“RELIEF, satisfaction, excitement”: words used by The Armidale School students Ali Ahsan and Joshua Stevenson to describe how felt when they learnt they had both received Australian Tertiary Admission Rankings (ATARs) of above 99 in this year’s HSC. Ali said his 99.75 was “a slither above what I had hoped for”, while Joshua, while Joshua, who after being surprised by his results released on Wednesday, thought he might make 98-99 – “so to get 99.2 was more than expected, I’m just over the moon.” The two boys were also the only students from the New England North West region named on the All Rounders List in this year’s NSW HSC, for this with a score of more than 90 (or equivalent) across their top10 units of study. Ali achieved Band 6 results in Chemistry, Economics, English (Advanced), English Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 1 & 2, and Physics, while Joshua scored a mark above 90 in Ancient History, Business Studies, Economics, English (Advanced), Legal Studies and Mathematics General 2. “Most of my marks were as expected and were quite similar to my (HSC) trials, so I was relieved about that,” said Ali, who is confident his ATAR will be enough to get him into his preferred course, Medicine at the University of NSW. Joshua said he was “pretty stoked” by his results, “especially in Ancient (History) and Business (Studies).” He hopes to start studying Business or Economics at either ANU or a university in Sydney after taking a six month break and earning some money. It is the seventh consecutive year that TAS students have featured on the All Rounders Achievers List, and the two boys make it six in six years to achieve an ATAR above 99. Sebastian Gibson was rewarded with Band 6s in four subjects, and an ATAR of 98.05. Three other students join the trio with ATARs above 90. Eleven students made the Distinguished Achievers List, between them achieving 26 Band 6 results in 13 courses – Chemistry, Physics, Economics, English (Advanced), English Extension 1, Mathematics, Mathematics General 2, Mathematics Extension 1 & 2, Music 1, Ancient History, Business Studies, and Legal Studies. Headmaster Murray Guest congratulated all students on their efforts. “As well as those achieving at the top end, we had a higher number of students move up to Band 5 level than in previous years which is most gratifying,” he said. “In addition, it was most pleasing that we also had students selected and nominated for the HSC creative arts showcases in Drama, Music and Art, reflecting a breadth of achievement.”
For more information on this release contact Tim Hughes on 0409 662 420
Above: Officially All Round Achievers, TAS students Josh Stevenson and Ali Ahsan check their respective ATAR scores of 99.2 and 99.75 respectively.
