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About the HSC

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The content on this page has moved to a new location.

Why has it moved?

We are migrating our website content to a new location on the NSW Government website so it's easier for you to find and read content.

All HSC information is now available at nsw.gov.au/NESA.

From 20 March, this page will no longer exist, and you will be automatically redirected to the NSW Government website.


School students in New South Wales generally work towards the Higher School Certificate or HSC in years 11 and 12. It is the highest level of attainment you can reach at school. Learn more about HSC courses, eligibility requirements and achievement pathways, including the HSC minimum standard.

The HSC is a huge operation each year, and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) oversees it. This section offers a snapshot of what it involves as we cater to students with a diverse range of abilities, backgrounds and goals.

Every year, we evaluate the HSC thoroughly to ensure it remains successful, inclusive and flexible. We consider changes and improvements, and consult on any changes that affect the wider education community. NESA Board members play an important role in supervising the HSC’s quality.

Enrolment snapshot

Each year we take a snapshot of HSC enrolments and publish these statistics.

View the latest HSC Enrolment Snapshot figures.

Courses

  • Students must complete at least 12 units of preliminary courses and 10 units of HSC courses, including English, to receive the HSC.
  • The three most popular elective subjects are Maths, Biology and Business Studies.
  • French, Japanese and Chinese are the most popular languages studied.
  • Hospitality, Construction and Business Services are the most popular VET courses.

Find out more about HSC courses.

Exams

  • The first HSC exams were sat in 1966.
  • More than 60,000 students will sit a compulsory English exam.
  • Around 350 students will sit their exams overseas.
  • Each exam paper will be reviewed at least six times before more than 700,000 papers are printed.
  • Exam papers will be printed under strict security, moved in guarded vehicles and tracked at every stage.

Learn more about how we develop and mark your exams plus how schools assess your marks.

Staff

  • 95 exam committees with a total of around 300 members will help develop the 123 written exams.
  • Over 7,500 supervisors and presiding officers will work in more than 750 exam centres.
  • Over 5,500 markers will mark exams in marking centres and online.
  • Over 800 support staff in a range of jobs – from monitoring scanners to packing artworks to driving forklifts – will help to make the HSC possible.
  • Everyone who works on the HSC is bound by strict security and confidentiality arrangements.

Find out how more about HSC roles and jobs.

Results

We will issue your HSC results online, by email and by text message. You can call the HSC Inquiry Centre on 1300 13 83 23 if you have questions about your results.

You will also receive several documents from NESA that show your achievements. See HSC Credentials for samples and explanations of each document, including Vocational Education and Training (VET) certificates and statements of attainment. You may also receive reports, references and other documents from your school about your attendance, punctuality, attitude and work experience.

Find out more about how your HSC results are determined and the moderation process used to produce your final mark.

Merit lists

We recognise high-achieving students in four merit lists:

  • First in Course, with a ceremony for these students in December each year
  • All Round Achievers, for students with results in the highest band in 10 or more units of HSC courses
  • Top Achievers, for students who achieve a top place in a course based on a result in the highest band
  • Distinguished Achievers, for students with a result in the highest band in one or more courses.

HSC minimum standard

Students in NSW will need a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy to receive the HSC from 2020.

The minimum standard will ensure students have the basic reading, writing and maths skills needed for everyday tasks and future learning.

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