Record of changes for Classical Hebrew Extension
All changes made to the Classical Hebrew Extension 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.
For more information, contact: curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au
New Classical Hebrew Extension prescriptions and amendments to the Stage 6 Extension syllabus
(Official Notice NESA 30/23)
Effective: Term 4, 2024
Prescriptions for the HSC Classical Hebrew Extension course 2025–2027 have been released. A related amendment to the Stage 6 Classical Hebrew Extension syllabuses has also been made.
Implementation of the new course prescriptions and the amended Classical Hebrew Extension syllabus will commence with the 2025 HSC.
Amendment to the syllabus:
- New prescribed commentary:
Talmud Bavli edition: The expanded translation section of the Koren Talmud Bavli (EXCLUDING the following sections: “Notes”, “Background” “Halakha” and “Language”) – Steinzaltz, A (2019) Koren Talmud Bavli TOBY Press.
Schools are reminded that the study of texts prescribed for any Higher School Certificate course may not begin before the completion of the Year 11 course. This exclusion applies to study in Year 11 of this course and Year 11 in other subjects.
Clarification of changes to HSC course prescriptions for Classical Languages and Languages and Literature courses
(Official Notice NESA 19/22)
The HSC course prescriptions for Classical Hebrew Extension have been extended for an additional year with some amendments (last HSC 2024). Effective Term 4, 2022.
Prescriptions 2023–2024
Biblical text prescription
Proverbs 1, 2, 10 and 26.
Talmud Babli prescription
Tractate Shabbat, page 21a from ‘Amar Rav Huna: Pesilot U’shemanim…’ to page 24b up to and including: ‘D’Rav Bruna Amar Rav Ve’Lo Mesay'may’.
Changes to HSC course prescriptions for Languages and Literature and Classical Languages courses
(Official Notice NESA 27/21)
Official notice NESA 19/22 replaces NESA 27/21.
Amended Classical Hebrew Extension course prescriptions for 2021–2023
(Official Notice NESA 30/20)
Effective: Immediately
NESA has amended the Classical Hebrew Extension course prescriptions.
Implementation commences Term 4, 2020.
New Stage 6 school-based assessment requirements
(Official Notice NESA 29/17)
New school-based assessment requirements are to be implemented from Term 1, 2018 for Year 11 and Term 4, 2018 for Year 12. Course-specific assessment requirements are included in the assessment and reporting materials. Sample assessment schedules for Year 11 and Year 12 are available.
New Classical Hebrew prescriptions and amendments to Stage 6 syllabuses
(Official Notice BOSTES 04/14)
Prescriptions for the HSC Classical Hebrew Extension course 2016–2023 have been released. BOSTES is also releasing prescriptions for the HSC Classical Hebrew Continuers course 2019–2023 to align the end date of the prescriptions for both courses. Minor related amendments to the Stage 6 Classical Hebrew Continuers and Extension syllabuses have also been made.
Implementation of the amended Classical Hebrew Extension syllabus will commence with the 2016 HSC. Implementation of the amended Classical Hebrew Continuers syllabus will commence with the Preliminary Course in 2018 and first HSC exam in 2019.
Key amendments to the syllabus include:
- removal of information relating to text rotation (Continuers and Extension). This information has been included in the course prescription documents
- inclusion of two additional conjugations, Pu’al and Hoph’al in the Grammar section – Items for Analysis (Continuers).
New Classical Hebrew prescriptions and amendments to Stage 6 syllabuses
(Official Notice BOSTES 04/14)
For the content of this official notice, see the ‘Syllabus amendments’ section above.
Changes from current exam specifications
Section I will include a question on an extract or extracts from one or more of the prescribed texts, worth 10 marks. There will be no choice. The expected length for the response is included as a guide. It is presented as the approximate number of exam writing booklet pages (based on average-sized handwriting), and/or an approximate number of words. Students will not be penalised for responses of excess length: they may write less than or more than what is expected, and their responses will be marked on their merits.
The total number of marks in Section I is reduced from 35 marks to 30 marks, with a corresponding increase in Section II. The additional marks in Section II include grammar questions on unseen texts.