English Studies

2 units of English must count towards your HSC

Please note – English Studies does not have a compulsory HSC exam. However, students can choose to sit the optional HSC exam if they want their results to count towards an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank).

If a student plans to go to university and needs an ATAR, they must sit the HSC exam for English Studies. 

Exclusions:

English Advanced, English Extension, English Standard, English EAL/D 

Course description:

English Studies is a practical, skills-based course designed for students who want to strengthen their communication, literacy, and critical thinking skills for life after school. Whether your pathway leads to TAFE, a trade, employment, or further study, this course develops the same core English skills taught in Standard and Advanced—through relevant, real-world learning experiences.

Students will engage with a wide range of texts, including media, speeches, stories, and workplace writing, and will build their abilities in reading, writing, listening, viewing, and representing. The focus is on understanding how language works across everyday, social, cultural, and vocational contexts and on developing the confidence to express ideas with clarity and purpose.

This is not an “easy option”—success in English Studies requires consistent effort, active participation, and a willingness to think critically. The course has been recently updated by NESA to ensure it is rigorous and relevant. Students who wish to sit the optional HSC exam must be prepared to meet the same standards as other English courses.

Recommended for students who are not pursuing an ATAR, or who are considering post-school pathways such as TAFE, a trade, or direct employment.

Assessment procedures:

The school-based formal assessment program will reflect the following requirements: 

• Year 11 English Course: Three (3) assessments, including an examination style, unseen task and extended response for the final module. 

• Year 12 English Course: Four (4) assessments, which will include the Trial Examination.

  • • All English Studies students will undertake the Trial HSC Examination to ensure all students have the capacity to undertake the HSC Examination should they choose to do so.