When considering which courses to study, explore the content of a course. For example, what are the course outcomes? Will you be required to submit a major work, or perform, as part of your exams? Talk with your teachers about your strengths and weaknesses, as well as individual course requirements, before making your selections.

To be eligible for the HSC, you must:

• Satisfactorily complete Years 9 and 10 or gain other qualifications that satisfy NESA

• Attend a government school, an accredited non-government school, a NSW Education Standards Authority recognised school outside NSW, or a TAFE college

• Complete HSC: All My Own Work (or its equivalent) before you submit any work for Preliminary or HSC courses, unless you are only entered for Year 11 and Year 12 Life Skills courses

• Satisfactorily complete courses in the patterns of study detailed below

• Sit for and make a serious attempt at the required HSC exams

• Meet the HSC minimum standard of literacy and numeracy within five years of starting your HSC course

You must satisfactorily complete:

• A Preliminary pattern of study that includes at least 12 units

• An HSC pattern of study that includes at least 10 units

Both patterns of study must include at least:

• 6 units of Board Developed Courses

• 2 units of a Board Developed Course in English

• 3 courses of 2 or more units (either Board Developed or Board Endorsed Courses)

• 4 subjects