Among the high achievers recognised at an award ceremony at the Australian Technology Park on Wednesday, Sydney Grammar School had seven students top a subject this year; followed by selective schools Fort Street and James Ruse with four each.

Five students received a First in Course award for two courses.

Ella McCrindle from Brigidine College St. Ives, who topped the state in Drama, got the good news when she was alongside her best friend Monique Jean Miller from the Northern Beaches Secondary College who topped Industrial Technology.

In contrast with 2015 where girls dominated the First in Course awards, there was a roughly even split between boys and girls in this year's list.

And of the 124 top place-getters, 34 were from government and 40 from non-government schools.

Six students from six different schools shared the top spot in Mathematics.

Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli presented 129 certificates to 124 students from 74 NSW schools.

"This is a very proud day for all the students who have achieved a First in Course result, as well as for their families and their teachers," Mr Piccoli said.

Ms McCrindle credited her teacher Mr Rutherford with inspiring her to work hard in drama. "If I wanted to do well in one thing it was drama. My teacher is the most amazing man, I'm going to cry talking about him. He was incredible, amazing - like a typical Mr G drama teacher. He works so hard. He's not here today but I heard he teared up [when he found out]."

Her solo drama work was a self-devised piece inspired by Charles Dickens' famous jilted bride Miss Havisham.

She plans travelling on a gap year with Monique before hopefully studying at the University of Sydney, and she would like ultimately to be a director, having been involved with the Griffin theatre during her school years.

Read the full list here.