HSC Results

Attention: open in a new window. PrintE-mail

Each year, over 200 Sydney Boys High School students sit the Higher School Certificate (HSC). Since the new HSC commenced on average 76% of students score an ATAR/UAI of 90 or greater, and 19% score 99 or greater. In 2024, 166 students scored an ATAR of 90 or greater and 42 students scored an ATAR of 99 or greater. Students ATAR values are obtained from the NSW Universities Admission Centre or via survey at the annual school brunch in the last week of term 4 following the release of the ATARs. Students whose ATAR could not be collated are instead estimated from their actual HSC results, using a reliable estimator program.

ATAR/UAI Breakdown 2001-2024

Each year the Principal, Dr K Jaggar, gives a presentation on the results of the previous year. In 2025 this took place on 10 March.

The slideshow documents for this presentation is provided below:
HSC Results 2024 Presentation

A z-score calculation, which measures the standardised difference between the school's mean results and the state mean, is available for each course. In small candidature courses, the z-score can be very high. In some small courses it may vary significantly from year to year. This analysis shows particularly strong results in 2024 for Design and Technology, Engineering Studies, Music course 1, Software Design and Development, Geography, PDHPE, Modern History, Business Studies, Ancient History, Chemistry and Physics with z-scores of greater than 1 standard deviation:

Z-Score Course Rank 2024

Overall, the school's strength continues to be Mathematics. In 2023, Students achieved, on average, a score 10.61 marks above the state average in Mathematics Advanced, 10.77 marks above the state in Mathematics Extension 1 and 6.97 marks above the state in Mathematics Extension 2. The school is similarly strong in sciences, social sciences, history and industrial arts/technology. The school's English results in 2024 improved to an average result 3.94 marks above the state mean in English Advanced.

Subject HSC Results by Area (State vs School) 2001-2024
Subject ATAR/UAI Results by Area (State vs School) 2001-2024

From the introduction of the "New HSC" in 2001, the number of "Band 6" results - scores of over 90 in a subject, also known as the "Distinguished Achievers List" - increased steadily before levelling off. This has been reflected in the school with an initial increase of in excess of 80% in the number of Band 6/E4 scores since the introduction of the New HSC, but a subsequent plateau in line with the state results. In 2024, results saw a substantial comparative improvement, with the school attaining 604 Band 6/E4 results, at 13% increase. The 208 Sydney Boys High School students received 1.46% of the state's total Band 6 awards.

Growth of Band 6 Results 2001-2024

Broken down subject by subject, in numerical terms Sydney Boys High sees the majority of its Band 6 results in Mathematics and the Maths Extension subjects followed by English, Chemistry and Physics. Smaller candidature subjects can achieve high percentage band 6 results - languages, Music, History, Engineering Studies, and Software Design.

Band 6 Results by Subject 2014-2025

Each year students who score 90 or above in 10 or more units of study are placed on the HSC All-Round Achievers list. In the 2024 HSC 34 students placed on All-Round Achievers list: Khaled Ahmed, Vishruth Anand, Liam Cowan, Huen Wai Dang, Tony Guo, Ayaan Hafiz, Mohammad Haider, Samid Hasan, Toby Huey, Samuel Hui, Godfrey Jiang, Yousha Kabir, David Kim, Kyu Jung Kim, Christopher Lau, Brian Li, Ahmed Mahmood, Kiran Nayager, Brian Nguyen, Justin Nguyen, Patrick Nguyen, Luke Palmer, Ethan Pham, Dev Punjabi, Leon Shen, Oscar Shi, Daniel Su, Shannen Teo, Nathanael Thie, Runqiu Wang, Geoffrey Wei, Yufeng Xiao, Apporva Yadav and Ziyin Zhang.

The following students placed on the state Order of Merit with top 20 results in a subject: Ziyin Zhang (2nd Engineering Studies), Brian Nguyen (3rd Mathematics Extension 1), Shafayat Hossain (4th Geography), Oscar Lam (7th Mathematics Extension 1), Leon Shen (10th Chemistry), Clinton Chau (15th Mathematics Advanced), Aiden McManus (18th Business Studies). No student earned a maximum ATAR of 99.95. Forty-two students received an ATAR of 99 or above.

Over 99% of Sydney High students go on to university education once they complete their HSC. In the 2024 entry, all students received a university offer. Popular courses for students include business and commerce courses, various combined law degrees, medical sciences and engineering, with a continued resurgence in Science and Computer Science and related courses. The breakdown of degree programs for the Class of 2024 (entering university in 2025) follows:

Degree Programs - 2014-2024

The general trend is for at least one half (and up to two-thirds) of students to attend the University of New South Wales, another third attend the University of Sydney and the remainder are spread primarily to the University of Technology, Sydney and Macquarie University, but some attending other universities around the state, interstate and overseas. In 2024/2025 a majority of Sydney Boys High School students chose to attend the University of New South Wales, followed by the University of Sydney then the other metropolitan universities.

Destinations 2024 HSC 2023 HSC 2022 HSC 2021 HSC 2020 HSC 2019 HSC 2018 HSC 2017 HSC 2016 HSC 2015 HSC 2014 HSC Average
UNSW 113 136 147 157 149 132 137 147 127 145 124 138
Sydney 53 41 25 27 30 44 38 27 38 25 41 35
UTS 15 13 14 6 11 12 11 7 13 3 10 10
Macquarie 12 6 6 4 7 10 6 8 6 6 10 7
WSU 1 6 12 4 3 3 3 9 11 8 4 6
ANU 2   1 1 0 3 5 4 5 7 8 3
Other 8 5 4 6 10 9 9 3 5 11 8  
         
Total 208 208 210 205 210 215 209 205 205 205 205

The full table of student destinations between 1995 and 2024 (entering university between 1996 and 2025) is also available:
Student Destinations 1995-2024