Ep 105 - The Truth About ATAR Focused Tutoring Ads: Why They Feed VCE Anxiety (and What Really Helps)
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Episode summary:
You’ve seen the tutoring ads — the ones boasting about all their tutors getting ATARs over 99, studying medicine or law, or being dux of their schools. These ads drive me crazy because they completely miss the point of what actually helps students succeed.
In this solo episode of Course and Career Chat, I unpack why these ATAR tutoring ads are part of the broken VCE system, how they make false promises to parents, and what students and families can do instead to beat ATAR anxiety and find real direction after Year 12.
If you’re a parent worried about VCE stress or wondering how to support your teen without buying into the hype, this episode will help you understand what truly matters — and how your child can find success no matter what results they get.
⏱️ Episode breakdown
4:02 – Doing well in school doesn’t make someone a good tutor
High ATAR results don’t automatically make someone a good teacher. I share why strong academic performance doesn’t equal great tutoring, and why connection, empathy, and communication matter far more than a perfect score.
9:04 – The VCE system is broken (and tutoring companies lean into it)
Parents can see the pressure the VCE ranking system puts on students. I talk about how ATAR tutoring companies reinforce this anxiety by promoting results rather than learning — and why students end up believing their ATAR defines their worth.
10:28 – Tutoring companies make promises they can’t keep
I explain why claiming students will achieve an ATAR over 90 is misleading — because ATARs are rankings, not marks. Not everyone can be in the top 10%, no matter how hard they work.
11:53 – How to actually beat ATAR anxiety
The solution isn’t more tutoring — it’s reframing success. I show how students can reduce ATAR stress by focusing on what they want to do next, and finding alternative pathways to university or TAFE. The key is knowing what you want and how to get there, no matter what ATAR you receive.