Know Your Subjects

There are two main types of HSC courses: Board Developed Courses and Board Endorsed Courses.

To be eligible for an ATAR in NSW, you must satisfactorily complete at least 10 units of ATAR courses.

NESA develops Board Developed Courses. Your achievement in these can count towards your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

Board Developed Courses

Board Developed Courses are the large number of courses set and examined by NSW Education Standards Authority that also contribute to the calculation of the ATAR by UAC.

View a list of all Board Developed Courses broken down by subject.

Board Endorsed Courses

Board or Content Endorsed courses are developed by schools, TAFE and universities. They count towards your HSC. The HSC examination is optional so, it will not contribute towards the calculation of your ATAR if you don't sit the exam.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) Courses

VET courses can be studied either at school or through TAFE NSW and other training providers. You will need to check with your school about which courses are available and the requirements of the different courses. For example, some VET courses require a minimum number of hours in the work place.

VET courses contribute towards your HSC and Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) VET credentials, and are recognised by industry and employers throughout Australia. Some Board Developed VET courses have an optional HSC exam so, if you choose to sit the exam, your results may also contribute to the calculation of your ATAR.

Life Skills Courses

If you have special education needs you can attain your HSC by studying Life Skills courses.

There are specific entry requirements for the Life Skills courses and you still need to meet the general eligibility and study patterns to earn your HSC. Life Skills courses do not count towards the ATAR.

Choosing your compulsory English course

To satisfy the compulsory English aspect of the HSC, there are four English courses: English Advanced, English Standard, English Studies and English EAL/D.

English Studies is a Board Developed Course. It is for students who wish to refine their skills and knowledge in English and consolidate their literacy skills. It is a course for students seeking an alternative to the English Standard course, and who intend to proceed from school directly into employment or vocational training. Students of this course who wish to obtain an ATAR are required by the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) to sit the optional HSC examination.

English Standard supports students to become effective, creative and confident communicators. Students study a wide range of literary and everyday texts to develop the knowledge and skills required to use language accurately and appropriately for a variety of purposes and situations.

English Advanced is a course designed for students to become critical and sophisticated users of English and to develop their academic achievement through the study of complex texts. This course is a pre- or co-requisite for English Extension courses. English Extension 1 allows more specialised study, while English Extension 2 requires students to create a Major Work.

English EAL/D is a course designed for students who have been educated in English for five years or less, either in Australia or overseas. The strict eligibility rules for this course are on the ACE website.

Understanding your Mathematics options

The mathematics courses that can contribute to an ATAR are Mathematics Advanced and Mathematics Standard (Standard 1 and 2).

Mathematics Standard 1 ( Year 12 option) is a Board Developed Course with an optional HSC examination. It develops and refines students’ skills and knowledge in mathematics and consolidates their numeracy skills. It is a course for students who intend to proceed from school with an appropriate mathematical background for entering the workforce and/or undertaking further community and workplace training.

Mathematics Standard 2 caters for a wide range of students. It develops and refines students’ mathematical knowledge and skills in a range of areas including statistics, finance, measurement and algebra to enhance their personal, social and job opportunities.

Mathematics Advanced is a pre- or co-requisite for the Mathematics Extension courses (Mathematics Extension 1 and Mathematics Extension 2). Mathematics Extension 2 is the highest level mathematics course for students with a special interest and ability in mathematics. Mathematics Extension 1 can be studied concurrently or consecutively with Mathematics Extension 2.

Numeracy is a Board Endorsed Course which does not contribute to an ATAR. Numeracy supports students to develop the functional numeracy skills required to become active and successful participants in society. Students have the opportunity to develop these skills and apply them to situations in personal and community, workplace and employment, and education and training contexts.

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