The moment of truth has arrived for thousands of Western Australian school leavers, with final ATAR exam results set for release this evening. More than 10,000 students who completed their Year 12 exams in November will finally discover their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, a score that will shape their university and career pathways.
The Anxious Wait Nears Its End
The nerve-wracking anticipation will conclude at 9pm on Friday, 18 December 2025, when results are published on the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) website. This single mark represents the culmination of two years of intense study and will be a key determinant for entry into university courses across the country.
Among the thousands awaiting their fate is Holly Brooks, the 18-year-old runner-up dux from Safety Bay Senior High School. Holly balanced her studies in four ATAR subjects—chemistry, mathematics applications, English, and history—with her passions for photography and creative industries.
Scholarship Support Paves the Way
Holly's educational journey was supported by a scholarship from the Harding Miller Education Foundation, an organisation dedicated to helping academically talented girls facing financial or socio-economic barriers. She is one of 16 girls in WA who completed Year 12 this year with the foundation's support, which assists students through their final four years of high school and guides them towards tertiary education.
The scholarship proved invaluable for Holly, especially after a family member received a difficult diagnosis, which led to other relatives reducing work to provide care. "The foundation has helped me continue to work hard and be supported in ways that I couldn’t due to those situations," Holly explained.
"Particularly in years 11 and 12, I’ve been able to fund tutoring for myself, which has helped me get as far as I have in all of my courses at school," she added.
Confidence, Nerves, and Future Plans
Despite feeling reasonably confident about achieving an ATAR in the mid-80s, aligning with her predicted score, Holly admits to feeling nervous. "I think nerves are a very normal thing to be feeling at this moment, because it is a big thing and we’ve worked two years to get to this point," she said.
"I know that whatever score I do get, I’m very proud of myself. I came out of most of my exams feeling quite confident that I did the best that I could."
Looking beyond the results, Holly has already mapped out her immediate future. She plans to take a gap year to work and volunteer with an organisation that brings science education to children, before commencing her university studies the following year.
For Holly and the 10,000 other WA students refreshing the TISC website tonight, the release marks a significant milestone, closing one chapter of their lives and opening the door to the next.
