Record of changes for English EAL/D
All changes made to the English EAL/D syllabus are recorded here. Learn about these updates.
About the record of changes
This record details amendments to the syllabus, school-based assessment and exams for the course.
Changes are also communicated via NESA official notices or news items in NESA News.
HSC English Prescriptions extended to 2026
(Official Notice NESA 14/24)
NESA has extended English Stage 6 course prescriptions (that were due to expire for HSC 2025) to HSC 2026.
The English Stage 6 Prescriptions: Modules, Electives and Texts applies to the following courses:
Extension to English Stage 6 prescriptions to HSC 2025
(Official notice NESA 11/22)
The English Stage 6 prescriptions have been extended for 2 years for English Advanced, English Standard, English EAL/D, English Studies and English Extension 1 courses.
See English Stage 6 Prescriptions: Modules, Electives and Texts (2019–2026) (PDF 560.06KB). Last HSC 2025.
Errata – Changes to Performance Band Descriptions
(Official Notice NESA 50/19)
Effective: Immediately
NESA has corrected publication errors in the Performance Band Descriptions for English EAL/D displayed on NESA’s website.
Students and teachers can be assured that the version of the Performance Band Descriptions being used for the 2019 HSC standard setting process is accurate.
Update to process for delivering audio files for HSC exams with a listening component
(Official Notice NESA 31/19)
Effective: Immediately
HSC Presiding officers will no longer be given CDs of audio files for HSC exams with a listening component (except CCAFL courses). Instead, principals are required to nominate an authorised person to download MP3 audio files.
The audio files will be available on Schools Online one hour prior to the relevant HSC exam.
New Stage 6 syllabuses and school-based assessment requirements
(Official Notice NESA 39/17)
New syllabuses and school-based assessment requirements are to be implemented from Term 1, 2018 for Year 11 and Term 4, 2018 for Year 12. The course will be examined for the first time for the HSC in 2019. Support materials, examination specifications and sample examination materials are available.
Errata – Amendments to the text requirements for the new English Syllabuses
(Official Notice NESA 19/17)
Schools are advised that the NESA Board has amended the HSC text requirements relating to prose fiction for the new English Standard, English Advanced and English EAL/D Stage 6 syllabuses for implementation with Year 11 from 2018.
The following changes have been made to the Year 11 and Year 12 Course Structure and Requirements:
English Standard and English EAL/D
In Year 12 students are required to closely study three types of prescribed texts, one drawn from each of the following categories:
- prose fiction
- poetry OR drama
- film OR media OR nonfiction
English Advanced
In Year 12 students are required to closely study four prescribed texts, one drawn from each of the following categories:
- Shakespearean drama
- prose fiction
- poetry OR drama
The remaining text may be film, media or nonfiction text or may be selected from one of the categories above.
To clarify and strengthen course requirements for both Year 11 and Year 12 a further amendment includes the addition of the following point:
Across Stage 6 the selection of texts must give students experience of the following:
- a range of types of texts inclusive of prose fiction, drama, poetry, nonfiction, film, media and digital texts