HSC credentials
Higher School Certificate (Year 12)
1. Higher School Certificate testamur
This shows that a student is eligible for the HSC. It includes the student's name, school and the date of the award.
2. Higher School Certificate Record of Achievement
- Assessment mark - school-based assessment tasks measure performance in a wider range of course outcomes than can be tested in an external examination. Students are required to complete a number of assessment tasks for most courses which may include tests, written or oral assignments, practical activities, fieldwork and projects. Schools submit an HSC assessment mark based on performance in these tasks for every student in every course. The Board puts the marks through a process of moderation to allow a fair comparison of marks in each course across different schools.
- Examination mark - the examination mark for each course shows the student's performance in the Board's HSC examination for that course. The examination consists of a written paper, and for some courses may include speaking and listening examinations, practical examinations, or major works that are submitted for external marking. Each student's achievement is assessed and reported against set standards of performance.
- HSC mark - the HSC mark is a 50:50 combination of a student's external examination mark and school-based assessment mark for each course.
- Performance band - a student's HSC mark for each course will fall within one of six performance bands, where the highest achievement is Band 6 (90 - 100) and where the minimum standard expected is 50. A performance band of E1-E4 is shown for Extension courses. Each performance band is aligned to what a student at that level of performance typically knows, understands and can do.
The HSC does not report a single, overall score.
3. Course reports
Students receive an HSC course report for each course with an external examination that has been completed satisfactorily. The course report shows the student's assessment mark, examination mark, HSC mark and performance band with a description of what a student within that band typically knows, understands and can do. In most courses, it also has a graph showing where the student's HSC mark lies within the state distribution of all student performances in that course.
4. Higher School Certificate Result Summary
The result summary is issued to students when results are released in December. It provides a summary of a student's results before the final, more detailed documents are issued.
5. AQF VET Certificate
This certificate is awarded to students in Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses who successfully complete all requirements of an Australian Qualifications Framework VET Certificate.
6. VET Statement of Attainment
A Statement of Attainment is issued to students in VET courses who partially complete the requirements of an AQF VET Certificate.
7. Life Skills
Where students satisfactorily complete a Life Skills course, the course is listed on the Record of Achievement with the annotation ‘Refer to Profile of Student Achievement’. The Profile of Student Achievement provides details of the specific Life Skills syllabus outcomes achieved.
Record of Achievement (Year 11)
A Record of Achievement is awarded by the Board of Studies NSW to eligible students at the end of the HSC Preliminary Course in Year 11. It lists all courses satisfactorily completed in the Preliminary year for the HSC. No marks or grades are recorded on this certificate.
To satisfactorily complete 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.
Students must complete at least 12 units (most courses equal 2 units) to satisfy the requirements of the Preliminary HSC.
English is the only compulsory subject in the Preliminary study pattern.