Extra time to rest
Rules and Procedures for the Higher School Certificate examinations
If you have further questions, please contact the Student Support Services on
(02) 9367 8117 or
(02) 9367 8325
This leaflet should be distributed to students granted the use of extra time to rest, their parents, presiding officers, examination supervisors and Year 12 coordinators.
What is extra time to rest?
Extra time to rest is extra time in which students:
- must turn over or close their examination questions and answers
- must NOT read, write, or make notes
- may stretch, move, rest or refocus.
How is extra time to rest calculated?
The maximum amount of time granted is given as a rate of minutes per half-hour of examination time, usually five minutes per half-hour of examination time. The total amount of extra time is calculated by multiplying this rate by the number of half-hour intervals.
Does the extra time have to be taken at half-hourly intervals?
No. The student can determine the times at which rest breaks are to be taken and must advise the examination supervisor whenever they wish to take a rest break. The supervisor is to time the amount of time taken to rest and ensure it does not exceed the maximum time allowed. For example, in a three-hour examination, the total amount of extra time to rest taken must not exceed 30 minutes, therefore a student may choose to take, for example, one 15-minute, one 10-minute and one 5-minute rest break.
Do students have to be in separate supervision to take extra time to rest?
Students approved extra time to rest are automatically granted separate or small-group supervision. Most students choose to use small-group supervision but some students may elect to sit with the main body of students and be placed at the front or back of the examination room. Either option is permitted, but students should be aware that if they elect to sit with the main body of students, they will more than likely still be doing their examination when the other students have finished and are leaving the room, due to the additional time granted.
Should students practise with extra time to rest in examination situations?
Yes. Students will benefit from being aware of how to use the rest break provision to best suit their examination needs. For example, some students may require the time to organise their thoughts at the beginning of the examination after reading the examination questions. Other students may benefit from the provision by resting after writing an extended response. An awareness of the examination format and individual examination needs will assist students in using rest breaks to best suit their needs.