‘Wherever the wind takes me’: Year 12 graduates celebrate top ATAR scores

The wait is over for Queensland’s year 12 graduates, with school-leavers receiving their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) results on Friday morning.

This year, 28,845 graduates received an ATAR – about 1000 more than last year – with 36 students achieving a top result of 99.95.

ATARs were made available to eligible students through Queensland Tertiary Admission Centre (QTAC).

Big smiles for Lachlan Howie and Kaiyu Su, two of the 36 students in Queensland to receive top ATAR scores of 99.95.Credit: QTAC

Seventeen-year-old Brisbane Girls Grammar graduate Kaiyu Su was among those to achieve the top score.

“I was definitely hoping for it but it’s been great to see that it’s a 99.95,” she said.

“[I’m] definitely very happy and excited for where it might take me.”

Su’s plan for the new year was to study computer science at university, with mathematics in the mix.

“I’m super interested in AI [artifical intelligence] and cybersecurity,” she said.

Seventeen-year-old Kelvin Grove State College graduate Lachlan Howie also received news of his top score on Friday.

Like Su, Howie was keen to study maths and engineering, though he was less certain about where his career path might lead.

“I’ve got no idea [about a preferred career] … wherever the wind takes me,” Howie said.

In the immediate sense, the wind was blowing towards a celebratory dish of pad Thai – “a staple for special occasions” – to cap off the momentous achievement.

Brisbane Girls Grammar graduates Freya Lennon and Zara Davis secured the high results they needed to pursue their preferred courses at university.

“I think we’re both really happy with our results. I want to do law and commerce next year,” Davis said.

(From left) Brisbane Girls Grammar principal Jacinda Euler Welsh congratulates graduates Freya Lennon and Zara Davis on their results.Credit: Courtney Kruk

Lennon added: “I want to do arts law and we both needed a 97.5 and we both got that.”

Interim QTAC chief executive Chris Veraa congratulated this year’s ATAR recipients and year 12 graduates, expressing excitement for those who completed such a milestone.

“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,” he said.

“For everyone here at QTAC, part of the extra joy of today is knowing that it’s a celebration for our young people, but also for their families and school communities.

“From parents and grandparents to carers and teachers, they’ve been there every step of the way, supporting and encouraging the graduates and helping them think about how to navigate into the next stage of life.

“It’s a wonderful moment of celebration for everything they’ve done.”

Interim QTAC chief executive Chris Veraa with two of the state’s top ATAR students. Credit: QTAC

Queensland’s year 12 school cohort totalled 55,469, with more than 51 per cent receiving an ATAR.

More than 25 per cent of eligible students earned an ATAR of 90 or above.

QTAC’s chief experience head Chris Jack encouraged students who did not receive the ATAR they were hoping for to reach out to QTAC and discuss available options.

“Our Educational Access Scheme provides opportunities for additional ranks where graduates have been impacted by personal challenges such as health or their personal life.

“We also have other pathways that range from mid-semester intakes to non-ATAR pathways.”

The largest round of tertiary offers will be released on Monday, December 23. Graduates have until Wednesday, December 18, to update their preferences.

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