Students like St Johns College’s Mathew Doohan were eagerly awaiting the release of results from 6am by phone messages from the NSW Board of Studies or on its website.

“I was waiting at the computer at 5:59,” said Matthew, who achieved six of St Johns’ 39 coveted “band sixes”. 

They represent scores of 90 or above out of 100 in Advanced English, Extension English 1, Ancient History, Modern History, Mathematics and Religious Studies.

“I love literature, I love reading,” Mr Doohan, 17, said.

“There’s a lot that can be learned from the shortest short story to Shakespeare.”

He hopes to study the Oxford-style Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics on offer at the Australian National University”. 

As Mr Doohan scanned his “nice numbers”, Natasha Wykes was sitting on her bed in shock, after the text message from the NSW Board of Studies came through.

“It was pretty exciting, better than I was expecting, definitely,” said the Dubbo College senior campus student, who garnered five of the school’s 30 band sixes.

She scored 90 or above above 90 in in Advanced English, Legal Studies, Modern History, History Extension, and Health and Physical Education.

“I’m planning on taking a gap year next year and then studying Arts and Law at the Australian National University,” Ms Wykes said. 

The 17-year-old is contemplating a career as a lawyer, with a focus on international law and human rights.

Her advice to future generations of stressed year 12s. 

“Be interested in what you’re learning and don’t focus on results,” she said.

“It’s a bit sad when you see people who actually did really well and they feel they didn’t do so well.”

For Anthony Bartley, 18, a St John’s student who scored four band sixes, an academic career is plan B.

The aspiring dancer said: “Dance is something that’s just in my blood”.

“You can’t beat that feeling.”

But with excellent marks he is keeping his options open, including psychology study at Macquarie University.

Dubbo College’s Drishti Sarswat, 18, achieved a band six in biology, which would have placed her in the top 6 per cent of last year’s students. Ms Sarswat has received early offers to study radiography at Sydney University and clinical science at Charles Sturt University in Orange.

Among St John’s agriculture students, Gaby Wray and Kathryn Perry achieved a band six in Primary Industries. 

Maddellen Guan has received a scholarship offer worth about $25,000 from the University of New England.