What is assessment?

Assessment is how students show what they know, understand and can do in a course.

During Year 11 and 12, students complete a range of school-based assessment tasks. These contribute to the school assessment information provided to the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

Assessment also helps students understand how they are progressing and where they can improve.

What is an assessment task?

An assessment task is an activity used to assess a student’s knowledge, understanding and skills.

Depending on the course, assessment tasks may include:

• tests or examinations

• essays, reports or other written tasks

• research tasks or projects

• practical activities

• performances or presentations

• major works or projects

• speaking or listening tasks.

When does assessment take place?

Year 11 courses are completed during Terms 1–3 of Year 11 and have their own assessment requirements, which students must satisfactorily complete before progressing to the HSC course.

HSC school-based assessment takes place throughout Year 12, beginning in Term 4 of Year 11 and continuing until Term 3 of Year 12.

It is important to remember that completing formal assessment tasks is only one part of successfully completing a course.

Students are expected to attend regularly, participate in lessons, complete classwork and other course requirements, and apply themselves with diligence and sustained effort throughout the course.

Are all courses assessed in the same way?

No. Assessment requirements vary between courses and are based on the requirements set by NESA.

Students should check the assessment schedule for each of their courses so they understand:

• what assessment tasks they need to complete

• when tasks are due

• how much each task is worth

• any specific course requirements.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses assess students against specific competencies. Some VET courses also include an optional HSC examination.

More information about HSC courses and assessment is available from NESA.

How are school assessment marks calculated?

Year 11

Throughout Year 11, students complete school-based assessment tasks that contribute to their overall achievement in each course.

At the end of the Year 11 assessment program, students' results are combined according to the weighting of each task. Teachers use this information, together with evidence of achievement against course standards, to determine an overall Year 11 grade (A–E).

Year 11 grades are submitted to NESA and reflect the student's level of achievement in the course.

Year 12

Throughout the HSC course, students complete school-based assessment tasks that contribute to their overall school assessment mark.

At the end of the HSC school assessment program, the marks a student has received for their assessment tasks are combined according to the weighting of each task.

This determines the student's overall school assessment mark and rank within the course.

The school submits assessment marks to NESA. Students are provided with their assessment rank for each course rather than the school assessment mark submitted to NESA. A student's assessment rank shows their position within their school course group based on their performance across the course.

What if I think my assessment rank is incorrect?

Students who believe their final assessment rank is incorrect can request a review through the school. A review looks at whether:

• the school followed its assessment procedures

• the correct weightings were applied

• there were any clerical or administrative errors.

A review cannot be used to challenge a teacher’s judgement when marking an individual assessment task.

More information is available in the 2027 HSC Rules and Procedures Guide. 

What are my responsibilities?

To successfully complete Year 11 and Year 12 courses and meet the requirements for the award of the HSC, students at Orara High School must fulfil their responsibilities in three key areas:

1. Attendance

Students are expected to:

• attend school and lessons regularly

• have absences explained by a parent/carer within 7 days

• catch up on learning missed during an absence

• communicate with the school if an absence affects their learning or assessment.

2. Application and Sustained Effort

Students must make a genuine and consistent effort throughout each course. This includes:

• participating in lessons and course activities

• completing classwork and course requirements

• making a serious attempt at all required work

• asking for help when needed.

Students who are not meeting course requirements may receive an N Determination Warning Letter, which identifies what needs to be addressed.

3. Formal Assessment

Students are responsible for:

• knowing their assessment dates and requirements

• completing and submitting assessment tasks as required

• attending scheduled assessment tasks and examinations

• completing their own work and following academic integrity requirements

• following the school’s assessment procedures, including Illness and Misadventure where required.

For more detailed information, see 'Stage 6 Assessment Expectations'

NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Requirements

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) sets the requirements for courses, assessment and credentials for students in NSW. The NESA website provides further information about syllabuses, course requirements, assessment, examinations and student credentials. For more information, visit the NESA website.

The Record of School Achievement

The Record of School Achievement (RoSA) is a credential for eligible students who leave school after completing Year 10 but before completing their HSC. The RoSA provides a record of a student’s school achievements up to the time they leave school.

Who receives a RoSA?

An eligible student may receive a RoSA if they leave school:

• after completing Year 10

• during or after Year 11

• during Year 12, before completing the HSC.

Students need to satisfactorily complete the required courses and meet NESA requirements to be eligible for a RoSA.

Students who continue through Year 12 and complete their HSC receive their results as part of their HSC credential instead.

For detailed information about eligibility, requirements and what is included in the RoSA, visit:

NESA – Record of School Achievement (RoSA)

Higher School Certificate (HSC)

The Higher School Certificate (HSC) is the credential awarded to eligible students who successfully complete their senior secondary studies in NSW.

To be eligible for the HSC, students must meet NESA requirements relating to their courses, assessment, examinations and minimum standards.

For full information about HSC requirements, visit:

NESA – Higher School Certificate (HSC)

NESA will grant the award of the HSC credential to students who meet the eligibility requirements for the award of the HSC.

To be eligible for the award of the HSC, students must:

1. have completed Year 10, and

2. have attended a government school, an accredited non-government school, a school outside NSW recognised by NESA or a TAFE NSW institute, and

3. have completed All My Own Work (AMOW) or its equivalent, and

4. have demonstrated the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy, and

5. have satisfactorily completed courses that comprise the pattern of study required by NESA for the award of the HSC, and

6. undertake and make a serious attempt at the requisite HSC exams.

Eligible students who successfully complete their HSC receive:

• an HSC Testamur – the official certificate showing that the student has been awarded the HSC

• a Record of Achievement – showing the courses studied and results achieved

• relevant VET credentials, where applicable.

Simply completing formal assessment tasks is not enough to satisfactorily complete a course. Regular attendance, participation and completion of classwork are also important.

Non-Completion of Course Requirements

If a student is at risk of not satisfactorily completing a course, the school will contact the student and their parent/carer and issue a Non-Completion of Course Requirements Warning Letter (N Warning). 

What does an N Warning mean?

The warning letter will explain:

• which course requirements have not been met

• what work needs to be completed

• the timeframe for completing the required work, usually two weeks.

Students are expected to complete the outstanding work and seek support if needed.

What happens if the warning is not resolved?

If a student does not complete the required work, further warning letters may be issued.

If course requirements remain incomplete, the student and their parent/carer may be asked to attend a meeting with the school. The student will be given a final opportunity and timeframe to meet the outstanding requirements.

If the requirements are still not met, the Principal may make an N Determination for the course. This means the course may not count towards the student’s HSC.

Students and parents/carers have the right to appeal an N Determination. Information about the appeals process will be provided if an N Determination is made.

For more information on Non-completions, see 'Non-completions and appeals'

Supporting students

The school monitors student progress throughout Year 12 and will work with students and families where concerns arise.

Students are responsible for completing required work, responding to warning letters and asking for support when needed.

Orara High School develops an assessment schedule for each Year 12 course in line with NESA requirements.

Each course assessment schedule outlines the assessment tasks students will complete, when they will occur and how much each task contributes to the overall school-based assessment mark.

Assessment Task Notification

Students will receive written notification of an assessment task at least 14 calendar days before the due date.

The notification will include:

• the date and time of the task

• what students are required to do

• how the task will be submitted or completed

• other important task requirements.

Students will sign to acknowledge that they have received the notification. A copy will also be available electronically.

If a student is absent when a task is issued, they are responsible for accessing the notification and checking the assessment requirements.

Submitting Assessment Tasks

Students must make a serious attempt and submit assessment tasks on or before the due date and time stated on the task notification.

Tasks should be submitted using the method identified on the assessment notification.

If a teacher is absent or unavailable, students must submit the task to the Head Teacher responsible for the course.

School activities, sporting commitments, excursions and other planned events do not automatically provide an extension. Students should speak with their teacher before the due date if there is a known conflict.

Technology problems on the due date are not normally accepted as a reason for late submission. Students should keep backup copies of their work.

Absence Before an Assessment Task

Being absent from school before an assessment task does not automatically change the due date or assessment requirements.

Students are expected to communicate with the school about their absence and remain aware of upcoming assessment requirements.

Where there is an ongoing pattern of absence around assessment tasks, the school may meet with the student and their parent/carer to discuss the concern.

Late or Non-Submission

An assessment task submitted after the due date without an approved Illness and Misadventure Application may receive a zero mark.

Students are still expected to complete and submit the task, even if a zero mark has been awarded.

Failure to complete assessment tasks may also result in an N Determination Warning Letter and may place satisfactory completion of the course at risk.

Students must complete assessment tasks that contribute to more than 50% of the available school-based assessment marks for a course.

Extension Requests

Students may apply for an extension where circumstances beyond their control prevent them from completing or submitting an assessment task by the scheduled due date. Extension requests should be submitted before the assessment task is due, wherever possible, using the online Extension Request Form via School Bytes. Teachers must not independently approve extensions or negotiate changes to assessment due dates outside the approved school process.

Extension Request Form 

What if I need support or adjustments?

Orara High School supports students to access learning and assessment and demonstrate what they know and can do.

Additional support may be available for:

• students with disability

• students learning English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D)

• students experiencing temporary illness, injury or other circumstances

• students transferring from another school, interstate or overseas

• students with other individual learning or assessment needs.

Support is based on the individual needs of the student and may include adjustments to learning, assessment tasks or examinations.

Assessment Adjustments

Reasonable adjustments may be provided to support students to access school-based assessment tasks.

Depending on the student’s needs, adjustments may include:

• extra time or rest breaks

• additional or simplified instructions

• scaffolds or visual supports

• use of a reader, writer or approved technology

• alternative ways of completing or responding to a task.

Students and parents/carers are encouraged to speak with the school if they believe adjustments may be required.

HSC Disability Provisions

NESA may approve Disability Provisions for eligible students completing HSC examinations.

These provisions are designed to reduce the impact of disability or a medical condition in an examination. They may include arrangements such as extra time, rest breaks, use of a reader or writer, or other approved supports. Disability Provisions may be available for permanent, temporary or intermittent conditions. Orara High School supports students and families through the application process. Applications require appropriate evidence and are assessed by NESA. Adjustments provided by the school for assessment tasks do not automatically mean the same provisions will be approved by NESA for the HSC examinations. Students and parents/carers who would like to discuss HSC Disability Provisions should contact the Head Teacher Teaching and Learning. For further information, visit the NESA Disability Provisions website.

EAL/D Support

Students learning English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) may receive additional support to access learning and assessment.

Support may include:

• breaking tasks into clear steps

• language and vocabulary support

• scaffolds, visual prompts and graphic organisers

• bilingual support where available

• additional time or appropriate technology.

The school's EAL/D and Learning and Support teams work with students to identify appropriate support.

Life Skills

Stage 6 Life Skills courses may be available for eligible students with intellectual disability who require an alternative pathway to access the curriculum.

Life Skills courses:

• contribute towards the HSC

• do not have external HSC examinations

• do not receive an HSC assessment mark

• cannot be used in the calculation of an ATAR.

Decisions about accessing Life Skills courses are made through consultation with the student, their parents/carers and the school.

Need help?

Students and parents/carers who have questions about learning support, assessment adjustments, EAL/D support, Life Skills or HSC Disability Provisions should contact Orara High School so the appropriate support can be discussed.

The Department and NESA provide clear rules around breaches of rules or malpractice for both school-based assessment and HSC examinations. Link to ‘Breaking the HSC rules’

Cheating of any kind is unacceptable. Behaving dishonestly to gain unfair advantage in assessments or exams is malpractice or cheating. Any form of malpractice, including plagiarism, is unacceptable. We treat these allegations very seriously. Detected malpractice may result in losing marks for a section of a task or receiving zero for the whole task. 

Malpractice includes:

• copying part or all someone else’s work and presenting it as your own 

• using material directly from books, journals, CDs, or the internet without giving its source  

• building on someone else’s ideas without giving their source  

• buying, stealing, or borrowing someone else’s work and presenting it as your own 

• submitting work that someone else, for example a parent, tutor, or subject expert, substantially contributed to using someone else’s words, ideas, designs or work in projects and performance tasks without giving their source 

• paying someone to write or prepare material and presenting it as your own 

• not acknowledging any work completed by others for your submitted work or performance 

• breaching school exam rules  

• cheating in an HSC exam 

• using non-approved aids in an assessment task 

• giving false reasons for not handing in work by the due date  

• helping another student to engage in malpractice 

• using copied AI generated responses

Malpractice Process 

Orara High School treats malpractice and cheating allegations very seriously. If a student is unsure whether they are acting appropriately and honestly in a task, assignment or exam, they should consult a teacher to clarify the particular situation immediately. 

If there is any suspicion of malpractice the following process will occur:   

1. All tasks will be marked and handed back to students.  

2. The class teacher or teacher who marks the assessment task will NOT make an open allegation to the student. 

3. The task will be copied 

4. The teacher will notify their Head Teacher 

5. The Head Teacher will notify the Year Deputy Principal and submit the ‘Academic Malpractice Referral’ form.  

6. The Year Deputy Principal and Stage 6 Coordinator will review the supporting documentation and meet with the student regarding the malpractice allegation.

7. The Deputy Principal will then contact the parents/carers about the malpractice allegation and school process. 

8. The Deputy Principal will review all information collected through the above process. Each case of malpractice is individually considered including any complexity raised throughout the process to ensure that a fair decision is made regarding recommendations relating to an outcome.   

9. The Deputy Principal will make recommendations to the Principal 

10. An outcome will be decided in consultation with the Principal.  

11. The teacher, student, parents/carers will then be contacted and notified about the outcome along with any consequences.   

If the student does not agree with the outcome. The student may appeal this decision within five (5) school days of being notified about the outcome. The written appeal must be submitted to the Principal and include:  

• the reasons for an appeal against the outcome.  

If an appeal is submitted the following will occur 

1. A meeting with the student, parent/carer will be organised with the Principal. 

2. The Principal will consider all of the information. 

3. The Principal will make a decision that is final. 

4. The student, parent/carer, Deputy Principal, Head Teacher and Teacher will be notified of this decision.  

Consequences of malpractice include: 

• A zero (0) mark can be awarded. 

• A “Non Completion of Course Requirements Letter” can be issued for the task.  

• In some circumstances, the school may decide to administer a substitute task to be resubmitted. 

• Both a zero (0) mark and “Non Completion of Course Requirements Letter” can be awarded and issued.  

• If malpractice is proven the offence will be registered on the NESA Register of Malpractice in HSC Assessment Tasks. 

Note: A Zero Mark can affect your HSC subject rank, assessment mark and overall result.

Generative AI is becoming part of how we learn, work and communicate. At Orara High School, we are not against the use of AI. We want students to learn how to use it responsibly, ethically and effectively in ways that support learning and build skills, rather than replace them. 

NESA has introduced statewide requirements about the amount of formal assessment that can be completed outside school. These requirements help teachers confirm that assessment results reflect each student's own knowledge, skills and understanding.

These requirements apply to schools across NSW. They are separate from Orara High School's rules about using AI.

For each assessment task, the AI Permission Level shown on the task notification tells students exactly how AI can and cannot be used. 

Three rules that always apply

1. Check the AI Permission Level.
Every assessment task will have an AI Permission Level from 1 to 5. Students must follow the level shown on their task notification.

2. Be transparent about AI use.
When AI use is permitted, students must acknowledge and reference its use as required. Students must follow the Student Gudie for AI use.

3. If you are unsure, ask before submitting.
Students should speak to their teacher if they are unsure whether a particular use of AI is allowed. Asking for clarification is always okay. Submitting AI-assisted work that goes beyond the permission level for the task may be considered malpractice.

‘Link here to Student Guide for AI and Referencing' which includes detailed examples of referencing methods for your work. 

Assessment Support

 Students should familiarise themselves with the HSC Verbs across their subject area. 

The Illness and Misadventure process ensures students are treated fairly when circumstances beyond their control affect an assessment task or examination.

Students complete the application via the form linked here: 'Illness and Misadventure Form'

Students must follow this process if they:

• are unable to submit or complete an assessment task by the due date

• miss an assessment task or examination

• experience illness or an unexpected event that affects their performance in a task or examination.

Students cannot negotiate a change to an assessment due date or time directly with their teacher. Any change must be approved through the appropriate school process.

What do I need to do?

Where possible, students should complete the task or examination and submit an Illness and Misadventure Application afterwards.

If this is not possible, students should:

1. Notify the school as soon as possible.

2. Complete an Illness and Misadventure Application.

3. Provide supporting evidence, such as a detailed medical certificate.

4. Submit the application to the relevant Head Teacher within 5 days of the task due date, or on the day they return to school.

What may be considered?

Illness and Misadventure may include circumstances beyond the student’s control, such as:

• Illness or injury that affects the student’s ability to complete or perform in the task.

• Misadventure, such as a serious accident, bereavement or other unexpected event that affects the student.

What is not normally considered?

Illness and Misadventure does not normally cover:

• misreading an assessment timetable or due date

• technology or computer problems

• loss of preparation or study time

• circumstances that could reasonably have been avoided

• excursions or work placements.

Supporting evidence is required for all Illness and Misadventure Applications.

What happens after I apply?

The relevant Head Teacher will review the application and supporting evidence and make a recommendation to the Deputy Principal.

If the application is approved, the school will determine the most appropriate outcome. This may include:

• accepting the task without penalty

• arranging another opportunity to complete the task

• providing a substitute task

• in exceptional circumstances, providing an estimated mark.

Students will be advised of the outcome.

The same Illness and Misadventure process applies to missed examinations.