By Lucy Carroll, Nigel Gladstone and Christopher Harris
Every morning for the first six months of this year, Grace Costigan would wake before 6am to write.
The HSC student from St Columba’s Catholic College, who this year finished first in the highest-level English course, dedicated at least one hour to drafting her final short-fiction major work.
“Handing it in was bittersweet. It felt like a huge milestone,” says Grace. “There were moments during the year when I wondered what I had done by taking the subject on, but in the end it was enjoyable rather than a chore.”
HSC science dux Yeshaya Ram, Chinese and French dux Thomas Collins, English ace Grace Costigan and Warren Song, first in extension 2 maths. Credit: Janie Barrett
The 18-year-old topped HSC English extension 2 for her 6000-word essay, Claude, a fictional story set in Tasmania that explores themes of grief, love and loss. “It is a hybrid of my love for Australian literature and an exploration of the complexities of human emotion,” she said.
Grace, who drew inspiration from Australian authors Tim Winton and Peter Temple, was one of just six students at her Blue Mountains school to take on the extension English course. The subject gave her “the gift of being able to create a world that mirrored my own reality,” she said.
On Tuesday, Grace was one of 131 students from 83 schools across the state who were recognised for finishing first in a subject in the 2024 HSC.
Sydney Grammar students took home more first places in courses 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.
Ranked second in his school, James Ruse student Warren Song said he was surprised to top the state in mathematics extension 2. “When you have to think in different ways to be able to solve a problem – that’s when I enjoy maths the most, when you can be creative.”
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.
Anubhav said 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 multiple prizes in maths and computer science olympiads.
Sydney Grammar School students Oliver Hoang, Felix Lin and Tom Collins.Credit: Janie Barrett
“From a very young age, I knew I was interested in maths, and I had teachers who fostered a love for it,” he said. “I’ve always had an attitude in terms of schoolwork, to be curious, curious beyond just the scope of the schoolwork.”
Students from academically selective private school Sydney Grammar took home eight top prizes, while pupils from 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.
Thomas Collins was one of four students who topped more than one subject, with the Sydney Grammar pupil claiming first in Chinese and French extension.
Anubhav Ammangi from Baptist Redeemer topped HSC chemistry and software design and development after coming first in extension 1 maths last year.Credit: James Brickwood
After studying French as a compulsory subject in year 7, Thomas picked up Chinese the year after when a classmate suggested they take the elective subject. “It was a huge learning curve,” he recalls.
“My friend ended up dropping Chinese, but I stuck with it all the way through school. It was very difficult at first, but gradually I developed a love for both languages,” he said.
Ryan-James Watson from Macarthur Anglican School also took home a double first in Indonesian continuers and extension and Rebecca Roozendaal from Masada College scored the highest marks in classical Hebrew continuers and extension.
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. Hugo, from Sydney Grammar, 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.
Sydney Grammar student Hugo Sharkey received the news he topped ancient history while he was travelling in Bolivia this month.
“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.
June Lee, from high-performing comprehensive state school Cherrybrook Technology High topped biology, while James Ruse student Joshua Paik finished first in physics.
Early in his HSC year, Joshua was dedicating about four hours a day to studying physics. “At first, I didn’t think I was that good at it, so I ended up spending a lot of time on it.”
“The hardest part of the course was maintaining consistency. Towards the end, I was kind of losing my mind. I didn’t want to do it anymore.” Somehow he managed to keep his focus. He went from being ranked 20th at his school at the start of the year.
Yeshaya Ram topped science extension in this year’s HSC.Credit: James Brickwood
First place in the HSC 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. Her major project examined alternate ways to decompose plastics.
“I wanted to try and do something to cure global waste. I really enjoyed the research process in science extension. It taught me so many skills and statistical analysis that really paved the bridge for university,” Yeshaya said.
James Rivlin from Cranbrook topped English advanced, while Alexander Lidbetter from all-boys selective school St Aloysius was first in English extension 1.
James Rivlin from Cranbrook topped English advanced.Credit: James Brickwood
James didn’t always love English. “Year 12 was the first time in high school it became one of my favourite subjects,” he said.
He said he enjoyed studying plays The Crucible and King Henry IV Part I but devoted time to really getting to know the texts well so he could be prepared for any question. “I would block out most of Sunday morning,” he said.
Milly Simpson, from Wenona School in North Sydney, topped modern history and regularly spent 11-12 hour days in the library leading up to her exams. “Most library days would be 9am-8pm.”
Amy Kilborn from North Sydney Girls finished first in history extension, and her classmate Seo Yun Choi topped Japanese continuers.
Milly Simpson finished first in HSC modern history.Credit: James Brickwood
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.
Four students took out first place in the vocational primary industries course. Poppy Starr, who was raised on her family farm in central west NSW, said she had always loved agriculture and that primary industries allowed for a practical application of skills.
Jorja Barnett, Freya Hooper, Josie Galcsik and Poppy Starr came equal first in primary industries.Credit: Janie Barrett
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 and co-ed schools made up 87 of the top spots. Some 80,160 students will receive their HSC results at 6am on Wednesday, with ATARs released from 9am.
With Emily Kaine and Alyssa Talakovski
All students are welcome to share their results with us then at education@smh.com.au.
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