Essential Educational Resources for Australian Teachers and Students

NSW is working with the Australian Government and all other states and territories in a joint endeavour to develop an Australian curriculum. Read more.

• In 2011 schools will continue to use the existing NSW K-12 syllabuses. (See Official Notice BOS 18/10)
• Board of Studies consultation with teachers about the draft senior secondary Australian curriculum content for English, mathematics, science and history will begin in Term 3.
• Read more about the Australian curriculum in New South Wales.
• Visit the ACARA website.

HSC-University Pathways for talented HSC students 2011

From 2011, talented students who have completed an HSC course early can apply to begin their university studies and fast-track their first university degrees under HSC–University Pathways.

The Draft Geography Shape Paper – consultation begins on Phase 2 of the Australian curriculum

During Term 3 the Board of Studies is consulting with teachers and the public to coordinate NSW’s feedback on the draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Geography released by ACARA for consultation from 21 June to 27 August 2010.

ACARA’s timeline indicates the draft shape paper for the arts will be released from 1 September 2010 and for languages in late 2010.

Complete the Board’s online survey for the draft Shape Paper for Geography.

WriteOn writing competition

Send your entries to the Board’s exciting new WriteOn competition for NSW primary students. Entries close 17 September.

Read more.

Take part in the Board’s online consultation

Approved NSW School Providers Delivering Courses to Overseas Students

From October 2010 the Board of Studies will be responsible for approving schools seeking to deliver courses to overseas students in NSW. Read the draft Guidelines for Approved NSW School Providers Delivering Courses to Overseas Students and take part in the Board’s online consultation survey, available until 25 August 2010.

Stage 6 mathematics – online survey

Complete the online survey on revised Stage 6 HSC mathematics assessment requirements and exam specifications by 10 September 2010.

HSC exam timetable

Students and parents – The 2010 Higher School Certificate (HSC) examination timetable is now available. The examination period is from Thursday, 14 October 2010 to Wednesday, 10 November 2010.

The timetable also includes the School Certificate Test Timetable.

Review of NSW School Certificate

The Board of Studies is reviewing the School Certificate with an initial report to be released at the end of 2010. No changes will be made to the 2010 School Certificate. Read more.

Have you received your HSC PIN card?

Every 2010 HSC student should now have a handy PIN card containing their HSC Personal Identification Number (PIN), giving them access to Students Online and their HSC results in December.

Read more about the HSC PIN card

2010 HSC examinations and assessment changes

Syllabuses and related examination and assessment materials have been updated to reflect assessment and examination changes for the Preliminary and HSC courses in 2010. Please go to the HSC Syllabuses section of the Board's website to view these important documents.

Please refer to 2010 HSC IMPORTANT CHECKLIST!

Read more about the 2010 HSC Changes including frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Onscreen marking in the SC and HSC

The successful use of onscreen marking for a number of SC and HSC exams is part of the Board's ongoing and often world-leading research and development into the best ways to use computers and technology in exams. Read more.

View the six-minute video to hear for yourself what 2009 SC and HSC markers said about onscreen marking.

Parents’ Guide to the NSW Primary Syllabuses

The Board of Studies has developed the Parents’ Guide to the NSW Primary Syllabuses to help parents follow their child’s early learning and to help them talk with teachers about day-to-day classroom activities and their child’s progress.

The guide provides some examples of the kinds of things children can learn in each of the key learning areas in each stage of primary school.

You can read the Parents’ Guide on this website or download it as a PDF document that can be printed. The Guide is also available in several community languages.

HSC Results 2009

• HSC Results are available from Students Online.
• View the HSC merit lists and performance data.
• Photographs of the 2009 HSC First in Course ceremony are now available for families and local media.
• Video coverage of the 2009 HSC First in Course event can be viewed on the Sydney Morning Herald website.

How your HSC works

If you’re an HSC student or the parent of an HSC student, or planning on being an HSC student some day soon, we've got nine steps that show you how the Higher School Certificate works. Read more

HSC: All My Own Work

Teachers and students – The HSC: All My Own Work program is designed to help Higher School Certificate students to follow the principles and practices of good scholarship. This includes understanding and valuing ethical practices when locating and using information as part of their HSC studies. The program consists of five modules and is available in online and downloadable formats. From 2009, all students undertaking Preliminary or HSC courses must complete the HSC: All My Own Work program (or its equivalent) before the school’s submission of students’ Preliminary or HSC entries.

Special Examination Provisions

Want to know more about School Certificate and Higher School Certificate Special Examination Provisions? A series of frequently asked questions on the topic are now available on Students Online. Statistics on 2008 applications and independent audits of the 2008 program are now online. Read more.

Assessment Resource Centre

Teachers and parents - Student work samples in the Assessment Resource Centre will assist teachers in reporting student achievement using grades A to E. Samples that illustrate the standards at each grade are available for Stages 1 to 5. New samples have recently been added. Also available Reporting using Grades FAQ's (PDF) and Standards-based assessing and reporting (PowerPoint)

Attention HSC students! Log in to Students Online for past HSC exam papers, course syllabuses, instant multiple choice quizzes and more.

See the Video demo of Students Online and read the Media Release to learn more.

Replacement Certificates

The Office of the Board of Studies provides replacement statements for lost or mislaid certificates issued by the Board of Studies, past Boards or the New South Wales Department of Education. Replacement statements can be provided for: Intermediate Certificates (to 1964), Leaving Certificate (to 1966), School Certificate (from 1965), Higher School Certificate (from 1967), TER (Tertiary Entrance Rank) (to 1996 only) and Year 10, 11 or 12 Statement of Attainments/Result Notice.

HSC and SC – test yourself

HSC and School Certificate Students – Visit the HSC and School Certificate multiple choice quiz self-testing service. 29 HSC course examinations and the 5 School Certificate tests contain multiple choice sections. Selections from these past papers are available here to assist you in your studies. Examples from recent exams and tests have been added. Read more about the multiple choice quizzes.

Syllabus feedback

An important part of the Board of Studies’ continuous improvement program is feedback from teachers, students and other interested people. To give your view on syllabus and other curriculum matters, complete the Syllabus Feedback Form.

Results Analysis Package

Principals – The Results Analysis Package (RAP) has been specially developed to help principals and teachers analyse their Higher School Certificate and School Certificate results. Download a Results Analysis Package order form.

Respect and Responsibility

Teachers, students and parents - As part of the NSW Government’s action plan for values education, the Board of Studies coordinated a project during 2006 focusing on the values of Respect and Responsibility. This included a Schools Forum involving students, teachers, parents and community members from government and non-government schools. This website contains excerpts from the Forum on Respect and Responsibility in audio, video, and text formats. Other aspects of the project on this site are curriculum mapping K-10 which identifies opportunities to incorporate respect and responsibility into teaching as well as resources to promote respect and responsibility in education. There are also links to other websites on values education.