Emily Cao

Top Achiever   

4th in the State

Community and Family Studies

1st in Archdiocese

Community and Family Studies

All Round Achiever

Achieved a mark of 90 or more in 10 units

2022 College Dux

ATAR – 98.90

Success is not defined by the amount of awards you receive or even your ATAR, but by your ability to do your best to achieve the goal you’ve set – whether this be a VET certificate, an apprenticeship, an ATAR or an early offer. However, keep your options open and have backups if you get better or worse than expected. And as cliche as it sounds, the ATAR does not define you, what is important is that you work hard to be the best you can.

Personally what helped with my studies was maintaining a positive balance between academic, personal and social commitments. Although hard work is important, working smarter is better than working harder. Instead of working through those tedious SOR worksheets or thick CAFS booklets, I would share it with my mates to get the work done faster and with greater depth, allowing me more time for practice questions, flash cards and more detailed study notes.

Know that your energy and time is limited, so distribute it evenly and learn to prioritise so you don’t burn out. Stay consistent and don’t fixate on 1 subject at the expense of others. And trust me when I say time management is important, don’t leave an extended response unfinished because you wrote 3 pages for a 6 marker.

Do what makes you happiest, whether this be Music or Extension 2 Maths. You’ll more likely be motivated to study for things you enjoy and thus, do better in that subject.

It is important to also take care of your wellbeing by ensuring you go out with friends, take breaks, invest in hobbies and ask for help when you are struggling. Also, health is wealth, so it is equally important to take care of your physical wellbeing during the HSC by having enough sleep, eating well and partaking in physical activity which in turn, maximises your productivity. 

Get involved in extracurriculars such as sports, carnivals or debating. I personally enjoyed debating, as it provided a healthy break from studying and helped me develop lifelong skills such as communication. 

High school is also the haven to try new things and to make mistakes without major consequences. Before your final exams, teach mates and get as much feedback as possible from both your teachers and friends. For English, my weak spot, I’d call a friend and we’d write under timed conditions and mark each other’s work, which forced me to do practice essays instead of scrolling through tiktok. 

Also, listen to your teachers as they have your best interests at heart and don’t give up. As Avicii once stated, “where there’s a will there’s a way”, and thus, your ability to persevere through setbacks would be an asset not only in the HSC but in life.