New limit on take-home assessment tasks from Term 4 2026
NESA is changing the ACE Rules to limit take-home assessment tasks in Stage 6 and set new requirements for managing generative AI in school-based assessment.
- Effective
- Term 4, 2026
- Reference
- NESA 29/26
Who needs to read this?
- Principals
- Deputy principals
- Assistant principals
- Primary teachers
- Secondary teachers
- Curriculum coordinators
- HSC coordinators
- HSC minimum standard online test coordinators
- Head teachers (English and Mathematics)
- Year advisers
- Staff in charge of Schools Online entries
- Present Years 10–12 students
One take-home assessment, capped at 15%
For Preliminary and HSC courses, school-based assessment programs can have no more than one take-home assessment task, worth a maximum weighting of 15%.
Take-home assessments are tasks completed outside a classroom, formal examination setting or teacher-approved monitoring conditions.
Schools still decide the number, type and weighting of all in-school assessment tasks.
The ACE Rules, along with assessment and reporting requirements in each syllabus, will be updated to reflect the changes before the end of Term 3, 2026.
When do the changes start
For HSC courses, the limit starts from Term 4, 2026.
For Preliminary courses, the limit starts from Term 1, 2027.
Exempt courses
The limit does not apply to courses with a major project or an HSC practical exam. In these courses, all assessment tasks in the assessment program are not subject to the limit.
The exempt courses are:
- Aboriginal Studies
- Society and Culture
- Design and Technology
- Industrial Technology
- Textiles and Design
- Visual Arts
- Dance
- Drama
- Music 1
- Music 2
- English Extension 2
- Science Extension
- History Extension
- Music Extension.
The limit applies to all other Preliminary and HSC courses.
Generative AI use in school-based assessment
Design tasks so they reflect the student’s own work
Schools must design formal assessment tasks so that marks reflect the student’s own knowledge, skills and understanding. Marks must not reflect a student’s use of generative AI.
Do not rely on AI detection software
Schools should not rely on AI detection tools as the main safeguard against malpractice. If used at all, detection software should be treated as only one input for teacher professional review, not as sole proof of AI use or malpractice.
What schools need to do now
- Review your 2027 HSC and Preliminary assessment schedules.
- In each course, ensure you have no more than one take-home assessment task worth a maximum weighting of 15%.
- Check your malpractice policy does not rely on the use of AI tools to detect malpractice.
Notice information
- Topic
- Curriculum, HSC
- Learning Area
- Creative Arts, English, HSIE, Languages, Mathematics, PDHPE, Science, Technological and Applied Studies
- Stages
- Stage 6 (Years 11 and 12)