IB HIGHLIGHTS
37/45
Newington median IB score
(94.25 approximate ATAR equivalent)
45/45
Perfect IB score
James Liao
29%
Scored 40 or over
(97.30 approximate ATAR equivalent)
TOP ACHIEVERS
STUDENTS WHO ACHIEVED A RESULT OF 45 OR 44 IN THE IB
James Liao
45/45 IB score
Oliver Doan
44/45 IB score
James van der Poorten
44/45 IB score
Jasper Walsh
44/45 IB score
Isaac Zoud
44/45 IB score
EXCELLENCE IN THE IB
THESE STUDENTS ACHIEVED 40 IB POINTS OR HIGHER (APPROXIMATE ATAR EQUIVALENT OF 97.30 OR ABOVE)
Ali Karnib
Anton Park
Bodie Young
Daniel P Martin
Eric Carney
Eustratios Skotadis
Isaac Zoud
Jack Rudd
James Duong
James Liao
James van der Poorten
Jasper Walsh
Lachlan Watkins
Michael Smith
Morgan Jones
Oliver Doan
Ryan Yip
Sachinpal Nagra
Saxon Krause
Zachary Schmidt
FROM THE STUDENTS
Oliver Doan
44/45 – 2023 IB Dux
My primary strategy throughout the IB was to communicate with my teachers about ways to improve my work. At Newington, the teachers are always supportive and eager to help students to the greatest extent. Towards the end of the IB, I consistently sent practice papers to many of my teachers, and they always did their best to provide feedback. Before exams I emulated test conditions at home: setting up an exam time and my paper in a quiet room. This significantly helped me feel comfortable and familiar with the test environment and took a lot of the pressure associated with sitting the real thing.
Ensuring a sustainable balance between my studies, hobbies, and my network of family and friends was important. Regardless of choosing the HSC or IB, there will be a lot of studying during Years 11 and 12, but overworking without adequate rest or neglecting other activities can be detrimental.
Now that I am finished with the IB, there are a few things I hope to do next. I plan to pursue studies in the healthcare system with a degree in medical science whilst also maintaining interests that I have cultivated throughout high school, such as music and hiking.
James Liao
45/45 – Hardy Medallist 2023, 2023 IB Proxime Accesserunt
Personally, success in the IB is simply keeping up with the content covered in class despite IA deadlines, EE drafts and CAS reflections flying towards you at full throttle. The easiest strategy to not get overwhelmed throughout Year 11 and 12 is to be diligent in your organisation: set up a calendar with assignment due dates, homework that needs to be done and notes that need to be reviewed. On top of this, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whenever I struggled with a certain concept, my teachers were my first port of call, and they were always able to point me in the right direction.
While the IB is a gruelling process, my teachers, my mentor Mrs. Hinves, and my Head of House Mr. Walsh were always there for me – from chats during mentor period to answering emails late at night – and I owe any success I have to them.
I hope to study at UNSW in Actuarial Studies, where I have been fortunate enough to receive the UNSW Co-op Program Scholarship, which provides me access to professional work placements with industry partners such as Ernst & Young, Suncorp and NDIS. And of course, I hope to stay connected with my peers that I know worked so hard for the results they received.
HSC HIGHLIGHTS
ALL ROUND ACHIEVERS
STUDENTS WHO ACHIEVED A RESULT IN THE HIGHEST BAND POSSIBLE (BAND 6 OR BAND E4) IN 10 OR MORE UNITS OF STUDY
Leo Bell
Biology, Earth and Environmental Science, English Advanced, Geography, Mathematics Advanced
Max Franco
Business Studies, Economics, English Advanced, Geography, Mathematics Standard 2
Charlie Burt
Chemistry, English Advanced, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Physics
Sebastian Parhash
Chemistry, English Advanced, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Physics
NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS
Shape
An annual exhibition of exemplary Major Projects developed by HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design students.
Thomas Anderson (nominated)
Noah Felice – Side Tables in Blackwood (nominated)
Hamish Spedding – Nihon Kaze (nominated)
William Spencer – Hallway Console (nominated)
Lachlan Tran – Modern Desk (nominated)
Dante Zappacosta – The Baton Box Cabinet (nominated)
Lance Haffenden – Walnut and Cherry Side Table (shortlisted)
OnSTAGE
A showcase of exemplary performances and projects by HSC Drama students.
Jack Harris – How to disappear completely, individual performance (nominated)
Terry Tragotsalos – The Heart of a Dog, individual performance (nominated)
Richard Jenneke – individual design project (selected)
Charles Foster – individual video drama (nominated)
Rory Finlayson, Jack Harris, Richard Jenneke and Bryn McNaught – DVG, group performance (nominated)
Jack Jones, Jack Parkes and Terry Tragotsalos – The Three Musketeers, group performance (selected)
ENCORE
A showcase of exemplary performances and compositions by HSC Music students.
Junyoung Jeong (nominated)
VET Excellence Award
Nicholas Wadland – Hospitality Kitchen Operations
Australian Wood Review Maker of the Year Award
Tom Anderson (shortlisted)
Adam Hassen – Midnight Bench (winner)
Isaac Hartshorne (shortlisted)
Charles Foster (shortlisted)
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVERS
THESE STUDENTS ACHIEVED A BAND 6 OR E4 IN ONE OR MORE SUBJECTS
James Adams
English Extension 1, Modern History
Thomas Anderson
Industrial Technology
Luke Avati
Construction Examination
Luca Beardmore
English Advanced, Mathematics Standard 2
Callum Beer
English Advanced, Modern History
Leo Bell
Biology, Earth and Environmental Science, English Advanced, Geography, Mathematics Advanced
Charlie Burt
Chemistry, English Advanced, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Physics
Declan Carmichael
English Advanced, English Extension 1, Geography, Legal Studies, History Extension
Lucas Chan
English Advanced, English Extension 1, History Extension
Peter Charlton
English Advanced
Hayden Christie
Earth and Environmental Science
Thomas Clark
Earth and Environmental Science
Alexander Coombe-Swanson
Business Studies
Finn Dundon
Mathematics Extension 1
Noah Felice
Industrial Technology, Construction Examination
Benjamin Firth
English Extension 1, English Extension 2, Mathematics Advanced
Hayden Forner
Business Studies
Max Franco
Business Studies, Economics, English Advanced, Geography, Mathematics Standard 2
Daniel Frougas
Mathematics Standard 2
Marcus Gripton-Corbett
Engineering Studies, English Advanced, Modern History
Lance Haffenden
Industrial Technology
Samuel Hallit
Legal Studies
Jack Harris
Drama
Isaac Hartshorne
History Extension
Adam Hassen
Drama
James Henderson
Modern History
Felix Hochuli
English Advanced, Mathematics Standard 2
Christopher Hogan
Mathematics Standard 2
William Houseman
Earth and Environmental Science, Mathematics Advanced
George Houvardas
English Advanced, Geography, Mathematics Standard 2, Modern History, History Extension
Gus Howells
English Extension 1, Mathematics Standard 2
Thomas Inglis
English Advanced
Richard Jenneke
Drama, Mathematics Standard 2
Junyoung Jeong
Music 2, Music Extension
Andrew Karahontzitis
English Advanced, Construction Examination
Ryan Lei
Business Studies, English Advanced, Mathematics Extension 1
Evan Malakonakis
English Advanced, Modern Greek Beginners
Hugo McGann
English Advanced, Modern History
Aidan Morrell
Business Studies, English Extension 1
Joshua Navan
English Extension 1
Oliver Nicholson
Mathematics Standard 2
Lachlan Ole
Mathematics Standard 2, History Extension
Sebastian Parhash
Chemistry, English Advanced, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Physics
Marcus Pearson
Biology, English Advanced, Geography
Louis Quarello
Mathematics Standard 2
Gilbert Scott
Mathematics Standard 2
Luke Shannonhouse
Modern History
Hugo Sloan
Mathematics Standard 2
Aidan Suttie
Mathematics Standard 2
Hugo Tippett
English Advanced
Terry Tragotsalos
Drama, English Extension 1
Elliot Walsh
Engineering Studies, English Advanced, English Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2
Dean Xistouris
English Advanced, Mathematics Advanced
Dante Zappacosta
Industrial Technology, Mathematics Standard 2
FROM THE STUDENTS
Hayden Forner
2023 Senior Prefect
I loved having so many people at Newington to assist with my studies. The teachers were committed to getting the best out of each person, which I really valued. Amongst the HSC cohort there was a great level of competition as well as support between one another.
When an opportunity to get involved in co-curricular activities or to socialise with my mates came up during the HSC I would usually take it, because otherwise I wouldn’t be in the right headspace to study effectively. What worked for me was having a busy schedule, which made me work more efficiently when it came to studying.
My advice to those studying the HSC at the moment is to find something that motivates you to study in high quantities, like a goal, an outcome, or a person, and use it to knuckle down, even when you don’t want to. Find routines that allow you to study at a high quality too. It’s going to be different for everyone, but once you find what works for you, abuse the process.
Next year I am looking to have a gap year to get a few life experiences under my belt, before studying a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Sustainability and Environment at UTS.
Sebastian Parhash
2023 HSC Dux
The best thing about doing the HSC at Newington was the teachers, all of mine were very helpful. They had so many resources and were always willing to help.
For those who are currently studying their HSC, I would suggest to focus in now. The HSC only gets harder after Term 4, so it’s important they stay on top of their work now.
I found the best way to balance my social life and study was to designate times for going out. This way I could still have fun without sacrificing valuable study time.
Next year I hope to enrol in a Bachelor of Science and eventually a Master of Mathematical Science at Sydney University.
SUBJECT ACHIEVEMENT IN THE HSC
COMPARISON OF NEWINGTON STUDENTS VS NSW STUDENTS (% TOP 2 BANDS BY COURSE)
Ancient History
71
Newington
33
NSW
Biology
23
Newington
32
NSW
Business Studies
68
Newington
36
NSW
Chemistry
38
Newington
38
NSW
Construction Examination
100
Newington
44
NSW
Design and Technology
89
Newington
47
NSW
Drama
100
Newington
60
NSW
Earth and Environmental Science
69
Newington
34
NSW
Economics
54
Newington
49
NSW
Engineering Studies
32
Newington
29
NSW
English Advanced
72
Newington
67
NSW
English Extension 1
100
Newington
94
NSW
English Extension 2
100
Newington
86
NSW
Geography
72
Newington
42
NSW
History Extension
100
Newington
85
NSW
Hospitality Examination
33
Newington
39
NSW
Industrial Technology
58
Newington
24
NSW
Information Processes and Technology
33
Newington
32
NSW
Latin Extension
100
Newington
98
NSW
Legal Studies
68
Newington
43
NSW
Mathematics Advanced
39
Newington
50
NSW
Mathematics Standard 2
47
Newington
32
NSW
Mathematics Extension 1
54
Newington
72
NSW
Mathematics Extension 2
92
Newington
86
NSW
Modern History
44
Newington
35
NSW
Music 1
75
Newington
69
NSW
Music 2
100
Newington
85
NSW
Music Extension
100
Newington
96
NSW
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
57
Newington
31
NSW
Physics
45
Newington
39
NSW
Science Extension
100
Newington
78
NSW
Studies of Religion I
25
Newington
49
NSW
Studies of Religion II
60
Newington
46
NSW
Visual Arts
90
Newington
66
NSW