All the HSC students at Vincentia High did well to survive this stressful time in their lives with Suzie Glenday, Leah Mercier, Rhianna Brown and Josh Hawker among the high achievers.

Suzie got 95 in Ancient History,  92 in PDHPE (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education) and the rest were high Band 5s.

She got an ATAR of 94.45 and was determined to do well.

“I definitely think I put a little bit of pressure on myself because I worked really hard through high school and I wanted to see the effort pay off in year 12 ,” Suzie said.

Suzie, because she worked so hard before the HSC, was not all that stressed when then the exams started.

“I was prepared enough and you have to go into your exams being confident in your ability,” she said.

Suzie got early entry to University of Sydney to study a Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of International Studies.

“I am going there next year which will be very exciting,” Susie said.

Leah was happy with her 93.65 ATAR score.

She was not all that anxious about her results and was not awake at the crack of dawn sweating on them to be announced.

Leah had an idea that she would do okay in the exams.

“I am pretty good at predicting my exam results and so none of it was a surprise for me - I pretty much knew where I was,” Leah said.

Leah got Band 6s in Biology, PDHPE and Advanced English, while rest were high Band 5s and one mid Band 4 in Mathematics - her worst subject.

“It (Mathematics) pulled me down a bit, but I was super stoked with a Band 4 because it's so hard,” Leah said.

Leah said her good short term memory helped her rise to the challenge of the exams.

Her best advice to other students was to learn as much as you could in the classes during the year and ask questions.

”There is no point in sitting in a class and not understand something and not asking any questions,” she said.

“Every class I ever had I probably asked 20 questions.”

Leah is weighing up her options and is leaning towards going to University of Sydney to study Politics and International Relations.

“I will have to see what happens when the first round of offers comes out,” Leah said.

Leah is excited about the next stage in her life.

Rhianna kicked her academic goals and scored an ATAR of 86.80.

She got a Band 6 in Physical Education and notional Band 6 in Extension One Advanced Mathematics.

Rhianna took a calm approach when it came to waiting to see her results.

“I kind of forgot about it for a little while because I was on holidays but when I came back I was thinking about it (the HSC) a little bit,” Rhianna said.

Rhianna on average studied for just one hour a day, but as the exams got closer she hit the books more and did an average of four hours a day.

“My advice to others to be be prepared and know when your exams are on and start getting ready for them early,” she said.

“Also keep doing stuff you like doing and don’t stress out too much.”

Rhianna, is a talented football player, and she kept on playing during the exam period because it was a good outlet.

She wants to be a radiogolgist and will go to University of Wollongong next year.

Josh said his 71.4 ATAR was a good result and he was pleased.

He got two Band 5s -  one in Biology and one in Physical Education.

“I was heaps happy with that,” he said .

“I got out what I put in so I was pretty happy in general.”

Josh said he took on the HSC in a relaxed frame of mind but was ready was ready to go come exam day.

“I did try to not stress too much, but I am definitely relieved it's all over,” Josh said.

He is leaning towards continuing to study and has been offered a spot University of Wollongong to study Civil Engineering.