The top student in every HSC subject revealed
Sydney Grammar students have blitzed this year’s HSC first-in-course awards, collecting more top prizes than any other school, including for economics, ancient history, and six languages.
Students from James Ruse Agricultural High School finished first in the state in physics and the highest-level mathematics course, while Blue Mountains student Grace Costigan from St Columba’s Catholic College topped English extension 2 for her short fiction inspired by Australian literature and landscape.
Grace Costigan (English extension 2), Warren Song (maths extension 2); Yeshaya Ram (science extension); Hugo Sharkey (ancient history)
Anubhav Ammangi from Redeemer Baptist School in North Parramatta, who claimed first in maths extension 1 in 2023 as an accelerated student, took home the top prize in chemistry and software design and development.
Ammangi told the Herald last year his interest in maths could be traced back to early primary school, and by year 4, he was entering national competitions. A passion for number theory, one of the oldest branches of pure mathematics, later led him to win multiple prizes in maths and computer science olympiads.
“From a very young age I knew I was interested in maths, and I had teachers who fostered a love for it,” he said.
A day before more than 80,000 students receive their HSC results on Wednesday, 131 of the state’s highest achievers from 83 schools were recognised for finishing first in NSW in their subject.
Students from academically selective private school Sydney Grammar took home eight top prizes, while pupils from the all-boys independent school Knox Grammar finished first in five subjects, and Pymble Ladies’ College claimed six awards.
Across the state, 26 first-place awards went to students at public schools, 29 to students at specialist language schools or private tutors, 13 to Catholic systemic schools and 67 from independent schools.
Ammangi was among the four students who topped more than one subject. Sydney Grammar’s Thomas Collins claimed first in Chinese and French extension, while Ryan-James Watson from Macarthur Anglican School also took home a double first in Indonesian continuers and extension.
Rebecca Roozendaal from Masada College scored the highest marks in classical Hebrew continuers and extension.
Anubhav Ammangi (chemistry, software design and development), Joshua Paik (physics).
Hugo Sharkey finished first in ancient history and was one of only 62 students in NSW to complete the highest-level extension Latin course this year.
The Sydney Grammar student said his enthusiasm for ancient history and classical languages was sparked by reading the Percy Jackson fantasy novel series influenced by Greek mythology when he was in primary school.
“From then I discovered the ancient world doing my own independent research, and in year 6 I began to read books about ancient Rome. I love the charm and mystery of ancient history and how it allows you to see cultures that can inspire you to reassess the modern world,” he said.
Another Sydney Grammar student, Oliver Hoang, finished equal first in economics with Xiao Fan Chen from Knox Grammar.
Abigail Lance from Cheltenham Girls’ High School finished equal first in earth and environmental science with Iyaad Ahmed from Al Noori Muslim School.
Hwayoung Cho (visual arts); Milly Simpson (modern history).
June Lee, from high-performing comprehensive state school Cherrybrook Technology High, topped biology, while James Ruse student Joshua Paik finished first in physics.
The highest marks for the science extension course, a subject that focuses on research methods and scientific philosophies, was achieved by Yeshaya Ram from William Carey Christian School in Prestons.
James Rivlin from Cranbrook topped English advanced, while Warren Song from James Ruse was first in maths extension 2 and Zhenpei Zhu from Scots College topped maths extension 1.
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Jonathan Soares Caplice from Oakhill College scored the highest marks for advanced maths, and Alexander Lidbetter from all-boys selective school St Aloysius was first in English extension 1.
Costigan, who led the state in English extension 2, achieved the prize for her 6000-word major work, Claude. Her short fiction work represents a “hybrid of a love for Australian literature and an exploration of the complexities of human emotion”, she said.
Amy Kilborn from North Sydney Girls finished first in history extension, and her classmate Seo Yun Choi topped Japanese continuers.
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Killara High School’s Carla Cuello achieved the highest score in the society and culture course, while Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Campus student Travis King placed first in design and technology.
Mulan Xu from Pymble Ladies’ College finished first in classical Greek continuers and was the only student at her school to take the course.
Boys’ schools took out 25 first-in-course awards, girls’ schools took out 23, while co-ed schools made up 87 of the top spots.
Some 80,160 will receive their HSC results at 6am on Wednesday, with ATARs released from 9am.
All students are welcome to share their results with us then at [email protected].
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