Equipment checklist for HSC examinations
Examination advice
Reading time is for reading, and no writing or highlighting may be undertaken during reading time. The presiding officer will advise you when you may start writing.
Venue: Please check with your school or your examination coordinator for the venue where you will sit all your HSC written examinations.
Conduct: You must become familiar with the sections of the HSC Rules and Procedures for the Higher School Certificate Candidates booklet that relate to examination conduct. Please note that examination timetables are not to be taken into the examination room.
Tips and tools: Visit Students Online for information and advice about preparing for examinations, including study tips and materials and what to expect in the examination and paper.
You may only take equipment listed below into the examination room. No other equipment is allowed. Please also note:
- Mobile phones and electronic devices, such as organisers, MP3 players and electronic dictionaries, are not permitted in an examination room under any circumstances.
- When in the examination room, students must remove watches and place them in clear view on the examination table.
- Any equipment brought into the examination room will be subject to inspection before the examination commences.
- It is your responsibility to supply equipment that is in good working order. This includes calculators.
- Equipment failure is not grounds for an appeal under misadventure provisions.
- You are not permitted to borrow equipment during examinations.
- Supervisors will not be responsible for the safekeeping of any unauthorised material including mobile phones.
Equipment for all examinations
You are expected to provide for all of your examinations:
- black pens (blue is also acceptable but black is easier for markers to read)
- pencils, erasers, sharpener (use pencils where specifically directed)
- a ruler marked in millimetres and centimetres
- a highlighter pen.
Equipment for specific HSC examinations
This list details specific equipment that you are expected to provide for particular examinations. Only those examinations that require specific equipment are listed.
Agriculture
Automotive (VET)
Biology
Business Services (VET)
Business Studies
Chemistry
Construction (VET)
Earth and Environmental Science
- A Board-approved calculator¹
- A pair of compasses
- A protractor
- Set squares
Economics
Electrotechnology (VET)
Engineering Studies
- A Board-approved calculator¹
- A pair of compasses
- A protractor
- Set squares
- (optional) an ellipse/isometric circle drawing template
Entertainment Industry (VET)
General Mathematics
- A calculator²
- A pair of compasses
- A protractor
- Set squares
- (optional) a curve-drawing template³
Geography
- A Board-approved calculator¹
- A pair of dividers
- A pair of compasses
- A protractor
- Coloured pencils and/or coloured felt pens
- (optional) a hand-held magnifying glass
- (optional) a piece of string or thread for measuring
Hospitality (VET)
Industrial Technology
Information Processes and Technology
Please note that calculators are not permitted.
Information Technology (VET)
Languages – Use of dictionaries
The use of monolingual and/or bilingual print dictionaries is permitted in the Beginners, Continuers, Extension, Background Speakers and CCAFL written languages examinations (electronic dictionaries are not permitted). Dictionaries may be consulted during reading time and during the examination. Dictionaries may not be used in the Continuers or Extension examinations for classical languages – Latin, Classical Greek and Classical Hebrew.
Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1 and Mathematics Extension 2
- A Board-approved calculator¹
- A pair of compasses
- Set squares
- A protractor
- (optional) a curve-drawing template³
Metal and Engineering (VET)
Physics
- A Board-approved calculator¹
- A pair of compasses
- A protractor
- Set squares
Primary Industries (VET)
Retail Services (VET)
Senior Science
- A Board-approved calculator¹
- A pair of compasses
- A protractor
- Set squares
Software Design and Development
- (optional) a flowchart template
Please note that calculators are not permitted.
Tourism and Events (VET)
Notes
Current Board-approved calculators are listed on the Board’s HSC list of approved scientific calculators.
In the General Mathematics HSC examination, the approved list of scientific calculators does not apply. The criteria for the use of calculators in the General Mathematics HSC examination are in the Higher School Certificate Examination Timetable, and are reproduced below.
In the General Mathematics HSC examination students are permitted to use calculators, including graphics calculators.
- Calculators must be handheld and silent in operation.
- Permitted devices must be primarily calculators. For example, devices that include a calculator function among other apps or which incorporate a QWERTY keyboard are not permitted.
- Calculators that also operate as communication devices are not permitted.
- All memories and storage facilities must be cleared before the calculator is brought into the examination room (see below).
- Memory cards or other peripheral devices must not be brought into the examination room.
- Instruction booklets or cards (eg reference cards) on the operation of calculators are not permitted in the examination room. Candidates are expected to familiarise themselves with the calculator’s operation beforehand.
- Students may take into the School Certificate Mathematics test, or any HSC mathematics examination, templates for drawing curves and geometrical figures, measuring, constructing etc. Such templates may contain equations of simple curves (for example y=x², y=sin x, y=1/x) that can be drawn using the templates and decimal approximations (for example for pi, e), but no other printed formulae (such as sine rule, cosine rule, quadratic formulae, area and volume formulae). Acceptable templates include Mathomat, Mathomat Senior and Mathaid (Non Formulae).
Note: