Accumulation of Preliminary and HSC courses
There is no time restriction on the accumulation of Preliminary courses. Students may accumulate HSC courses towards the Higher School Certificate over up to five years.
The five-year period will commence in the first year the student satisfactorily completes an HSC course. It will apply regardless of whether the student defers studies for one or more years during the five-year period. Accumulation of HSC courses cannot extend over more than a five-year period. The five-year period is a ‘rolling period’ so that students wishing to go beyond the five years will have the earliest year’s presentation deleted.
Students should submit a Higher School Certificate entry by the due date in any year in which they attempt an HSC course.
Students who are accumulating courses will receive a Record of Achievement or, in the case of candidates studying by self-tuition, a Result Notice for each calendar year of study. These cumulative transcripts will record all Preliminary or HSC courses satisfactorily completed, including repeat attempts.
On completion of the accumulation, all pattern of study requirements must have been met for both the Preliminary and HSC study patterns. They need not be met for each calendar year of accumulation.
Students who choose to accumulate must be aware that some courses, including Board Endorsed Courses, may be discontinued during the period of accumulation. In such cases, students may need to commence alternative courses to fulfil Higher School Certificate requirements.
Students who have completed the requirements for the award of the Higher School Certificate may continue to accumulate units beyond the minimum pattern of study.
In general, students may not count more than one 240-hour Board Developed Course in the one subject for the award of the Higher School Certificate.
Acceleration
Students may undertake Preliminary and/or HSC courses in advance of their usual cohort or in less than the Board’s stated indicative times. The exceptions are VET Industry Curriculum Framework Courses and Beginners language courses. Decisions about the acceleration of Higher School Certificate students will be made by principals in accordance with the principles contained in the Board’s Guidelines for Accelerated Progression (revised 2000) (available on the Board’s website).
Students may accelerate in all courses (grade advancement) or in one or more courses.
Acceleration must be based on the principle of compression of work, not omission of work. Students who accelerate in one or more courses must achieve the required outcomes of the courses, but in a shorter time frame (ie one or more years in advance of their cohort).
Accelerating students may count towards their Higher School Certificate results obtained in advance of their cohort. This means that acceleration, other than grade advancement, can be regarded as a form of accumulation.
For students accelerating by less than two years, schools should simply enter students for their accelerated course(s) for the School Certificate, Preliminary or HSC study pattern(s) via Schools Online.
Where the proposed advancement is for two years or more and is likely to lead to early entry for the secondary credentials, the principal must inform the Office of the Board of Studies prior to the acceleration of the student.
Assessment Certification and Examination Manual Section 8