The Higher School Certificate (HSC): What is it?
Exactly how the HSC works can be a constant source of confusion for both parents and students; but it is a major milestone for high school students in New South Wales and can very well be the difference between reaching their college dreams or having to re-think them.
This article takes you through exactly how this HSC system works - so parents and students alike can be well-prepared and confident that they know exactly what lies ahead on the journey towards graduation day.
Subjects:
For Australian students, the HSC (Higher School Certificate) program offers a range of two-unit and one-unit courses. Year 11 is all about getting your 12 units in – that’s usually 6 subjects for you to juggle! But when it comes time for Year 12, the number drops down to 10 units - but only the best 10 will count towards an ATAR score.
Every unit has 50 marks for grabs; so if you take 2 classes as part of a single subject area, you can expect to score up to 100 sweet points during marking season!
Some students choose to continue with their full course load from Year 11 to provide a backup, in case of poor performance on an exam that could impact their ATAR. Because afterall, only the best 10 will count towards your final ATAR.
And lastly, the final grade for each subject is based on 50% internal marks and 50% on the external exam, regardless of the number of units in the subject.
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To understand the HSC (Higher School Certificate) program in Australia and how each subject contributes to your final ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) score, you can book in a free consultation with one of our KIS Academics tutors.
KIS tutors have a deep understanding of their subjects and are experts in acing their HSCs. They can help you navigate the curriculum requirements so you're in the best position to land your dream university course. You can also look through the resources below for a comprehensive understanding of how the HSC works.
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