Dubbo Christian School student Timothy Goud said he was "surprised" by his high results and plans on taking a gap year in 2020 so that he could work.

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"My parents told my sister and I that we would have to pay our own way through university because they paid for us to attend a private school to equip us with the means to be successful," he said.

"After that, I'll go to university to study mathematics."

Katherine Hovenden, on the other hand, plans on going straight to university in the new year after having been accepted into a bachelor of arts at the University of Wollongong, where she hopes to do a major in ancient history and archaeology.

St John's College students Tharusha Ediriweera and Naeel Radwi share in the desire to study medicine after school and are both waiting on offers into university.

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Mr Ediriweera said he was pleasantly surprised with his HSC results and encourages next years students undergoing the HSC exams to take them seriously.

"I'd say, enjoy year 12, don't let HSC get in the way, but also try your best. The marks do matter."

Mr Radwi said the key to success is consistency. "Take it consistently, bit by bit, keep the bigger picture in mind but focus on the now and on the things you love."

Dubbo College Senior Campus students and some of the schools highest HSC scorers for 2019, Ava Medley, Claudia Morrison and Tatum Roberts said they would be taking gap-years in 2020 after having studied hard for their exams.

Miss Roberts said she plans of studying radiography at the University of Newcastle in 2021 after her gap year.

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Dubbo College Senior Campus student, Archie Purcell, said he was "surprised" by his results but "elated". "I'm going to go to ANU next year to do an arts degree," he said.

"I've wanted to do that since about mid last year when I visited ANU and thought; oh this is cool.

If I could give any advice to next year's students undergoing the HSC exams it would be; it's a marathon, don't stress yourself out at the start, but don't take holidays during the last two terms."

Macquarie Anglican Grammar School closed for holidays a week ago, but headmaster Craig Mansour said 95 per cent of his students received early entries into universities.