3. Early in Year 12

3.1 Meeting HSC eligibility requirements

Know the eligibility basics

To be eligible for the HSC, you must:

• have completed Year 10  or its equivalent that is recognised by NESA
• attend a NSW government school, an accredited non-government school, TAFE NSW or a school outside NSW recognised by NESA
• complete All My Own Work (or its equivalent), unless entered in a pattern of study comprising only Life Skills courses for Years 11 and 12
• satisfactorily complete courses in a Year 11 (Preliminary) and Year 12 (HSC) pattern of study required by NESA (detailed below)
• demonstrate the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy
• sit for and make a serious attempt at the required HSC exams.

Patterns of study and course requirements

You must satisfactorily complete:

• a preliminary pattern of study that includes at least 12 units
• an HSC pattern of study that includes at least 10 units.

Both patterns of study must include at least:

• 2 units of a Board Developed course in English
• 4 more units of Board Developed courses
• 3 courses of 2 or more units (either Board Developed or Board Endorsed Courses)
• 4 subjects.

Some courses have additional rules, for example:

• you can only study a maximum of 6 units of Preliminary Science courses and 7 units of HSC Science courses
• for students entered in Mathematics Extension 2, both Mathematics Extension 1 and Mathematics Extension 2 are counted as 2-unit courses
• there are specific eligibility rules for some Language courses
• course specific exclusions are detailed in the course descriptions of each syllabus.

Additional rules apply if you are seeking an ATAR. For example, the HSC pattern of study must include 10 units of examinable courses including English. The ATAR eligibility rules are determined by UAC.

NESA advises students of their ATAR eligibility on behalf of UAC.

3.2 Confirming your entry for the HSC

Make sure you are entered for all your courses

You must be entered with NESA for all the courses you are undertaking this year. This includes any courses outside your school that your principal has approved, for example, VET or distance education courses and study with an outside tutor.

Your school will direct you to review your Confirmation of Entry, which shows the following:

• your personal details
• your NESA student number
• your courses
• whether you are eligible for an HSC and an ATAR.

You must carefully check all your personal details such as name, date of birth, address and contact details. Advise your school if any of these need to change. Carefully check your courses, any eligibility messages and discuss these with your school. You must complete the declaration on the Confirmation of Entry either physically or digitally.

If you would like an ATAR so you can apply to universities, make sure your Confirmation of Entry indicates that you are eligible for an ATAR.

Your Students Online account will show key details

Your Students Online account is automatically updated as your school enters or updates your course enrolments and other details with NESA.

You can log in with your NESA student number and NESA PIN to see:

• messages from NESA
• your personal details
• your results history, for example your grades for Years 10 and 11.

When available, you will also be able to see your:

• personalised exam timetable
• assessment ranks
• HSC results
• VET qualification, if the VET course was delivered by a school system Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

3.3 Changing or correcting your entry, school or contact details

Check your Confirmation of Entry carefully

When reviewing your Confirmation of Entry, check it closely and tell your school about any changes as soon as possible. Examples of changes could include:

• name
• date of birth
• address details.

Also raise with your school:

• any incorrect details about course or exam eligibility errors, or
• if your school has not provided all information about you (eg Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin).

You must then repeat the steps to sign your new and updated Confirmation of Entry. 
If you transfer to another school after entering for the HSC, you must complete and sign a new Confirmation of Entry.

Update your contact details immediately

You should log into Students Online and update your details if, during your HSC year, you change your:

• postal address
• email address
• mobile phone number.

You should provide a personal email address and mobile phone number. We need your current contact details to send you important information, for example:

• exam details
• the status of applications (eg disability provisions or illness and misadventure)
• nomination for any showcase events
• your HSC results
• other relevant communications after you leave school.

If you are eligible for an ATAR, you should also make sure you update your details with UAC. Visit the UAC website or phone (02) 9752 0200.

3.4 Applying for disability provisions

NESA may approve disability provisions for HSC exams if you have a disability that would, in a normal exam situation, prevent you from:

• reading exam questions, or
• communicating responses.

If you need to apply for disability provisions, speak to an appropriate staff member you are comfortable with at your school. This could include your:

• principal
• school learning and support team member
• disability provisions coordinator.

Your school must submit applications for known conditions by the end of Term 1 in the year of your first HSC exam. If you know you will need disability provisions, ensure you speak to your school as early as possible so they can submit your application on time.

Emergency arrangements can be made if you have an illness or injury immediately before or during the exam that affects your ability to read or communicate your answers in the exam. If this happens, tell your principal, the disability provisions coordinator or learning and support teacher immediately.

We cannot approve disability provisions to compensate you for:

• difficulty completing a course or preparing for the exam
• lack of familiarity with English.

When we have processed your application, we will send a decision letter to your principal. We will also send you a Students Online message to let you know that we have made a decision. Your school will provide you with your decision letter.

If the school does not give you your decision letter, contact your school’s disability provisions coordinator.

Read your decision letter carefully. If we have approved certain provisions, your decision letter may include links to detailed rules. Make sure you go to these links and familiarise yourself with these rules. Speak to your school if you are unsure about the decision or how to use any of your approved provisions.