The Higher School Certificate (HSC) is the culmination of schooling and the highest educational award students can achieve at school in New South Wales. The HSC examinations are what students work towards throughout their HSC year and they contribute 50 percent of their final HSC mark, with the other 50 percent coming from the school-based formal assessment program. Year 12 students continue with their school-based assessments throughout Terms 2 and 3. 

Students will sit written exams at the same time as everyone else in the state studying the same course. Students who study a course with a practical or performance exam are required to submit a major work or performance in Term 3, prior to the written examinations.

The HSC exams for the following courses include performance exams or submitted works:

• Dance
• Design and Technology
• Drama
• English Extension 2
• Languages
• Music
• Society and Culture
• Textiles and Design
• Visual Arts.

See hand-in dates for all submitted works.

There is a range of resources available to help students prepare for exams including study tips and materials, what to expect in the exam and the exam papers and the previous year's marking guidelines.

Bringing the right equipment to examinations

Students should bring the equipment they need and know what equipment is allowed for each Trial and HSC examination. Make sure that equipment is in good working order, because misadventure applications will not be upheld for equipment failure.

Students can bring the following items into their exams:

• black pens (no pens with ink that can be erased )
• pencils (must be at least 2B), erasers and a sharpener
• a ruler marked in millimetres and centimetres
• highlighter pens
• a clear bottle of water with no label
• a non-programmable watch, which you must take off, place on your desk in clear view and not touch during the exam.

You need to bring certain equipment (like a calculator) for some exams. Check the list of equipment for specific exams on Students Online or the NESA website. When equipment is listed for an exam, it means that you might need it to answer some questions. If equipment is listed as optional, it is not essential for answering any questions, but you can bring and use it if you wish.

In December, your HSC results will be available on Students Online and sent to you by email and SMS. The first page of your Record of Achievement will list each HSC course you completed and the corresponding results. 

NESA will provide credentials and VET qualifications as free PDF documents on Students Online in the Certificates/eRecord section until 30 June 2023. Credentials  be printed directly from these PDFs, or students can apply for a printed copy from NESA for a small fee in the Results Services section. If students are eligible for the HSC, they will receive a hard copy testamur in the mail in January.

Year 12 Student Checklist

Term 2

• Get my personal HSC exam timetable from Students Online.
• Check that all my exams appear, including performance and optional exams.
• Check my exam centre location(s).

Term 3

• Confirm my dates for project submissions, performance exams and oral exams.
• Submit projects on the due dates.
• Attend performance and oral exams.

Term 4

• Check my exam timetable and the equipment I need.
• Attend and make a serious attempt at every exam.
• Submit an illness/misadventure application if required.
• Check my assessment ranks in Students Online after the last exam.
• Check that my Students Online account Personal Details section:
  • uses my personal email address, not my school email address, and change to personal email address if required
  • has my correct home address for the HSC testamur to be posted to and correct the address if required.
• Note my NESA student number and NESA PIN so I can get my results online.

If students or families have any questions regarding their HSC examinations please speak with Dr Bourne or Mrs McGillicuddy.

Source: NSW Education Standards Authority