Mount View High School had three students named on the Distinguished Achievers List: Billie Taylor (music 1), Taylah Hall (biology) and Demi Dalton (hospitality examination).

The list which acknowledges students who achieved 90 per cent or higher in a subject (a Band 6 in a 2-unit subject, or E4 in an extension subject).

Billie said it was a "big relief" to find out her results, particularly as she hopes to study a combined degree in music and public relations at the University of New South Wales next year.

Taylah said she was "pretty surprised" with her mark in biology. She has received an early offer to study biotechnology at the University of Newcastle.

Demi was in Year 11 this year, as was Kurri Kurri High student Lucy Bacon, who was named on the honour roll for her results in biology.

"It was such a benefit to only have to only focus on one subject," Lucy said.

St Philip's Christian College student Nikolai Baumanis received two mentions on the list, for food technology and industrial technology.

Former Nulkaba Public School students Mackenzie Smith, Molly Boyd and Molly Wills were also named on the distinguished achievers list.

Mackenzie, who attended All Saints College Maitland, earned two mentions on the list for business studies and legal studies.

The Nulkaba resident said she was glad to end the year on a high note, after such an uncertain year for students and teachers.

She hopes to study primary education at the University of Newcastle.

Merewether High graduate Molly Boyd, of Cessnock, also hopes to study primary teaching.

She achieved a total of four Band 6 results for her HSC - two this year (community and family studies and PDHPE), and two in 2019 (biology and Studies of Religion 1) when undertaking accelerated studies.

She said the accelerated subjects helped "relieve the pressure" and put her in good stead for this year's exams.

Lovedale's Molly Wills, who attended Hunter Valley Grammar School, achieved three Band 6 results - in advanced English, Music 1 and PDHPE.

She said she was "very surprised" and "so thrilled" when she learned of her results, and that she hopes to study nutrition and dietetics at the University of Sydney next year.

The Distinguished Achievers List was published on the NSW Education Standards Authority website on Friday.

Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks are not made public.

EARLIER REPORT: Friday, December 18, 4.56pm

Five students from Cessnock-area high schools have been named on the 2020 HSC Distinguished Achievers List, which was released on Friday.

The list acknowledges students who achieved 90 per cent or higher in a subject (a Band 6 in a 2-unit subject, or E4 in an extension subject).

Mount View High School had three students on the list - Billie Taylor (music 1), Taylah Hall (biology) and year 11 student Demi Dalton, who achieved a Band 6 in the hospitality examination.

St Philip's Christian College student Nikolai Baumanis received two mentions, for food technology and industrial technology.

Kurri Kurri High year 11 student Lucy Bacon was named on the honour roll for her results in biology.

Nulkaba resident Mackenzie Smith, who attended All Saints College Maitland, earned two mentions on the list for business studies and legal studies.

Lovedale's Molly Wills, who attended Hunter Valley Grammar School, achieved three Band 6 results - in advanced English, Music 1 and PDHPE.

Cessnock resident Molly Boyd, who attended Merewether High School, achieved a total of four Band 6 results for her HSC - two this year, and two in 2019.

As a year 11 student undertaking accelerated HSC studies last year, Molly scored in the top band in biology and Studies of Religion 1, while this year she was named on the honour roll for community and family studies (CAFS) and PDHPE.