Higher School Certificate - HSC

Students must study at least 12 units of courses to complete the Preliminary; this is traditionally undertaken in Year 11.

Students must study at least 10 units of courses to complete the Higher School Certificate and successfully complete the Higher School Certificate Examinations; this is traditionally undertaken in Year 12.

  • The Year 11 Preliminary program occurs over Terms 1, 2 and 3
  • The Year 12 HSC program occurs over Terms 4 (of Year 11), 1, 2 and 3

Student progress in the school-based components of the Preliminary and HSC is determined by how well the student has achieved in a range of assessment tasks. The number of assessment tasks will vary from course to course but usually number between 4 and 6 tasks. The nature of assessment tasks will vary across courses, some examples of likely tasks include:

  • Oral tasks
  • Essays
  • Written examinations
  • Practical tasks

Every student is supplied with an Assessment Handbook which details the scheduling and nature of all assessment tasks.

Useful Links

NSW Board of Studies website: www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au

  • Course syllabus
  • Past HSC examination papers

HSC Online website: www.hsc.csu.edu.au

  • Support notes for students undertaking HSC courses