Despite a confusing year filled with uncertainty, some students weathered the storm and achieved excellent results.

At Marian Catholic College, Piriyarathan Karunapalan, Nathan Bortolin, and Marcus Sartor achieved 98.25, 97.5, and 97.3 respectively.

For Piriyarathan, it was diligence and determination which helped him achieve such a high rank.

"Setting small steps and always working towards achieving them definitely helped me," he said.

Piriyarathan admitted 2020 had thrown a few curve balls at him, and he had to act on his feet to perform to the standards he set himself.

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"Going into lockdown, you had to stay at home and you couldn't always ask your teacher for advice. So I guess that forced me to be more independent and to look to my own research and learning."

"I think that helped me."

Next year, Piriyarathan plans to study medicine or a business-related course at the University of New South Wales or the University of Sydney.

Nathan said he couldn't believe he got such a great rank, and he now plans to have a gap year, during which he will decide where and what he wants to study in 2022.

Marcus also plans to have a gap year, before heading off to University to study law commerce.

Marian Catholic College principal Alan Le Brocque said the results were the best the school had ever had.

There was also success at Murrumbidgee Regional High School (MRHS), where several students were able to make things work in a tough year and pull off impressive ATARs.

Hamish Gunn with 92.55 and Sophie Torresan with 91.05 were the standouts.

Hamish said he was up at 5am when the results were released and that it felt very good to see what he'd pulled off.

"It was nice to know all those hours were worth something," he said.

Sophie said she was never expecting to get such a high rank.

"When people would ask me what sort of ATAR I was aiming for, in my head I would have the 80s, but high 70s would have been okay ... so I was very shocked," she said.

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Currently, both Hamish and Sophie plan to have gap years.

MRHS' Fiona Mckenzie said her and fellow year advisor Kym Stein were beyond proud of what their students had achieved.

"It's been a very full-on year, and these kids went through so much. But whatever was thrown at them they just took it on and came through the other end stronger than they were before," Miss McKenzie said.