The 18-year-old former Smith’s Hill High School students yesterday received ATAR scores with just a whisker of difference between them. Katherine achieved 96.9 and Liisa 96.6.

‘‘I was hoping for over 90 and was going to be happy with anything over 92, so really happy this morning,’’ Liisa said.

ATAR results: our top performers

The girls studied the same subjects for their final school years – biology, chemistry, advanced English, mathematics, mathematics extension and personal development, health and physical education – and Liisa said this helped when they got stuck while studying.

The twins are also talented basketballers and are planning to head to the United States next year to play for a college team.

‘‘That’s been planned forever, but it’s just become real this year,’’ Liisa said.

After a lifetime of being teammates, they are hoping to study and play for different colleges, but haven’t decided which ones they will pursue just yet.

Katherine said their love of sport kept them calm during their studies, giving them time away from the books, and advised future students to do the same.

‘‘We played that much basketball, I think we’d go insane if we didn’t,’’ she said.

‘‘Don’t quit your sport. It’s better to play a sport and study rather than just study.’’