The countdown to the release of 2011 Higher School Certificate is on.

For more than 72,000 students the big day dawns at 6am on Wednesday December 14 when HSC results will be available online or via SMS and telephone.

Higher School Certificate summaries arrive in the mail on Friday December 16 and award documents on January 10.

"For many the results of the HSC will help determine future studies and careers," said Carol Taylor, chief executive of the Board of Studies NSW.

"It's important to remember that HSC results are more than just an exam mark.

"They reflect a student's achievements across the entirety of their course.

"HSC results allow a student to see how their achievements compare to other students doing the same course, not just in 2011, but from year-to-year.

"The Board wishes everyone all the very best for their HSC results," Ms Taylor said.

Here's a quick guide to HSC results and services:

Assessment rankings

• Assessment rankings show the order in which a school ranks students in each HSC course they have undertaken. They are based on assessments undertaken throughout the year.
• They are now available at Students Online.

HSC results online

• From 6.00am on December 14 two websites will link directly to HSC results. They are www.hscresults.nsw.edu.au and www.hsc-results.nsw.edu.au. The Board's homepage will also carry a link to results.
• From December 15 Students Online will host HSC results.

HSC results by SMS

• Register now to receive HSC results via SMS from 6am on December 14 by texting the student number and PIN to 0427 659 900. A return message confirms successful registration. Service provider charges can apply.

Automated telephone service

• Call 1300 669 248 and follow the voice prompts from 6am on December 14 to receive HSC results over the phone. The average cost of a call from a landline in NSW is 30 cents.

HSC Results Inquiry Centre

• The Board's Results Inquiry Centre opens at 8am on December 14 to answer questions about final results and the processes used to determine them. From December 15 it operates from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and is closed on public holidays and from 12 noon on Christmas and New Years Eve until April 27.
• Call 13 11 12 on a landline for 30 cents from anywhere in NSW.

HSC Results Check Service

• The Results Check Service can confirm if a result is processed correctly. It is availalbe from December 15 until April 27 via Students Online. It costs $29 for English Standard and Advanced, and $15 for all other courses that have final written exams.
• From December 19 students can order their raw marks for each paper as well as request a copy of their exam responses. The raw mark service is $5.25 per course while responses cost $31 a course. This is in addition to the result check fee.

A student number and HSC PIN are essential to access results on December 14.

Forgotten PINs can be retrieved via Students Online or reissued over the phone. Call the Board of Studies on 9367 8001 between 8.30am-5pm Monday to Friday.