It’s been ten years since I graduated high school and yet I remember it like it was only a decade ago (cue wistful harp music).

The period leading up to the release of ATAR scores was incredibly stressful for everyone in my year. I was happy with my result, but soon realised that exact number – down to the decimal point – would be the main topic of conversation over the next few months.

While times have changed – friends asked each other on MySpace what their score was, instead of Snapchat like they do now – that question, “So, what did you get?”, seems to remain a constant, year after year.

Class of 2016: those questions will be coming your way shortly… it’s unavoidable. It might be awkward but you can get through it.

Here’s how to navigate the question “So, what was your score?” when asked by…

Your Parents

Your folks will surprise you on the morning of the release date with a breakfast in bed and freshly-squeezed juice. Wait no sorry, you don’t have a fictional cartoon family. To avoid being grilled by the ‘rents (this is definitely how teenagers speak now), tell them the results date has been moved to December 2020, and segue into a conversation about how Kanye will be president by then. What do they think his foreign policy will be?

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Your Favourite Teacher

Simply reply “I did really well!” and give them a huge smile as you want them to remember you as bright and cheerful. For bonus pep, practice your everything is totally fine smile in the mirror and bleach your teeth using laundry cleaner (*please don’t do this).

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Your P.E. Team

Impress the cool sporty kids by responding, “Score? I’ll show you a score!”, while throwing several basketballs behind your head perfectly into the hoop. Pop on some sunglasses, zoom off on a skateboard and never return again.

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Your Best Friend

This is a time you can really be honest, and hopefully have a decent conversation about how you’re both feeling. If you got a score lower than you expected, it’s okay to feel bummed out. If you did well, that’s awesome – be proud! Just remember to show some tact around your mates who might be feeling disappointed. Bragging parties are not recommended.

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Grandparents

The good news is that the ATAR system didn’t exist when your grandparents were young – they had to make fire from rubbing sticks together, or participate in penny-farthing races. I clearly don’t know anything about the past. Anyway, you can easily skirt around the issue by being creative. “Actually Nan, 12.03 is a really great score. It’s like golf, the lowest score wins!”

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The Random Stranger

Prepare for pretty much everyone to think they are entitled to know your results. Maybe it’ll be your neighbour, or a customer at work, or your cousin’s dog who has learned the ability to speak English.

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Remember that you actually don’t have to disclose anything to anyone. This is also great practice for setting boundaries and asserting yourself which sound so freaking boring but are actually really important skills to have in life. Alternatively, pretend you have a head injury and have completely forgotten who you are. “ATAR? Who is ATAR? Where am I?” Works every time.

Ultimately, it is up to you and you alone how much stock you put into that number. The next few weeks are going to feel super weird and stressful but you will get through it.

Most importantly: If you got 69 as an ATAR score: congrats, my dude. This is deeply funny.

You will go on to do so many cool things in life and I can guarantee that nobody you meet after high school will ask you your ATAR score. As the esteemed philosopher and definitely-not-outdated-pop-culture-reference singer Vitamin C sang in ‘Graduation (Friends Forever):

As we go on/We remember/All the times we had together.

and not

As we go on/We remember/Our final high school exam scores for some reason even though you’re out in the Real World and you don’t need to be so hard on yourself because everything is going to be okay.

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Your career goal doesn’t have to end with an ATAR. Even if you don’t hit the mark you wanted, UTS:INSEARCH can fast-track you into the second year of a UTS Degree. Find out more here.