Meet the four Gold Coast students who all scored an OP1

Out of 18,000 eligible students, only a handful scored an OP1. Meet four students who did it and find out what they’re going to do next.

THERE were no sweaty palms or stomach butterflies among this Gold Coast group of high achievers as they waited for their final OP results to be released over the weekend.

Four of the 18,000 students to receive their Overall Positions (OP) for their admissions into university, each scored the highest possible mark of an OP1.

Despite working hard to top the class at their perspective schools, Keebra State High dux Caelan Pascoe (17), Varsity College dux Tahseen Sarwar (17), Miami State High dux Johnson Tsai (18), and Trinity Lutheran College School Captian Emma Siddle (18) were not nervous in the lead up to the reveal — opting not to stay up until midnight on Friday to see their final result.

“I lost my number, so I am not even sure if I got what I wanted yet,” Mr Pascoe admitted.

“I rang the school and they said they got one OP1, so I hope that is me.”

Emma Siddle was in a similar situation, and was out with friends in Surfers Paradise when she discovered she got an OP1.

“I got a call from a friend telling me they were out, I didn’t think it was until the morning so I checked while I was there.

OP SCORES: GOLD COAST SCHOOLS REVEAL RESULTS

Pictured in Southport — OP1 recipients Caelan Pascoe, 17, Tahseen Sarwar, 17, Johnson Tsai, 18, and Emma Siddle, 18. Picture: Mike Batterham

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“I always wanted to get into medicine, so this was the mark I needed.”

Johns Tsai and Tahseen Sarwar both also thought they would be getting the mark later in the month.

Representing just a handful of the Coast’s top students all but Mr Tsai hope to pursue medicine.

“I want to do a double degree in engineering and math at UQ, it’s something I have always wanted to do, not sure what I will do after that.”

According to the graduates, a balance between academics and finding a purpose to study was the secret to success.

“It was hard to juggle between social stuff and work but I guess it is just having an underlying motivation, I want to be a doctor so that pushed me through it,” Mr Sarwar said.

Mr Sarwar said he was now looking forward to a short break over the summer before getting back into study.

ST HILDA’S DUX CAITLIN BOYLE’S ANXIOUS WAIT FOR RESULTS

These students will be the last group to recieve OP scores, with Queensland moving to the national university entry system next year. Picture: Mike Batterham

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“I am going to play a lot of video games - Witcher 3 - and a lot of sleeping,” he said.

Across the Gold Coast schools were also celebrating the success of their graduates.

All Saints Anglican College at Merrimac had some of their best results ever with almost half (42.1 per cent) of their graduates earning an OP between 1 and 5.

Elanora State High School had 81 per cent of students earn an OP between 1 and 15.

Keebra Park Stat High School revealed their success with an OP1 and OP2 student within their cohort.

Further North in Coomera, Lutheran Ormeau District School (LORDS) saw close to half of all OP eligible students receive an OP 1-10.

Trinity College announced a whopping result of 10 per cent of their students scoring an OP1.

At the school 38 per cent achieved an OP 1 to 5

At Southport State High School 40 per cent of student received an OP 1 to 5.

Benowa State High School earned it’s “best ever” OP results, with 73 per cent of eligible students earning between an OP 1 to 4, and all students receiving an OP 8 or higher.