VCE students awaiting their ATAR and study score results being released on Monday

After braving Covid and recent floods, the nervous wait for year 12 students to get their ATARs is almost over.

Alphington Grammar School Year 12 students Evan Beltsis, Isabella Cohn and Ethan Maratheftis. Picture: David Caird

Thousands of VCE students who this year braved floods, fires and illness will receive their final marks on Monday.

After 13 years of schooling, the class of 2022 will receive a text message at 7am containing their ATARs and study scores, marking the end of a year-long wait to find out whether their dream pathways will become a reality next year.

It comes after chronic teacher shortages and student absences brought on by mass Covid and flu infections saw some schools return to virtual learning even after Covid restrictions were lifted.

The anxious wait to check results is almost over. Picture: David Caird

In October, severe flooding lashed the state, leaving classrooms across Victoria underwater.

Sporting ovals and buildings in metropolitan Melbourne were swamped with floodwater and debris, with some schools only returning to outdoor sports last week.

Maddy Howard is one of 50,000 resilient senior students who have taken the challenging year in their stride after being evacuated from her Rochester home which suffered significant damage when the floods hit.

Amid completing year 12 at Echuca College, Maddy was rehoused further north, in Bendigo, where she stayed on her own during her final exams.

“It was difficult for me to study because I wasn’t in the right mindset,” she said.

“But I am feeling pretty calm about Monday. I am trying not to freak myself out and keep a steady head.”

Maddy said she hoped to study Architecture at Swinburne University’s Hawthorn campus, where she will move if she receives an offer.

Alphington Grammar School principal Vivianne Nikou said students finished their final exams while their school grounds remained a “mosh pit” weeks after the Yarra River, which runs behind the school, rose metres above regular levels.

Dr Nikou said her year 12s persevered through all the challenges thrown their way.

“These students have had two years of Covid during the years before they did their final exams. They have done us proud, and they’ve done themselves proud because they didn’t give up” she said.

Students are eager to check their ATARs and study scores when they are released on Monday. Picture: David Caird

“If there’s anything that the last couple of years has proved, it’s their tenacity and grit. They weren’t prepared to be put down.”

After completing his data analysis and further maths units a year early, and studying English, maths methods and physics, year 12 Evan Beltsis said he has reflected in this year’s “tough moments”.

“This year no doubt was tough between everything that happened, but I’ve had the chance to reflect on the last 6 years and the full high school journey and the friendships I’ve created,” he said.

“Keeping your mental health right was a big priority this year.”

Evan has his sights set on a science major at Monash University or the University of Melbourne.

Ethan Maratheftis said he was waiting with nervous anticipation for his results.

“This year wasn’t easy, but I will be happy with whatever I get because I put in the work.”

Isabella Cohn said she worked as hard as possible to achieve a high enough ATAR to study nursing at Australian Catholic University before specialising in paediatric nursing.

“It has been a very big year but I am proud of how hard I worked,” she said.

More than 7600 VCE students are awaiting results for graded Vocational education and training (VET) units.

Students sat their exams across 561 school exam centres, with 930 students completing their final assessments at Bendigo Senior Secondary College – the highest number of students in the state.

Just four VCE students sat exams at Lake Bolac College, Cann River P-12 College and Glenroy Private.