The Bendigo Senior Secondary College dux scored 98.7 – well above the mid-80s score he was hoping for.

But work commitments meant Rory had to wait patiently to find out how well he had done.

“I had the opportunity to check it this morning but I thought I would let it sink in during the shift and check it at the end of the day,” he said.

“It stressed me out a bit but I knew there was nothing I could do to change it. All I needed was about 85, so this is just great.

“I haven’t got a secret. You just have to find motivation and time to to study.”

While Rory intends to celebrate after work this weekend, he encouraged his fellow students who might not have got the score they were after.

“The ATAR doesn’t define you. There are plenty of other ways to get into the course you want, just keep your options open,” he said.

Rory hopes to study science in Melbourne but is ready to take a break from learning for the moment.

“I would like to do science at Melbourne University. All my elective classes lined up with the science field,” he said.

“But I I need a year off to save some money. I started off washing dishes at the start of the year and am now waiting tables.”