Rules and Procedures guide 2026

About the Rules and Procedures guide 2026

This guide helps you understand the rules and requirements that every HSC student must follow.

Each student must review and sign their Confirmation of Entry. By signing the Confirmation of Entry you are certifying you have read this guide.

You can now check your Confirmation of Entry using Students Online, and digitally sign while logged into your account. Your school can help you with how to do this.

The Education Act 1990 (NSW) governs the award of the HSC. Under this Act, NESA is empowered to make and enforce rules and requirements for the HSC.

The main rules and requirements for the HSC are in this guide.

Students can obtain more detailed explanations by referring to the Assessment Certification Examination (ACE) rules.

Abbreviations

The following abbreviations are used in this guide:

• AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework)
• ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank)
• HSC (Higher School Certificate)
• NESA (New South Wales Education Standards Authority)
• PDF (Portable Document Format)
• RoA (Record of Achievement)
• RoSA (Record of School Achievement)
• RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning)
• RTO (Registered Training Organisation)
• TAFE NSW (Technical and Further Education New South Wales)
• UAC (Universities Admissions Centre)
• VET (Vocational Education and Training).