCALING AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
12 THINGS THAT MATTER MORE THAN ATAR RESULTS
TIPS FOR STUDENTS
Think of the situation on a scale of 1 to 10 — how bad is it really?
Consider what else is possible
Change your preferences
Consider what you would advise your friends if they were in the same situation
If you’re really struggling, seek help or call a helpline
TIPS FOR PARENTS
Acknowledge your child’s emotions
Having your child’s friends over could be helpful
Celebrate the freedom they’ve got
Encourage them to do something fun
Remind your child that moments of growth often come from bad situations
HERALD SUN NEXT TUESDAY. SEARCH 2018 VCE TOP SCORERS PLUS 32-PAGE SOUVENIR LIFTOUT IN THE PAPER WITH 20,000+ NAMES
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