HSC minimum standard data
This data reports on the HSC minimum standard in 2025. View the number of HSC eligible students who met or did not meet the minimum standard.
About the data
In 2025, a total of 73,354 students had an eligible pattern of study for the HSC.
The HSC minimum standard is set at Level 3 of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). Students meet the standard by sitting online tests in the domains of reading, writing and numeracy.
After completing their first HSC course, students have up to 5 years to meet the minimum standard.
From 2020, only students who meet a minimum standard in literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy will receive an HSC credential. Some students with intellectual disability studying Life Skills courses are exempt from meeting the standard.
This data is taken from 19 January 2026.
Meeting the standard
Use the graph to view the number of HSC eligible students who met and did not meet the HSC minimum standard.
Overview
In 2025, there were:
- 72,688 students who met the standard
- 666 students who did not meet the standard.
Students who have yet to meet one or more test domains
Use the graph to view the number and proportion of students who didn't meet the standard, and how many test domains of the standard they did not, or are yet to meet.
Data is based on the 666 students who did not meet the standard.
Overview
In 2025, there were:
- 560 students not meeting the standard in 1 domain
- 76 students not meeting the standard in 2 domains
- 30 students not meeting the standard in all 3 domains (14 of these students have not attempted any of the tests).
Not met the standard by test domain
Use the graph to view the number of students not meeting the standard for the 3 testing domains of reading, writing and numeracy.
Data is based on the 666 students who did not meet the standard.
Overview
In 2025, there were:
- 590 students not meeting the standard in writing
- 165 students not meeting the standard in numeracy
- 47 students not meeting the standard in reading.