Some HSC exams to move online in major shake-up

HSC exams for some English students will go online by 2027 in a major shake-up.
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting today that changes due to come into effect in 2027 will see HSC students who study the hardest English subjects finally ditch pen and paper and write their essays on their computer.
The move to online HSC English tests will only affect Extension 1 and 2 English students, with Standard and Advanced tests to remain on paper.
The changes will affect about 5100 students based on subject intake in 2023.
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It is part of a raft of changes that will also see an overhaul of the final HSC Mathematics exams.
The Herald is reporting “common” questions answered by Advanced and Standard Maths students would be removed from tests after teachers said they were confusing to students.
The HSC is the responsibility of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) — the state’s government education statutory authority.
NESA head Paul Martin told the Herald, “We want to be clear that handwriting is still a vital skill, while continuing to modernise the HSC exam experience for students.”
Students who study Science Extension have been completing their final HSC exam online since 2018.
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According to NESA, “Students need a desktop or laptop computer and an internet connection to complete the Science Extension exam. Tablets and smartphones are not suitable. Students sit the exam using the NESA lockdown browser installed by the school.”
The Herald reported there would also be major syllabus changes to the English Extension 1 and Extension 2 courses.
Since its creation in 1997, the Extension 2 course saw students complete only a 6000-word major work.
But changes will see the introduction of a depth study and an online exam worth 40 per cent of the final HSC mark. The major work will also be cut-back and account for 60 per cent of the final mark.
Mathematics Standard, Advanced and Extension courses will stay largely unchanged.
In 2023, 68,689 students completed the HSC, making it the most popular school credential in Australia.
English is compulsory, with 69,589 students enrolled in at least one of the seven HSC English courses on offer in 2023.
In 2023, 3709 students studied English Extension 1 while 1415 students were enrolled in English Extension 2.
Almost 61,000 students studied one of the seven Maths courses on offer in 2023.
The 2024 HSC written exams begin on Tuesday, October 15.