Higher School Certificate (HSC)
The Higher School Certificate (HSC) is the culmination of your school career and the highest educational award you can achieve at secondary school in New South Wales. Study for the HSC begins with the Preliminary year, usually studied in Year 11, after completing Year 10. Study for your HSC year will begin in Term 4 meaning you officially start Year 12 around October next year.
The workforce of the future will require a range of skills and people with different types of qualifications. Year 10 students are encouraged to pursue excellence and follow their passions and interests when selecting their subjects for Years 11 and 12.
Official advice for Year 10 students is available on NESA's website.
Meeting HSC eligibility requirements
Broadly, students need to complete:
a preliminary pattern of study that includes at least 12 units
an HSC pattern of study that includes at least 10 units.
Other criteria include
satisfactory completion of Years 9 and 10
completion of the HSC: All My Own Work program
meeting the HSC minimum standards in literacy and numeracy
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 Content Endorsed Courses)
4 subjects.
The NESA website includes official advice for students choosing HSC courses.
At St Patrick’s College, students must include at least 1 unit of Studies of Religion in their program of study.
Your Course Handbook contains the outlines for the courses on offer for you.