Striving for Excellence: Annie Tran (’25, Top ATAR Student)

St. Andrew’s Grammar achieved their best ATAR results in its history with a record number of students scoring above 90+ ATAR score.

One stand-out performance was our top ATAR student and former Deputy Head Girl, Miss Anh Vue (Annie) Nhien Tran who scored a 98.9 ATAR score, the highest ATAR score achieved in the Class of 2025 at St. Andrew’s Grammar.

Miss Tran was awarded the ATAR Dux Award at our Year 12 Graduation Ceremony. She was a dominant presence during the ceremony, sweeping academic awards in ATAR Chemistry, ATAR English, ATAR Physics, ATAR Psychology, ATAR Mathematics Methods and ATAR Mathematics Specialist.

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that she has set a new benchmark for academic excellence through her sustained dedication, intellectual curiosity and her unwavering commitment to striving for excellence.

She recently sat down with the school’s Head of Secondary, Mrs Siza Macdonald to talk about her fantastic achievement, life at St. Andrew’s Grammar and her future.

Congratulations on such an amazing achievement! Could you tell us more about yourself and what you will be studying at university?

My name is Anh Vue but everyone calls me Annie. I graduated from St. Andrew’s Grammar last year and I have just commenced my double-major in Engineering Science and Philosophy at the University of Western Australia. I was the Deputy Head Girl in my final year and worked closely with our Student Council to make sure that school was a great place to learn.

How did St. Andrew’s Grammar help shape you as a person?

I think being at St. Andrew’s helped me because of how small the school was when I came. It helped us create a sense of community and I felt really close with all my teachers and peers. The experience helped me open up and be myself.

Were there any teachers or mentors who made a lasting impact on your school life?

All my teachers, especially my ATAR teachers, were helpful especially in my last year at school. Mrs Macdonald really pushed me to do my best, and she helped me not give up when I wanted to, and Mr Johnston helped me foster my love for mathematics, which will form a great portion of what I will be doing at university.

I enjoyed getting to know my teachers. I loved talking to them even out of class; during lunch and recess, I would go and say hi.

How did you stay motivated during challenging or stressful periods?

It helped that I enjoyed learning and I had a goal that I wanted to achieve. I knew that doing well in the ATAR was what I wanted to do and while I achieved just shy of my goal, I was still proud of the effort and learning I did into coming close. It helped that my teachers were always there to support and encourage me if I needed help.

How did you balance work and other commitments on your downtime?

I made sure, especially in Year 12, not to spend all my time studying. I made sure that I made time to do my self-care hobbies to relax helped me be a better student. I found that I could concentrate better when I am focused on my work and at school when I had enough rest in my downtime and sleep.

What advice would you give students who are currently working towards their ATAR score?

Ask questions, be curious and get to know your teachers. One study tip I would give to students would be not to be afraid of asking questions and talking to your teachers about what you don’t understand or how better you can get better at a topic.

Since you’re going to be spending so much time in class and with your teachers, getting to know them and feeling comfortable asking questions will do you well in the long-term. If you’re not comfortable asking in class, I found that my teachers were more than happy to respond to my e-mails or questions after class/school.

If you could speak to your Year 7 self, what would you say?

Enjoy high school, have fun and stay curious!