Record of changes for Biology
All changes made to the Biology 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.
Official Notice: Amended performance band descriptors for HSC Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Investigating Science, and Physics (2017)
(Official Notice NESA 16/23)
Amended performance band descriptors are now available for Stage 6 Science syllabuses.
The syllabus names have replaced the reference to scientific concepts in some of the performance band descriptors.
Errata – Biology (2017) for implementation with Year 11 from 2018
(Official Notice NESA 1/18)
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 – Biology (2017) for implementation with Year 11 from 2018
(Official Notice NESA 36/17)
Schools are advised of the following errata in the new Biology Stage 6 Syllabus for implementation with Year 11 from 2018.
Module 8
Topic: Cause and responses
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Errata – Biology (2017) for implementation with Year 11 from 2018
(Official Notice NESA 23/17)
Schools are advised of the following errata in the new Biology Stage 6 Syllabus for implementation with Year 11 from 2018.
Module 4
Topic: Past Ecosystems
| Content to amend | Amended content |
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Errata – Biology (2017) for implementation with Year 11 from 2018
(Official Notice NESA 18/17)
Schools are advised of the following errata in the new Biology Stage 6 Syllabus for implementation with Year 11 from 2018.
Module 7
Outcome: BIO12-14
| Content to amend | Amended content |
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Advice to teachers of Science about Creationism and Intelligent Design
(Official Notice BOS 17/09)
In developing the NSW Science curriculum, the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA – formerly the Board of Studies NSW) undertook extensive consultation with experts in the field to ensure that content, including that relating to evolution, would be consistent with accepted scientific knowledge and understanding.
NESA wishes to remind teachers that Creationism and Intelligent Design are not part of the NESA’s Science syllabuses. If taught as part of any school-based program, it must be clear to students that Creationism and Intelligent Design:
- are not scientific, nor evidence-based
- will not be included in any task that forms part of the assessment of student achievement for the award of the Higher School Certificate
- will not be tested in any Higher School Certificate examination and will not be relevant to any response to Higher School Certificate questions.