Illness and misadventure
When illness or misadventure affects a practical exam
If a student becomes sick or experiences a mishap in the lead-up to, or on the day of their HSC exams, they may need to go through the illness and misadventure process. Practical exams have specific scenarios where NESA may need to be contacted.
See illness and misadventure to find out how it works.
Core performance and major study performance
If a student cannot perform because of illness or misadventure, they can only apply for illness/misadventure on or after the day of the scheduled performance. The exam cannot be rescheduled in these circumstances.
Supervising teachers must notify the markers on the day of the exam if a student cannot perform. If a student chooses to perform while unwell, the marker must also be advised, as the student may later apply for illness/misadventure.
Core composition and major study composition
If a composition dancer for Core Composition or Major Study Composition cannot perform because of illness or misadventure, the student may perform their own composition.
Supervising teachers must notify the Online Testing and Marking team before the exam. You can contact us on:
Supervising teachers must also inform the markers on the day of the exam and indicate whether an illness/misadventure application will be submitted. In these cases, markers are required to submit a report as part of the illness/misadventure process.
Group performance
If a student cannot perform because of illness or misadventure in the lead‑up to, or on the day of, the exam, an understudy may perform in their place.
To request the use of an understudy, contact the Online Testing and Marking team before the exam. You can contact us on:
See also 'Illness/misadventure' and 'Use of an understudy' in assessment and reporting for Drama.
Individual performance
If a student cannot perform because of illness or misadventure, they can only apply for illness/misadventure on or after the day of the scheduled performance. The exam cannot be rescheduled in these circumstances.
Supervising teachers must notify the markers on the day of the exam if a student cannot perform. If a student chooses to perform while unwell, the marker must also be advised, as the student may later apply for illness/misadventure.
Individual project
If a project is damaged before submission, the school must inform the Student Support Services team. Photographs and a report describing the damage must be provided. You can contact us on
If the work can still be marked despite the damage, an illness/misadventure application is not required. If an application has already been submitted, it will be declined. The student will receive a mark based on the skills they have demonstrated, in line with established marking guidelines.
If a project is damaged while in transit to, or at, the corporate marking centre, NESA staff may repair the work where appropriate. Markers will mark through the damage. Supervising teachers will only be contacted if the damage is severe.
If a project is damaged before submission, the school must inform the Student Support Services team. Photographs and a report describing the damage must be provided. You can contact us on:
If the work can still be marked despite the damage, an illness/misadventure application is not required. If an application has already been submitted, it will be declined. The student will receive a mark based on the skills they have demonstrated, in line with established marking guidelines.
If a project is damaged before submission, the school must inform the Student Support Services team. Photographs and a report describing the damage must be provided. You can contact us on
If the work can still be marked despite the damage, an illness/misadventure application is not required. If an application has already been submitted, it will be declined. The student will receive a mark based on the skills they have demonstrated, in line with established marking guidelines.
If a student cannot perform because of illness or misadventure, they can only apply for illness/misadventure on or after the day of the scheduled performance. The exam cannot be rescheduled in these circumstances.
If a student chooses to perform while unwell, the marker must also be advised, as the student may later apply for illness/misadventure.
If a project is damaged before submission, the school must inform the Student Support Services team. Photographs and a report describing the damage must be provided. You can contact us on
If the work can still be marked despite the damage, an illness/misadventure application is not required. If an application has already been submitted, it will be declined. The student will receive a mark based on the skills they have demonstrated, in line with established marking guidelines.
If a project is damaged while in transit to, or at, the corporate marking centre, supervising teachers will be contacted.
If a project is damaged before submission, the school must inform the Student Support Services team. Photographs and a report describing the damage must be provided. You can contact us on
If the work can still be marked despite the damage, an illness/misadventure application is not required. If an application has already been submitted, it will be declined. The student will receive a mark based on the skills they have demonstrated, in line with established marking guidelines.
If a body of work is damaged while in transit to, or at, the corporate marking centre, NESA staff will repair the work. Supervising teachers will only be contacted if the damage is severe.
Examiner/marker aware
This provision is usually for students with a medical, hearing or vision impairment undertaking a performance or oral exam. For example, it might be relevant for a student:
- who relies on lip reading
- in a speaking exam who has a stutter
- in a performance exam who is unable to maintain eye contact.
This provision does not change the marking guidelines.
Schools can apply for this provision through the HSC Exam Provisions Program via Schools Online.
More information about examiner/marker aware is available on this page.
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