English Studies

Preliminary Course

Includes one mandatory module: Achieving through English: English in education, work and community and an additional 2–4 elective modules to be studied.

 HSC Course

Includes one mandatory module: Texts and Human Experiences, which is common to the HSC Advanced, Standard and English Studies courses and an additional 2–4 elective modules to be studied.

The Year 11 school-based assessment program will consist of a maximum of three assessment tasks requiring students to respond in written and multi-modal formats. A collection  of work will be submitted in Term 3 of the Preliminary  Course. 

The Year 12 school-based assessment program will consist of a maximum of four assessment tasks and will require students to respond in written and multi-modal formats. Tasks will consist of analytical, creative and reflective responses and may include stimulus material and/or unseen texts. A collection of work will be submitted in Term 3 of the HSC course. 

Topics, task weightings and specific requirements for each course are distributed to students at the commencement of study via their Assessment Handbook.

There is an optional external examination for students undertaking the course. This is compulsory for students who are eligible for an ATAR. 

In the Preliminary and HSC English Studies course students are required to read, view, listen to and compose a wide range of texts including print and multi-modal texts, study at least one substantial print text (for example a novel, biography or drama) and study at least one substantial multi-modal text (for example film or a television series).

In addition, students in both Years 11 and 12 are required to be involved in planning, research and presentation activities as part of one individual and/or collaborative project, develop a portfolio of texts they have planned, drafted, edited and presented in written, graphic and/or electronic forms across all the modules undertaken during the year and engage with the community through avenues for example visits, surveys, interviews, work experience, listening to guest speakers and/or excursions.

English Studies can be included in the 6 Board Developed Units. Those students who take English Studies and want to receive an ATAR will need to remember that only 2 units of Category B courses can be included, and at least 2 units of English must be included in the ATAR calculation. Students must also sit the external HSC examination in order to be eligible for an ATAR.