How HSC works and how to prepare for it

How HSC Works
How we can help you
Finding a HSC Tutor

How to understand New South Wales' Year 12 system

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.

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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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Continue reading...

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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Understanding the

HSC

system 🧠

The first thing we recommend you do is understand how the curriculum works. This will help you choose subjects, understand marking schemes and how it all impacts what university course you can do:

How the HSC works: Understanding New South Wales' Year 12 ATAR System

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HSC Subjects: what science, maths and english subjects can I choose?

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HSC Maths Subjects - what's the difference between Maths Advanced, Extension 1 Maths and Extension 2 Maths?

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How much do your internal ranks matter in the HSC for your ATAR?

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The difference between HSC Standard and HSC Advanced English - what’s right for you

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HSC ATAR Scaling Report - How does NESA and UAC scaling work?

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Calculating your

HSC

ATAR 📊

Once you've got an idea of what subjects you want to do and how you'll approach your studies, you can experiment with a predicted ATAR using an ATAR Calculator.
ATAR Calculator ImageCalculate ATAR 📲

Get your

HSC

English Analysis

Marked ✅

In-school assessments are a common and important part of your final ATAR score. If you want an expert to look over your work and provide feedback before your teacher does, you've come to the right place!
Submit Assessment 📝

Getting the right

HSC

resources 📚

Knowing how things work is only half the challenge. You'll need to make sure that you find the best resources available for each subject you choose to do. Here are some of the most popular resources for common subjects:
HSC English Advanced

📚 HSC English Advanced Year 12 High Performance Program

Super-boosting your HSC English Advanced scores!!!

Emma Ashley

97/100 in English Advanced and HSC English ATAR Notes Author

HSC Extension 1 Mathematics

📏 HSC Extension 1 Mathematics High Performance Program

Extend your mathematics knowledge with Extension 1 Maths

Carmen Tung

First Place in HSC Mathematics

HSC Chemistry Year 12

🧪 HSC Chemistry Year 12 High Performance Program

HSC Chemistry made easy!

Alexander Epps

99.45 ATAR and National Merit Scholar

See All Online Course Subjects 💻

Finding the best

HSC

tutors 🎓

The best way to improve your chance of success is by finding a great mentor or tutor. Finding a good one can be difficult, but we recommend looking for a tutor who:
1️⃣ is young and relatable so lessons are engaging
2️⃣ has a good academic record, achieved a high ATAR themselves is an expert at your subject
3️⃣ loves teaching and genuinely cares about their students.
Here are some of our most popular tutors who fulfil all three criteria themselves:
See All  KIS Academics Tutors 🚀

Connie Yeung

98.95
ATAR
Hi! I'm Connie, class of 2021, and I've had many years' experience tutoring students just like you, so whatever help you need - from building a strong foundation for a subject, or needing a push over the edge to excel even more in a subject you're already acing - you can be confident you're in safe hands with me. My goal is to make sure you achieve your fullest potential, and I'll be with you as both a tutor and a friend every step of the way.

Early on, I didn't have a consistent mentor figure who'd gone through the same difficulties I was experiencing in school. I struggled to balance my education with the rest of my life and it felt like a lonely battle against serial procrastination, strict deadlines and a lack of motivation to study. Luckily, my teachers played a huge role in helping me pull myself together when I reached out for help, so I hope to be the same mentor figure to you, as they were to me. With my students, I always try to foster a comfortable learning environment that helps build individual and critical thinking skills, focusing heavily on applications of theory and how to improve based on the feedback I provide each lesson. My longer term focus is to help them develop a positive, healthy and sustainable relationship with studying that is unique to the way they learn, a mindset that will help them beyond their high school years.

I also strongly believe that academics, whether you're a high school student in your final year or not, is something that needs to be well balanced alongside the other aspects of your life. Else, you'll just get burnt out really quickly. Personally, I like to balance my studies with travelling every so often, making art, and hitting the gym -- all of which I usually try to do with my friends and family. And now that you know a little about me, I hope I can get to know you as well! I really look forward to meeting you and watching you thrive :)

Angela Wang

99.90
ATAR
Hi! I'm Angela, and after going through the 5 stages of grief repeatedly during my time in school, I'm here to make sure you don't have to do the same!

I'm currently studying a Doctor of Medicine at UNSW, after graduating from James Ruse Agricultural High School with an ATAR of 99.90 and 95+ marks in all my subjects. But, don't be fooled, HSC was definitely a bleugh experience for me as well. So, I would love to use my own experiences (both as a high achieving student and as a tutor with 200+ hours of lessons taught) to streamline your academic learning and get the results you want with less of the struggle!

I believe that building a solid foundation of understanding in chemistry is the key to avoiding that painful last minute panic-study. Ever feel like your school teachers don't make sense? Whereas schools tend to teach in a generic memorisation-heavy approach that might not work for you, I can cater lessons to your learning style specifically and structure lessons to focus on conceptual understanding! I also believe in strategic approaches to learning, so I'll always take you through exam tips and the most high-yield content! :)

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Wondering how online lessons work? I conduct all lessons via zoom video calls, alongside screenshare/shared online whiteboard, depending on what works for you! To let you focus on learning during the class, all lesson notes are neatly collated and emailed after lessons, along with any practice questions/homework if you would like extra resources.

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I'm here to be your 'emotional support tutor'! Having been through the grind myself, I want to make your academic life easier and make sure you don't have to panic study for 6 hours every day. Whether you need extra support, assessment help, or want to get ahead, I'm more than happy to help! :)

Francis Nguyen

99.85
ATAR
99.85 ATAR | 2nd in NSW Extension 2 Maths |

Hi guys! I have been tutoring for over 3 years now and graduated with an ATAR of 99.85 attending Sydney Boys High School. I'm currently studying Doctor of Medicine at Griffith University.

During high school, I was constantly involved in extracurricular activities, training for and playing sport basically every day, while maintaining a very high academic standard. This made me very efficient in the way I had to study, making sure I had a very thorough understanding of the concepts by developing techniques that would make them easy to understand and help maximise my marks.

The way I studied is reflected in the way I work with students, not only teaching them complex concepts in a more simplified manner, but also helping them build habits that yield consistent performance beyond high school as well. My teaching style and homework provided is tailored to each student's needs, ensuring that they receive the proper attention they need for all facets of their education.

I also offer very comprehensive online tutoring, as I have a writing pad which allows me to actively immerse students in lessons the same way I would face-to-face. At times, online tutoring can be more convenient and effective, and if needed I can provide students with a writing pad to further this experience.

As it approaches final exam season, I have spots available for both individuals and groups to take advantage of specialised exam revision sessions to maximise marks for final exams.
See All  KIS Academics Tutors 🚀
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As a year 11 student doing ATAR, I was looking for a tutor that could help me with French. KIS Academics was incredibly helpful and fast at finding me a wace french tutor who could assist me with my studies. My tutor Eliza Carey over the past few months has helped me so much not only in French but in biology and maths as well. I’m incredibly grateful for the effort and commitment she has put into helping me be more comfortable and less stressed about the subjects I was having difficulty with. It’s been nothing but an honour to be tutored by Eliza and I strongly recommend her as a tutor

Maddie M.
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“I got the top mark for my SAC which was really nice, and I think that’s all because of my tutor”

‍Medha / Year 12 Student

“It's been absolutely fantastic and it's just been a very positive environment for learning”

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Manoj Arachige

Founder

Why should you even listen to us?

Hello there! I'm Manoj - the founder of Keep It Simple Academics (Or KIS Academics for short).

KIS Academics is an Australia-wide tutoring company that has helped thousands of students achieve their academic potential. Through these last few years, I've learned a thing or two about how tutoring works. Now it's my goal to grow KIS Academics and help more students across Australia achieve their dreams (and somehow complete my medical degree in one piece 😅)

In the last three years:

✅ We've helped C students get straight As.

✅ We've helped wannabe doctors get into Australia's best medical schools

✅ We've helped students who live in rural towns gain opportunities to go to metropolitan universities.

✅ We've helped students who hate maths find their passion for it

✅ We've even helped some students get into an IVY league college.

But rather than listening to me ramble on about how great KIS Academics is, book a free study skills consultation with one of our tutors and experience it firsthand!

KIS Academics
It's the people around you that help you achieve your potential

That's why we set out to hire only the best tutors in Australia.

High quality tutors at competitive prices.

We have hundreds of amazing, qualified online tutors offering top quality services, starting at just $47 per hour. Whether the student is in high school or primary school, we cater for all. So, why are our tutors so amazing compared to other companies? It's simple, we pay them better. We take a low commission so you can get top scoring private tutors at the best rates. Discover our team of dedicated tutors who specialize in various subjects, from Chemistry and Maths to English and UCAT, as well as offering support for high school, HSC, and VCE, and many more. View all tutoring locations.

What is Private Tutoring?

Private tutoring is the best option for anyone looking for individual, personalised help with their academic performance, especially for subjects like English, Math and Chemistry.
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Private tutors can provide you with structured lessons to teach curriculum content, while also being flexible enough to answer questions as they come up, help look over assignments and assist in exam revision.

A high quality private tutor from KIS is not only a knowledgeable teacher who can answer all your questions, but an understanding friend who once had to face the same struggles that you are facing now.

Are your tutors any good?

You bet - you should check out our reviews!
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KIS only hires the top tutors in each state.

We specifically hand pick and recruit the best tutors and top scorers of every year level, vet them with a thorough interview and application process, and then we take them through an intensive training program so that they become the best, most compassionate tutors who really know how to teach.
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On top of that, we don't just hire the best, we treat our tutors well with top rates, personal development opportunities, plentiful resources for their subjects, and 24/7 administrative support.

Are your tutors qualified teachers or graduate students?

KIS Academics aims to hire young tutors who are relatable, friendly but also super smart tutors who are great at explaining things.
We firmly believe that tutoring should be delivered by someone with a different perspective to teachers at school. This ensures that tutoring doesn't just become another few hours of school, but a completely personalised time where students are taught in a very different, and better way.
You can read more about this in our blog post: Should I get a graduate tutor, or a teacher?

Why are some tutors more expensive?

KIS Academics has an extensive process for hiring tutors. When deciding whether a tutor should be Gold ($70/hour), Platinum ($90/hour) or Executive ($150/hour), our team evaluate factors such as academic performance, years of tutoring experience, feedback and reviews from students, university experience and degrees, other qualifications and overall performance within KIS Academics.

The biggest consideration when upgrading tutors to Platinum or Executive is years of teaching experience and positive feedback and results from past students.
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As tutors develop their skillsets further and gain more experience and feedback, they progress through the three levels- ensuring high quality services to match the price they charge.

Here's more info on our pricing

How do payments work?

Payments with KIS Academics are super easy.
Your 30 minute study skills consultation with your tutor is free
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After your first lesson, we'll send an invoice to your email. You can pay it with your credit or debit card, or using Google or Apple Pay, just like when you buy something online! You can also pay via direct debit. Please note that we don't accept any other types of payment method.
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Please make sure to pay this invoice within 3 days of your it being emailed to you.
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All future invoices are billed after and only after lessons. We can save your card details to make payments easier, but if you don't want us to, just let us know at [email protected]. We'll never charge you before a lesson, and you'll always receive a receipt via email.
Here's some more information on how our payments work: How should I pay my tutor?

How long are lessons?

Lessons can be as long as you'd like them to be!

Because we provide private tutoring, all our services are personalised to you. So... if you'd like to do a 2 hour lesson in one week, just let your tutor know. If you'd like to do a 30 minute lesson in another week because you're really busy, just let your tutor know. If you want to make all of your sessions 1.5 hours instead of 1 hour... you guessed it! Just let your tutor know.

We're flexible and lessons can be the perfect length of time for the student.

How can I contact my tutor?

To request a tutor, just press the "Contact Me" button on your tutor's page and send them a message.

Your tutor will get in touch with you directly by giving you a phone call or sending you a text message.
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We recommend you save their mobile number as a contact in your phone, so you can get in touch with them easily in the future!

What happens during the study skills consultation?

Study skills consultations are a free, 30-minute meeting with your KIS Academics tutor.
While we are 100% certain that you'll love our tutors, students and tutors also need to have what we call a personality-match. Students need to like their tutor and be comfortable enough to share difficult problems, frustrating questions, and see them for a few extra hours every week.
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So, during this consultation session, tutors will focus on getting to know their student, finding out what their strengths and weaknesses are and then building a plan on how to get the most out of tutoring. You can read more about it here: Free One-to-One Study Skills Sessions

How do I organise lessons?

You can organise lessons directly with your tutor - no need to download any apps or go to any websites, text message and email will do the trick!
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Your tutor will be in contact with you via text or email to organise all lessons, meaning you can reschedule and reorganise lessons whenever you need to just by contacting them!

What happens during lessons?

Our lessons are completely personalised to the student.
Every lesson is unique, and the sole focus of the tutor is to help a student find their weak spots, then help them overcome these.
Because our lessons are completely personalised, what happens during lessons is entirely up to you!
If you have specific content or questions to go over with your tutor, you can do that with them.
If you don't, your tutor will have a vast array of curriculum resources and content to go through with you.

We usually recommend our tutors to spend the first part of the lesson working through any questions the student has, then to go through curriculum content together, and finally summarise and make plans for the next lesson at the end.

I want a different tutor, can I ask for someone else?

Yes of course!
KIS Academics prides itself on matching students with the best tutor for them . We are successful at doing this 92% of the time.
We rarely have people ask for a different tutor.
If you do need someone else, for whatever reason, please contact us by emailing [email protected] or calling us on +61 485 868 009.

What if I need to cancel a lesson?

That's okay! We know life gets busy, so we can be flexible around your schedule too.

All you need to do is get in touch with your tutor directly and reschedule the lesson for another time.

However, please keep in mind that we have a cancellation policy - if you cancel a lesson less than 1 hour before the time you arranged with your tutor, you'll get charged 100% of the lesson fee. This is to ensure our tutors' time is respected.

So please, if you need to cancel or move a lesson, do it well in advance!

You can find more details about this in our Terms of Service and Cancellation Policy

Can I get access to the online resources?

Yep! All KIS Academics Private Tutoring students will get access to KIS Plus. KIS Plus gives you access to 25+ Online courses for the Australian Curriculum worth over $12,000 dollars.

As a private tutoring student, you'll get access completely for free! Learn more about KIS Plus resources

Are there any terms and conditions?

Yep! You can find all the details in our Terms of Service.

The 3 main policies you should know for private tutoring are:
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1. Regular lessons generate results. If you skip more than 3 consecutive weeks of lessons with us, you'll lose your tutoring position with KIS Academics
2. Lesson timing is flexible, but if you fail to show up or cancel less than 1 hour before a lesson, you'll be charged a last-minute-cancellation fee
3. Payments are all done online via TutorPay, and you'll only ever be charged after a lesson. Please make sure to complete any lesson payments within 3 days.
Free 30 minute Study Skills Assessment

Paying for an initial lesson with a tutor you've never met is absolutely crazy! And surprisingly, that's what most tutoring places will ask you to do. We think you deserve to meet your tutor and make sure they're the right fit for you - free of charge. Request a tutor and they will reach out to you to organise this free trial session!

Online courses to rival any classroom

Skeptical about online courses? Trust us, you won't be for long. With tutors specifically trained to deliver content online and use the latest and greatest teaching tools, we'll make you wish you had done things with KIS from the start. You can watch, rewatch, revise and review content as often as you need to. Starting at only $8 per week.

We're proud of our reviews.

It's hard to express just how much we care that you have a great experience with us. We invite you to look us up on Facebook, TrustPilot, Instagram and Google. There's plenty of amazing stories from our previous customers.
Click below to see all our reviews on posted on our Wall of Love ❤️

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