Explanation: How to read your HSC Record of Achievement. Source: BOSTES
For your complete guide to HSC success including exam tips from teachers and markers, videos and quizzes, see the official HSC Study Guide 2014.
For most students, school in NSW culminates with the Higher School Certificate (HSC).
The HSC is an important milestone – it is the highest educational award in secondary education in NSW and is recognised throughout the world as an indicator of academic achievement. The HSC opens doors to employment prospects and further education opportunities nationally and internationally.
Study tips: Tom Alegounarias, President, NSW Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES).
In just a few months, at around 900 high schools across NSW, over 70,000 students will start their written examinations. Media coverage is widespread and often includes images of HSC students undertaking the written tests but it begins long before that.
It's a 50/50 split
Your parents might recall that the HSC used to be based solely on the HSC exams.
Now it's a very different picture. By the time you sit for your first exam half your HSC result has already been determined by your school-based assessment. You should keep that in mind if you start to feel any exam pressure.
In preparing for your assessment tasks and HSC exams, a good starting point is to look at the Outcomes and Content in the HSC syllabus for each course you are studying.
The assessment tasks, that commenced from Term 4 of Year 11, were developed by your teachers to cover the mandatory assessment components and weightings found in the syllabus for each course.
They are an opportunity for you to show your teacher what you know and can do. They also show how you are interpreting what you are being asked to do. The assessment tasks also provide a focus for discussion with, and feedback from, your teacher to support your understanding of syllabus content and outcomes.
Preparing for your exams
The best way to prepare is to make sure you know what the rules and requirements are for each exam and what to expect in each exam. You can get important HSC information from documents on the BOSTES website and Students Online including:
•2014 HSC Rules and Procedures – also issued to all HSC students in hard copy
•the syllabus and Assessment and Reporting documents for each course you are studying
•advice for students sitting different types of HSC exams
•feedback on last year's exams in the 2013 Notes from the Marking Centre
•How Your HSC Works – a brief description of the entire HSC process
•HSC examinations: projects, submitted works and performances – Information for Students for courses that have a project or performance, such as Drama and Visual Arts
•HSC Oral Examinations – Advice to Students document will help you prepare for your oral examination.
HSC exams are intended to be rigorous and to challenge students of all abilities.
Looking at previous exams is a really good way to prepare as long as you don't assume that exactly the same topics or types of questions will be asked every year – questions, topics and formats may change.
In the HSC exam you have to answer the question that is asked. For this reason it is not a good idea to have prepared responses.
In the exam room
Accept that it's OK to be nervous and that this can help you to excel. Some other tips are:
•read all the instructions on examination papers and writing booklets and write your answers to questions in the appropriate places
•be aware that questions may be asked that require you to integrate your knowledge, understanding and skills developed through studying the course
•read the questions carefully, look for key words and identify the aspect of the course to which they relate
•be aware that the mark allocated to the question and the answer space (where this is provided on the exam paper) are an indication of the length for your answer – writing far more than is needed won't necessarily result in more marks, and you may run out of time to do the rest of the exam
•be familiar with the key words in the BOSTES Glossary of Key Words but note that some HSC questions may start with words such as 'how?', 'why?' or 'to what extent?' and use verbs that are not included in the glossary, such as 'design', 'translate' or 'list'
•be aware that if a question contains stimulus material – such as artwork, quotations or maps – it will be needed to answer the question, so consider it carefully
•in the case of multiple-choice questions, read ALL the alternatives first and then choose the best possible alternative – if you change your mind, there are instructions on the multiple-choice answer sheet about how to change your answer
•write your answers in black or blue pen (black is preferred) – pencil may be used where specifically directed. If you make a mistake, cross it out, don't use liquid paper. It is in your interest to ensure your answers are clear and easy to read
•in exams that have questions on options or electives, ONLY answer the questions that relate to the option or elective you have studied, and
•make a serious attempt at each question.
A final word ...
This is an exciting and challenging time, but a time for which you have been preparing for since you started school.
If I could give each HSC student one piece of advice it would be – make sure you have a thorough knowledge of the HSC syllabus (especially the outcomes and content) and the examination format for every course you are studying. The HSC syllabus is the foundation for all exam content and decisions on how it is marked for everyone connected with the HSC.
The BOSTES website has many useful links as does Students Online – visit these sites regularly and speak to your teachers if you have any questions. Your questions will help them to help you at this important time in your education.
Whether you head to university – in Australia or overseas – to other tertiary studies, to work, or take some time to travel, you can be assured that further education providers and employers hold the HSC in high regard.
Tom Alegounarias, President, BOSTES