Formal assessment programs and tasks
Updated 02 Apr 2025
NESA has added a new footnote to Rule 2.1.2 outlining the types of feedback that may be provided to students for individual HSC assessment tasks (see paragraph 34).
NESA is authorised under section 20A of the Education Act 1990 (NSW) to prepare and distribute to schools information relating to the conduct of exams and other forms of assessment for HSC candidates.
Assessment tasks must be accessible to students with disability under the Disability Standards for Education 2005.
Glossary
Actions taken to enable a student with disability to access and participate in education on the same basis as other students, in accordance with the Disability Standards for Education 2005.
The varied types of activities that enable a student to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding so that a teacher can gather evidence on student performance relative to the syllabus outcomes.
A course developed by NESA, that includes general education courses, Life Skills courses and VET Industry Curriculum Framework courses.
A course that caters to the learning needs of students in specific areas of need not served by Board Developed courses. Before they can be taught in NSW schools, they must be endorsed by NESA. These courses count towards the HSC but do not have an HSC exam and do not contribute towards the calculation of the ATAR. There are four types: Content Endorsed courses (CECs), School Developed Board Endorsed courses (SDBECs), University Developed Board Endorsed courses (UDBECs), and VET Board Endorsed courses (VET BECs).
The process to determine the most appropriate curriculum options and adjustments for a student with disability. It should take place within the broader context of personalised planning that includes interventions and other supports to address identified student learning and support needs.
Generic, holistic descriptions of typical performance at each of 5 grade levels that can be used to identify and report student achievement in both primary and junior secondary years in NSW schools.
A similar summative assessment task. A comparable assessment task or activity will assess the same or similar outcomes as those of the original task, and uses the same or similar marking guidelines.
A student's final position within a school/course group. This is determined by a student's final submitted school-based assessment mark, provided by the school.
A program of assessment established by a school prior to the start of each Preliminary and HSC course and shared with students. NESA requires that the program comprises: school-based assessment policies and procedures; course-specific assessment schedules; assessment tasks; and retained documentation.
A task that students undertake as part of the school-based assessment program, reflecting specific course requirements, components and weightings.
A medical incident or condition which allegedly impacted the student’s performance in the exam. For example, an asthma attack or bleeding nose during the exam.
Invalid results occur when an assessment does not measure the learning that it intends to. For example, if a maths task relies heavily on reading it may be assessing literacy and not maths. Unreliable results occur when the marking criteria does not align with the task or is not applied consistently.
Any attempt and/or dishonest behaviour to gain an unfair advantage over other students, and/or knowingly assisting other students to engage in malpractice.
Syllabus components that must be taught and assessed.
An incident or event that is unexpected; and is beyond a student's control; and prevents attendance or diminishes exam performance.
A task that can be used as a replacement, if necessary, for another. It must assess the same outcomes and apply the same marking guidelines.
A course designed by a university and endorsed by NESA that supplements and extends HSC curriculum in areas not covered by Board Developed courses or other types of Board Endorsed courses. Intended for high-achieving students in Stage 6 (Year 11 and/or Year 12). UDBECs count as Board Endorsed unit credit for the HSC but do not contribute towards an ATAR.
Any item of work completed by the student and graded by the teacher.