The NSW Higher School Certificate
Information for Year 10 Students and Parents
The NSW HSC
The Higher School Certificate (HSC) is the highest educational award you can gain in New South Wales schools. The HSC:
is an internationally recognised credential provides a strong foundation for the future
is standards-based. Students receive HSC marks that indicate the standard they have achieved.
Board Developed Course (BDC) and Board Endorsed Course (BEC)
Board Developed Course HSC exam counts towards HSC may count towards the ATAR* includes some VET** courses includes Life Skills courses
* Australian Tertiary Admission Rank ** Vocational Education and Training
Board Endorsed Course no HSC exam school-based assessment used counts towards HSC cannot contribute to the ATAR includes some VET courses
HSC Course Structure
All courses in the HSC have a unit value
Most courses are 2 units
2 units = 4 hours of instruction per week 120 hours per year = 100 marks 1 unit = 60 hours per year = 50 marks
All 2-unit HSC courses have equal status
Requirements for the HSC
Preliminary Course
minimum of 12 units students must satisfactorily complete the Preliminary course before commencing the corresponding HSC course
HSC Course
minimum of 10 units
Requirements for the HSC
Both the Preliminary and HSC Courses must include:
At least 6 units of Board Developed Courses, including at least 2 units of English
At least 3 courses of 2 units value or greater At least 4 subjects (including English) At most, 6 units of courses in Science can count towards HSC eligibility
English Choices
English Advanced
Preliminary Extension English
HSC Extension 1 HSC Extension 2
English Standard
English as a Second Language (ESL) Fundamentals of English English Studies Content Endorsed Course (Pilot)
Mathematics Choices
Mathematics
Preliminary Mathematics Extension 1 HSC Mathematics Extension 1
HSC Mathematics Extension 2
General Mathematics Mathematics Applied Board Endorsed Course
Languages
Different courses:
Beginners Continuers Heritage (Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean) Background Speakers (Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean)
Eligibility criteria apply to all Beginners courses, all Heritage courses and Continuers courses in Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese and Korean Heritage Languages courses first offered in 2011 (first HSC examination in 2012)
Extension Courses
HSC Preliminary Extension Courses: Extension Courses:
English Mathematics English 1 and 2 Mathematics 1 and 2 History Music Some Languages Some Vocational Education & Training (VET) courses
Life Skills Courses
Designed for a small percentage of students with special education needs Students curriculum options determined through collaborative curriculum planning process Have Board Developed status Can count towards HSC Cannot contribute to ATAR
VET in the HSC
Industry Curriculum Frameworks
Vocation Context
Requirements from the Training Package
Competency-based assessment
HSC Context
Requirements from the Board of Studies
Optional HSC Examination (for 240-hour courses) Assessment requirements
VET courses let you complete a workplace credential while still at school
Qualifications are recognised Australia-wide (AQF Australian Qualifications Framework)
VET Industry Curriculum Frameworks Board Developed Courses
Automotive Business Services Construction Electrotechnology Human Services Information Technology Metal and Engineering
Primary Industries
Retail Services Tourism and Events
Entertainment Industry
Financial Services (draft) Hospitality
Students must complete 35 hours of mandatory work placement per 120 hours of coursework.
HSC: All My Own Work
is a program designed to help HSC students follow the principles and practices of good scholarship includes understanding and valuing of ethical practices when locating and using information as part of HSC studies
Students must complete HSC: All My Own Work or its equivalent before they can be entered for any Preliminary or HSC course.
Satisfactory Completion of a Course
Students must:
follow the course developed or endorsed by the Board apply themselves with diligence and sustained effort achieve some or all of the course outcomes complete work placement for VET Board Developed Courses make a genuine attempt at assessment tasks that total more than 50% of the available school assessment marks for HSC courses only.
Reporting HSC
All HSC courses listed with Assessment Mark, Examination Mark, HSC Mark and Performance Band
All Preliminary courses listed All years listed, with the most recent year first
The Record of Achievement
How is the HSC Mark Determined?
Internal assessment
External HSC exam HSC mark
50%
50% 100%
School-Based Assessment
Why is it important?
Contributes 50% of HSC mark (and ATAR if student is eligible) Is a course completion requirement Is used to calculate an HSC mark in the case of a successful Illness/Misadventure appeal
HSC Examinations
Contribute 50% of HSC mark
VET exams are optional Some courses have practical examinations and/or submitted works or projects in addition to the written HSC examination Written examinations are held in October and November each year
VET Credentials
VET Assessment
Assessment is competency based Assessment of relevant tasks counts towards AQF VET qualification component
What is the difference between the HSC and the ATAR?
The HSC and the ATAR
HSC is for all students reports student achievement in terms of a standard achieved in individual courses presents a profile of student achievement across a broad range of subjects ATAR
is for students wishing to gain a place at a university is a rank NOT a mark provides information about how students perform overall in relation to other students provides the discrimination required by universities for the selection process
ATAR Eligibility Requirements
Satisfactory completion of:
at least 10 units of Board Developed Courses including 2 units of English at least 4 Board Developed Courses
at least 8 units of Category A courses
no more than 2 units of Category B courses
Calculating the ATAR
Board of Studies NSW
Raw Exam
+
Moderated Assessment Marks
Universities Admissions Centre The scaled mark for each course is based on the quality of the candidates in that course in that year Scaled
2 units of English + next best 8 units
ATAR
Key Considerations for Course Selection
Abilities
Interests/Motivation
Career aspirations and needs
Practical Considerations
Syllabus requirements Practical/Major work components Subject combinations
Consider:
What do I want for my future? What pathway best suits me? Ask for advice from:
teachers parents year adviser careers adviser students in Years 11 and 12 publications + website
Note: Universities, TAFE, employer groups, School, Board of Studies, UAC
