HSC results 2025 as it happened: North Sydney Boys tops the state; NSW year 12 students receive ATARs after exam results drop

That’s where we’ll end our live coverage of HSC results. Thank you so much for following our blog.

More than 80,000 students across NSW woke to messages from NESA informing them of their results at 6am this morning, and at around 9am, students received their ATARs.

It was a day filled to the brim with emotion for students and their families, who saw the culmination of years of hard work realised as they opened their results.

The Herald has heard from some truly extraordinary young people from around the state: students who overcame learning disabilities, juggled study with professional sport, used their science subjects to build models to detect cancer, worked on government advisory committees, and achieved brilliant results in the face of unprecedented terror and tragedy.

And all of them, no matter their final mark, told us of big dreams they were keen to chase.

Congratulations to every single student in the class of 2025 – completing your HSC, in and of itself, is a monumental achievement.

Our team of education reporters will continue their coverage of the HSC over the coming days and weeks, so keep an eye out for those stories.

In the meantime, check out more of our HSC coverage:

• North Sydney Boys, James Ruse bolt away in HSC rankings
• ‘A big relief’: The class of 2025 receive their HSC results
• The 2025 HSC honour roll: Every student with a top band listed

The Herald is compiling a list of every student in the state who scored a 99.95 ATAR.

If this is you, or someone you know, please get in touch with our team of reporters via our email, education@smh.com.au.

While Rahul Desai already knew he topped the state in mathematics extension 1, he felt “shocked” that he scooped another state rank after he opened his HSC results this morning.

The Baulkham Hills High School graduate received an ATAR of 99.95, and came 11th in NSW for Chemistry, placing ahead of more than 10,000 students who took the course.

“I was shocked with Chemistry … I wasn’t expecting that, because I thought I bombed that one,” he said.

Receiving a mark of 96 for advanced English was also beyond Rahul’s wildest expectations, describing it as the subject he always struggled with in junior years.

“At the start of the year I was dreaming of a band 6,” he said.

However, after he dedicated more time to studying English in senior years, he finally felt like “something had clicked.”

A quick note: the results we’re talking about today don’t include those from the International Baccalaureate, the alternative global program for year 11 and 12 students.

The independent schools that offer the program in addition to the HSC often point out that today’s rankings will be skewed because they don’t include results from the IB.

Last year, the government’s ban on public schools taking up the course was dropped. But education reporter Emily Kowal reported this week that none have yet begun to offer the course.

Jiaao Chen knows 99.95 is a special mark, but in complete honesty, the North Sydney Boys High student says he would have been happy regardless of the result.

“I know it is meant to be special but I don’t think too much about it … I am happy because I gave it my all in my exams,” he said.

The University Admission Centre has reminded students that they have only until 11.59pm today to change their university course preferences.

“Now that students have their results, it’s time to focus on what comes next. If you’re considering changing your preferences, take a moment to explore all your options and reach out to UAC or universities for support. Time is tight – but hopefully you’ve been thinking about your next steps and can now confidently lock in your final choices,” chief strategy and engagement officer Kim Paino said.

Students will be able to access their university offer from next Tuesday morning.