Across Toowoomba and Queensland, Year 12 students received their ATAR scores this morning

Maddie Saunders was among a host of Toowoomba students eagerly awaiting the ATAR scores this morning.

Maddie Saunders was sitting alone in her bedroom at 9 o’clock this morning, like so many other students across Toowoomba, eagerly awaiting her Australian Tertiary Admission Rank score.

She’d already woken suddenly at 3am with ATARs on her mind.

And now, there it was in the glow of the computer screen, her final score: 95.25.

“So I got my score and then I went into my parents room and I was like: I got a 95. And they were really happy – it was a good morning,” she said.

The Toowoomba Anglican School student was happy with her result.

“So that’s enough to get me into a course and hopefully qualify for a 50% scholarship as well,” she said.

Toowoomba Anglican School students Cameron McConville and Maddie Saunders talk about their ATAR results. Saturday 19th Dec 2020

She’s planning on studying a double degree of law and international relations.

“I’ve always been really passionate about human rights and I think the only way to create change is from the inside,” she said.

It has been a difficult year for Year 12 students, to say the least.

But as well as completing their final year of school during a global pandemic, Ms Saunders, and her fellow students across the state can add another feather to their caps.

They are the first cohort in the state to receive an ATAR, after the old OP system was phased out.

While most students were able to access their scores, some schools reported being unable to view results for several hours as the website struggled with the demand.

Ms Saunders said 2020 had been “tumultuous, to say the least”.

“It’s had its ups and downs so I’ve juts kind of rolled with it and told myself … that your ATAR doesn’t define you.”

At the other end of the spectrum this morning was Ms Saunder’s fellow TAS pupil Cameron McConville, who by 11am hadn’t checked his score.

A talented pianist, he’d already been accepted into the Queensland Conservatorium in Brisbane through an audition process.

He received a 96.8, which he was happy with, but noted: “It’s sort of like finding a lot of money for a country that doesn’t exist anymore. It’s just a bit like, oh good okay it’s there but I don’t need it.”

Mr McConville said 2020 had seen it’s ups and downs.

“I struggled mostly with the social side as did most people I think,” he said.

Looking ahead, Mr McConville said he loved music and hopefully would be able to do that for the rest of his life.

Toowoomba Anglican School students Maddie Saunders and Cameron McConville talk about their ATAR results. Saturday 19th Dec 2020

“I love acting as well and hopefully I’ll dabble in a little bit of everything,” he said.

“I don’t want to be pigeon holed into doing jazz all my life, because I don’t know if many people listen to jazz anymore.”

Of the 49,651 students who graduated in Queensland this year, 26,042 students received an ATAR.

Just 30 students received an ATAR of 99.95

Some 694 students received an ATAR between 99.95 and 98.90 (the equivalent of an OP 1), 5343 students received an ATAR between 99.95 and 91.50 (the equivalent of the OP 1-5 range), and 19,524 students received an ATAR between 99.95 and 65.50 (the equivalent of the OP 1-15 range).

Education Minister Grace Grace said graduates who might not be satisfied with their results still had options.

“There’s no need to be disheartened,” she said.

“Anyone whose results aren’t what they hoped for can explore alternative ways to enter university and training courses.”