All news at NESA

The HSC exams have officially begun in NSW, as 12,958 students studying a Language or Performing Arts course begin their oral and performance exams.

The annual HSC Study Guide has been released online and in print today, offering a host of tips and advice to Higher School Certificate students from well-known Australians, talented graduates, wellbeing professionals, and expert teachers and markers. 

Sample HSC examination materials have been published for Legal Studies and Economics syllabuses (2025).

NESA has amended the Guidelines for Approved NSW School Providers Delivering Courses to Overseas Students (the Guidelines).

The 2026 HSC Rules and Procedures guide has been updated to clarify the rule that applies when a student misses an exam due to misreading the timetable.

The HSC Drama prescriptions for 2028–2031 are now available on the NSW Curriculum site.

A selection of the state’s top writers will be recognised today for their talents in the HSC English Extension 2 course, with their writing standing out from the pages of more than 1,400 major works submitted in 2025.

From 2026, there will no longer be any timing notifications (eg a bell) during HSC Languages Oral exams for all Extension and In Context courses.

Sample examination format materials are available to download from the NSW Curriculum website.

HSC students can now begin planning for their final exams, with the 2026 HSC written exam timetable officially released today.