Do you risk disappointment and look at your NCEA results right away, or do you wait a little bit longer and live in a world in which you might get excellence endorsements in every subject?
Former Taieri College pupil Hannah Grant chose to take the risk and was pleased to find she got the marks she wanted.
The 17-year-old said it was good to have it all over and done with.
''It's a chapter over, and now I get to start a new one. I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of the summer and not worrying about results any more.''
Hannah said she was now preparing to immerse herself in health sciences at the University of Otago this year.
Fellow former Taieri College pupil Jarrod Casey was pragmatic. The 18-year-old said results had to be checked sooner or later.
''So I chose sooner - just to get it over and done with.
''The sooner you know, the more time you have to plan ahead.''
Jarrod was also pleased with his results and said they put him in good stead to study anatomy and nutrition at the University of Otago this year.
The pair were among about 163,000 pupils nationally who went online to check their results last week.
New Zealand Qualifications Authority deputy chief executive Richard Thornton said school result summaries and records of achievement could now be ordered and would be mailed to candidates.
Marked examination papers would be returned to pupils from late January.
They would have until February 21 to apply for reviews of their NCEA results.
Those who sat scholarship examinations could view their results online in mid-February.
