Filipino-Australian teen achieves 98.70 ATAR, credits family, teachers, and late father

Despite personal loss and challenges, [R] Sidney Moreno-Taktak achieved an outstanding 98.70 ATAR score in the December 2025 HSC results, showing that perseverance along with strong support from [in photo L] family , teachers, and his school can lead to remarkable success. Credit: Estrella Moreno-Taktak

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According to 17-year-old Sidney Moreno-Taktak, he began preparing for the HSC exams in Year 11 and focused intensely on his studies in Year 12, all while balancing work and still making time to enjoy life with his family and friends.

Key Points

Sidney Moreno-Taktak is the son of a Filipina from Pampanga and a Lebanese-Syrian father who has long lived in Australia. With his outstanding ATAR score, he now has scholarship offers from several universities, opening doors to an exciting future.
The ATAR score ranges from 0 to 99.95 and shows how a student performs compared to their peers. It serves as the main benchmark for university admission, opening doors to future opportunities.
More than 83,000 students in New South Wales received their HSC results on 18 December 2025. According to the NSW Education Standards Authority, 60,443 students received an ATAR this year, alongside 20,150 who completed a VET course for their HSC and VET qualifications. Over a quarter of the cohort made it to the HSC Merit List, including 20,440 Distinguished Achievers, 1,500 All-Round Achievers, and 780 Top Achievers.

Distinguished Achiever Sidney Moreno-Taktak, who scored an impressive 98.70 ATAR in the HSC on 18 December 2025, takes pride in his multicultural heritage and credits his mother’s love and care for guiding him after the loss of his Lebanese-Syrian Australian father. Credit: Estrella Moreno-Taktak