STUDENTS could finally celebrate their HSC results yesterday, despite being forced to wait 27 hours before they could find out their ATAR scores.
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NSW released subject scores on Wednesday morning, but the students had to wait until yesterday to find out their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, which could secure them a place at university.
Thousands of students turned to online calculators to get an estimated ATAR but many of the estimates were inaccurate.
Corowa High student Sam Pearsall said an ATAR calculator had given him an estimation 10 points less than what he actually got.
Billabong High student Laura Parker suffered the same problem.
“One calculator was five below, the other was four up from what I actually got, so I had no idea what I’d get,” she said.
“It is frustrating, it’s a misconception and from my experience, it’s always a bit out.
“I wish they’d just give you your results in the one hit, then it’s all over with, and I have no idea why they don’t.”
A few students, including Coutney Essex, were lucky.
An online calculator gave the Xavier High student an estimated score only .05 out from her actual ATAR.
Meanwhile, The Scots School Albury student Mikayla Verbunt said the system should include a greater consideration of arts-related subjects.
She did a VET course over her holidays this year and last year at Melbourne’s Whitehouse Institute of Design, but said it didn’t count toward her ATAR score.
“It was the most work, all the extra hours and it’s just not recognised,” she said.
“It is frustrating arts don’t get recognised; I need art because it’s what I want to do.”
Meanwhile, Border students were among some of the top achievers in the state.
The Scots School’s Callum McLeod secured six band-6 subject scores.
His highest mark, 98 for general maths, secured him 10th in the state for that subject.
Corowa High’s Sam Pearsall was awarded third in the state for engineering studies while Murray High’s Molly Voss earned fifth in the state for physical education.
“That proves it doesn’t matter whether you go to a private or public school, you can get good results at public schools, too,” Molly said.
Some students already have plans; Murray High’s Cody Keating has a cadetship at RSM Bird Cameron and Billabong High’s Hayden Webb has been accepted into the Australian College of Elite Golf.