HSC REQUIREMENTS

The following information outlines some important points in choosing your pattern of study in Years 11 and 12. In making your choices, please remember to pray about your decisions.

Candidates for the Higher School Certificate must undertake a program of study comprising at least: 12 Units of Preliminary Courses; and 10 Units of Higher School Certificate Courses

Both the Preliminary Course pattern and the HSC Course pattern must include:

At least six Units of Board Developed Courses

At least two Units of a Board Developed Course in English

At least three courses of two Units value (or greater); and At least four subjects

No more than six units of Preliminary Science courses and no more than 7 units of HSC Science courses, can contribute to Higher School Certificate eligibility.

Where a subject has both Preliminary and HSC Courses, the Preliminary subject must be completed before taking the relevant HSC subject. Some subjects are not divided into Preliminary and HSC components, e.g. Hospitality, Information and Digital Technology, Photography, Video and Digital Imaging, and TVET Courses. These courses can be counted as either Preliminary or HSC Units or both.

Certain exclusions apply in various instances, e g. Studies of Religion 1 Unit and Studies of Religion 2 Unit are mutually exclusive.

The HSC Record of Achievement is awarded by the NESA on completion of HSC Courses.

Minimum Literacy and Numeracy Standards for the HSC

Due to the Government initiative requiring students to achieve minimum Literacy and Numeracy Skills in order to obtain an HSC, students will need to show that they satisfy the minimum standards by successfully completing online Literacy and Numeracy Tests at some stage during Years 10-12 (or even after Year 12). Multiple attempts (four per year, but six when in Year 12) are allowed to successfully show achievement of the standards. Students will generally attempt the minimum Literacy and Numeracy Tests while in Year 10. Students who need to subsequently re-sit the tests to show they meet the required standard will have the opportunity to do so later in Year 10 and/or during Years 11 & 12. For sample questions that show examples of those that can be asked in the online Literacy and Numeracy tests, visit HSC minimum standard | NSW Education Standards

All My Own Work

NESA maintain high ethical standards with regard to the integrity of student work. By mid-Term 1 of Year 11, students are required to complete a program of study that ensures they know and understand principles of good scholarly procedures, such as not breaking copyright and not plagiarising other people’s work. This online study program, referred to as “All My Own Work”, is usually run towards the end of Year 10 (e.g. in term 4) and comprises 5 modules of work designed by NESA. Students need to show a satisfactory level of achievement in the program prior to being enrolled for Year 11 subjects with NESA.