Careers practitioner Ben Goode said students should not panic if they did not get the score they had hoped for.

“Essentially the ATAR’s not the be all and end all, there are other things to be considering when they do get their ATAR in terms of subjects and bonuses and [the Special Entry Access Scheme],” he said.

Mr Goode said there were a range of options students could explore if their ATAR was below their expectations.

“They should definitely be getting in contact with their career practitioner, touching base with them and seeking counselling and advice and assistance from the careers practitioner, and all schools will have somebody,” he said.

“Universities are also good places to get in contact with and they have extra people on call on the phone, but also they have specific activity days where they can help students look at pathways and look at their ATAR, and help with their preferences more than just their ATAR.”

Above all Mr Goode said while missing out on their ideal score might be disappointing, it could be a blessing in disguise.

“There's a lot of people who do take the long way around and they have actually been better for the longer journey than the direct outcome.”

Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre director Catherine Wills reminded students the ATAR was not a pass or fail indicator and that any student who received a score had met minimum tertiary entrance requirements.

“The ATAR is simply one of a number of many factors such as interviews, folios, auditions or tests and special consideration schemes used for tertiary selection by universities, TAFE institutes and private colleges,” she said.

Students can log onto resultsandatar.vic.edu.au from 7am today using a computer or their mobile device to view their results online.

Printed ATAR statements will begin arriving in the mail on Tuesday and Wednesday.