HSC Syllabuses
NSW HSC (Stage 6) Syllabuses, Support Materials and Examination Resources
Looking for Stages 4 and 5 (Years 7–10) Syllabuses or K-6 (Primary) Syllabuses?
Proposed changes to HSC examinations and school assessment
A3 HSC Multiple-choice answer sheet and writing booklet
- A3 multiple-choice answer sheet and writing booklet
- Generic (non-course specific) examples of the A3 multiple-choice answer sheet and writing booklet to be used in 2008 for Information Processes and Technology, General Mathematics and Mathematics are available.
- Answer sheet (PDF, 4 pages, 84 KB)
- Writing booklet (PDF, 4 pages, 81 KB)
- Published 25 July 2008
HSC Events and exams 2008
Distinction Courses
- HSC Distinction Courses - An Information Booklet
- The aim of this booklet is to provide an introduction to the Board of Studies' Distinction Courses. Potential students, their parents, teachers and other interested people can all use this booklet to find out what Distinction Courses are, who can study them, what is involved, and what it is like to study them.
- Information booklet (PDF, 13 pages, 76 KB)
- Information booklet (Word, 13 pages, 124 KB)
- Distinction Courses 2008
- Distinction courses will be offered for study in 2008. Distinction courses are challenging university level HSC courses especially designed for high-ability HSC accelerants. These courses consist of 2 units of study that are additional to the 10 units required for the HSC study pattern. As eligible students will have already completed some units of HSC courses, the inclusion of a 2 Unit Distinction Course in a student's HSC study program is more feasible in terms of time commitment and workload. As a general rule a student may only undertake one Distinction Course.
- Results in Distinction Courses can be counted towards the calculation of the Universities Admission Index (UAI) if they are among the student's best ten units in Board Developed HSC Courses.
- Distinction Courses are delivered through universities through distance education, including compulsory residential schools and the internet. They provide an opportunity for a type of study that otherwise HSC students might not gain. They are offered in areas outside the range of other HSC courses, thus providing a broader perspective across curriculum areas and preparation for future university study.
- As in past years Distinction Courses will be held in Philosophy, Cosmology and Comparative Literature.
- To be eligible for consideration in a Distinction Course a student must complete one HSC course at the highest course level a year ahead of the student's Year cohort. Other selection criteria also apply.
- Student selection criteria, course content, distance education processes and student assessment will follow the same pattern as in previous years.
- See the Higher School Certificate Distinction Courses: An Information Booklet for full details about the Distinction Courses Program.
- An Expression of Interest to undertake a Distinction Course in 2008 can be registered by an eligible student completing and returning the accompanying form through the school principal to the Office of the Board of Studies no later than Friday 21 September 2007.
- Distinction Courses 2008: Expression of Interest (PDF, 1 page, 25 KB)
- Published 16 August 2007
- The receipt of an Expression of Interest will serve as a preliminary indication of interest in attending the Distinction Courses Information Day that is planned to be held in Sydney on Friday 23 November 2007.
- Contact
-
Christine JacksonSenior Policy Officer, Policy and Public Affairs, Board of Studies NSWchristine.jackson@bos.nsw.edu.au
- phone
- +61 2 9367 8092
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HSC Resources and Textbooks
- HSC Resources and Textbooks
- This document provides a subject by subject guide to resources and textbooks that are available to support the New HSC.
- PDF (34 pages - 240 KB)
- MS Word 98 (34 pages - 260 KB)
- Updated April 2007
- Higher School Certificate 2002 Update
- Provides information, updates and links to resources relating to the 2002 Higher School Certificate.
- Stage 6 English Forum
- 7-8 March 1998
- In its HSC White Paper, Securing Their Future, the Government recognises the urgent need to redevelop the Higher School Certificate English curriculum.
- A key element in the Review and Consultation Phase of the Syllabus Development Process for Stage 6 English was the Stage 6 English Forum. The purpose of the Forum was to seek advice on the future development and directions of Stage 6 English courses, including advice on the merits of the options of offering Literature as a separate course or of offering Extension English that would include Literature.
- Securing Their Future Newsletter No. 16
- also contains important answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the New HSC.
- Published 27 August 1999
- Setting standards for the New HSC
- Published in Board Bulletin Vol 9 No 6, September 2000
Rules and Procedures for 2008 Higher School Certificate Candidates
- This booklet outlines the rules and procedures for the 2008 Higher School Certificate.
- Rules and Procedures for 2008 HSC Candidates (PDF, 20 pages, 175 KB)
- Published 3 March 2008
Studying for the NSW Higher School Certificate - An Information Booklet for Year 10 Students, 2008
- This booklet is produced each year to assist students who are currently in Year 10. It may also assist other HSC candidates, such as those studying part-time or resuming their studies.
- Studying for the NSW Higher School Certificate - An Information Booklet for Year 10 Students, 2008 (PDF, 21 pages, 370 KB)
- Published 1 July 2008
Syllabus Resources
- New HSC Course Description files (PDF, 146 pages, 2.7 MB)
- Word version (146 pages, 1.3 MB)
- RTF version (146 pages, 2.4 MB)
- Updated 25 July 2007
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This
file can be downloaded from here as a Word 97/98/2000 word-processor
document, an RTF (Rich Text Format) word-processor file or
an Acrobat PDF file. HINT - To download the DOC or
RTF files, we suggest that you right-click on the appropriate
link - a dialogue box will appear. Select Save Target
as... and save the file to your hard disc.
- Frequently Asked Questions about the New HSC syllabuses
- Read answers to frequently asked questions. Now that schools are preparing to implement the New HSC syllabuses questions on aspects of the curriculum and its implementation are being raised with Board officers attending conferences, forums and meetings with principals and teachers. We will maintain this page during the implementation phase so that teachers are provided with accurate and timely information. This information will be updated regularly as further questions arise.
- Securing Their Future Newsletter No. 16
- Contains important answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the New HSC.
- Published 27 August 1999
- Change to the format of the Higher School Certificate Italian and Spanish Extension Examination Papers from 2005
- Read the full details in the February 2005 edition of the Board Bulletin Volume 14 Number 1 (BOS 09/05)
- Italian Extension - Exam paper fornt page (PDF, 1 page, 28 KB)
- Spanish Extension - Exam paper fornt page (PDF, 1 page, 27 KB)
Assessment Resources
- Assessment - A Standards-Referenced Approach
- Resources for Staff Development, July 2000
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The Board of Studies provides this package as an aid to schools in implementing assessment and reporting for the New HSC. Schools will be able to use this material in a number of settings: staff meetings, faculty meetings and parent information evenings.
The package contains four sections. Each can be delivered separately within a 20-30 minute period, allowing some time for discussion. Individual slides or groups of slides can form the basis of a discussion. The four sections address the four key questions on assessment and reporting in the New HSC:
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- How is a standards-referenced approach used in the New HSC? (PDF, 340 KB)
- PowerPoint version (1.5 MB)
- What principles guide assessment in the New HSC Examination? (PDF, 340 KB)
- PowerPoint version (408 KB)
- How are these principles applied in the specimen papers? (PDF, 340 KB)
- PowerPoint version (340 KB)
- What is required in school assessment programs? (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- PowerPoint version (340 KB)
- Assessment support for the New HSC
- PDF (20 pages, 176 KB)
- It contains -
- Introduction
- Board of Studies Requirements for Internal Assessment
- Moving to a Standards-referenced Approach
- Developing an Assessment Program for a Standards-referenced Approach
- Designing Assessment Tasks Using the Examination and Assessment Supplement
- A Glossary of Key Words
- Some frequently asked questions about assessment in the New Higher School Certificate (PDF, 4 pages, 28 KB)
- Word version (archived in Zip format)
- The New Higher School Certificate will result in changes to assessment practice, but these changes will occur over several years commencing in 2001. The following frequently asked questions deal with changes to assessment practice.
- Setting standards for the New HSC
- Published in Board Bulletin Vol 9 No 6, September 2000
- Principles for Developing Marking Guidelines for the New HSC Examinations in a Standards-Referenced Framework
- Published in Board Bulletin Vol 9 No 3, May 2000
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