The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has announced new changes to the HSC timetable that will give students extra time to prepare for the exams.
NESA’s COVID-19 Response Committee said the decision was made in line with health advice amid the National Emergency related to the spread of COVID-19 in NSW.
Under the changes, there will be a two-week extension for students to hand in major projects, while the hand-in date for Industrial Technology has been extended by four weeks.
Drama performance exams will be rescheduled to run from 6-17 September, while written exams will begin one week later than usual on 19 October with HSC results out on 17 December.
NESA confirmed that the music performance exam will continue as scheduled, running from 30 August to 10 September.
Chair of the Committee Professor Peter Shergold said students could still receive their results, ATAR and university offers this year despite written exams being delayed by a week.
“We know students want certainty about their exams, our priority is to limit disruption to HSC students. Our aim is to give students as much clarity as possible so they can focus on their studies, their goals and their personal wellbeing,” Shergold said.
“We recognise that students and schools across the state are operating under a variety of different circumstances. We will outline a special illness and misadventure process and any other contingency arrangements needed to ensure equity and fairness for all students.”
CEO of NESA Paul Martin said the priority for NESA and the school sectors, is providing considered advice to students that aligns with the health advice and is fair to the whole cohort.
“The changes to the exam timetables mean all students have some additional time to prepare for exams or complete their project,” Martin said.
“We learnt a lot about our processes in the HSC last year and I am confident that we can apply those lessons this year.”
Earlier this week, oral language exams were rescheduled to start on 14 August.
COVID safe exam practices, including minimising school groups mixing, mandatory masks for everyone except the student during the exam, and Perspex screens will be in place at the oral language exams.
“Markers, many of whom are teachers, have an enormous undertaking ahead of them. I want to thank the teaching profession for all that they have done this year to support students,” Martin said.
“I can assure markers and exam supervisors that their safety, as well as the students, is our priority.”