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Course entries, changes and exclusions

Last updated:
Previous rule
Updated 02 Apr 2025

NESA has made a number of changes across Course entries, changes and exclusions. These changes include:

  • phrasing changes to better reflect how schools can support students with disability to review and sign their Confirmation of Entry forms.
  • resequencing of rules for better navigation and user experience.

Rule 3.3.2 Course entries for Stage 5

NESA has simplified the language in Rule 3.3.2 to improve the clarity of Stage 5 course entry requirements.

A new footnote reminding schools to submit courses entries for any 100-hour elective courses completed by students in Year 9 when submitting Year 10 course entries has been added to Rule: 3.3.2 (see paragraph 9).

NESA has also made changes to the requirements for entering students in the mandatory PDPHE course to align with course entry options in Schools Online. Schools must enter students into either the 100-hour or 200-hour PDHPE course in Stage 5 (see paragraph 12).

Rule 3.3.3 Course entries for Preliminary and HSC courses

The changes:

  • clarify that Stage 6 course entries in any given year include entries for students accelerating into and/or accumulating Stage 6 courses in that year (see paragraph 19.b)
  • outline procedures for confirming and amending Stage 6 course entries, which was an oversight in its omission from the ACE Rule.

Rule 3.3.5 Course changes

NESA has made changes across Rule: 3.3.5 including phrasing changes and the resequencing of content within this rule.

Changes emphasise student agency in decisions concerning course changes and clearly differentiate the requirements for withdrawing from an HSC course from the requirements for withdrawing from an optional HSC exam.

A new footnote outlining contact information for schools with students seeking to withdraw from an HSC course after having completed a practical or performance exam has been added to the rule (see paragraph 48).

Rule 3.3.6 Course exclusions

A new paragraph outlining course exclusions for students undertaking Stage 6 Life Skills courses has been added to Rule 3.3.6 (see paragraph 64).

View all changes

NESA is authorised under sections 20A(2), 94 and 95 of the Education Act 1990 (NSW) to exercise functions in connection with the RoSA and the HSC, including:

  • entering students into courses of study
  • making decisions in relation to student eligibility to undertake courses of study approved by the Minister.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credentialHSC (curriculum)Life SkillsPreliminaryRoSASchools Online

Producing a Confirmation of Entry

  1. Schools must:
    1. provide a Confirmation of Entry to every student entered as soon as course entries are completed
    2. ensure students review their Confirmation of Entry
    3. ensure a signature is recorded on the Confirmation of Entry, which may be either:
      1. physically (a handwritten mark of approval) on a hard copy; or
      2. digitally
    4. ensure students with disability are supported1 to review and sign their Confirmation of Entry
    5. retain digital or hard copies of the Confirmation of Entry for 24 months, and
    6. provide a copy of a student’s signed Confirmation of Entry to NESA upon request.
  2. Students must review and sign their Confirmation of Entry physically or digitally.

Amending student entries

  1. Schools must:
    1. make amendments to student entries in Loading , as required
    2. provide a new Confirmation of Entry for an amended student entry
    3. ensure students review their new Confirmation of Entry and a signature is recorded as per the process in Producing a Confirmation of Entry, and 
    4. ensure students with disability are supported2 to review and sign their Confirmation of Entry.
  2. Students must sign their new Confirmation of Entry physically or digitally.

Leaving or transferring students

  1. Schools must:
    1. withdraw students who leave the school in Loading  as soon as the student ceases participating at the school, and
    2. enter students who transfer in from another school in Schools Online as soon as the student commences participating at the school.

Related ACE Rules

For further information

Please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. Students with disability may use assistive technology to produce a signature or other identifying mark. Some students with disability may require support to understand the document. In some instances, it may be appropriate for a parent/carer to sign on their behalf.

  2. Students with disability may use assistive technology to produce a signature or other identifying mark. Some students with disability may require support to understand the document. In some instances, it may be appropriate for a parent/carer to sign on their behalf.

Categories

K–10RoSALife SkillsSchools Online

Entering students into mandatory Years 7–10 curriculum requirements

  1. Students are automatically entered in the mandatory Years 7–10 curriculum requirements for English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Languages, Music, Visual Arts, Technology and PDHPE.
  2. The mandatory Years 7–10 curriculum requirements are not the same as Stage 5 course entries.

Entering students into Stage 5 courses

  1. Schools must enter students for Year 10 in Loading  by the due date published by NESA in the Loading .
  2. Schools must enter students into the Stage 5 (Year 10) courses that they are undertaking for the current calendar year1 by the due date published by NESA in the Loading , including courses studied outside the school.2 
  3. Students are automatically entered in the mandatory 200-hour Stage 5 courses in English, Mathematics and Science, and the mandatory 100-hour courses in Geography and History.
  4. Schools must enter students into the correct mandatory PDHPE course in Stage 5, depending on the timetabled hours for PDHPE in Years 9 and 10.

Entering students in the mandatory PDHPE course in Stage 5

  1. Schools must enter students into the correct mandatory PDHPE course. Depending on the school’s arrangements for delivering the mandatory PDHPE course in Years 7–10, schools must:
    1. enter students who undertake 200 hours of PDHPE throughout Years 9 and 10 into the 200‑hour PDHPE course, or
    2. enter students who study 100 hours or more (but less than 200 hours) of PDHPE during Years 9 and 10 into the 100‑hour course.

Entering students in Stage 5 elective courses

  1. Schools delivering Stage 5 elective courses must enter students into 100-hour and 200-hour courses when entering students into Year 10 in Loading .
  2. If a student commences studying a 200-hour course in Year 9, completes 100 hours of the course by the end of Year 9, but cannot complete 200 hours by the end of Year 10, schools must:
    1. withdraw the student from the 200-hour course, and
    2. enter the student in the correct 100-hour course to recognise the study that the student has completed3.

Confirming Stage 5 course entries

  1. Schools must:
    1. provide a Confirmation of Entry to every student entered as soon as course entries are completed
    2. ensure students review their Confirmation of Entry
    3. ensure a signature is recorded on the Confirmation of Entry, which may be either:
      1. physically (a handwritten mark of approval) on a hard copy; or
      2. digitally
    4. ensure students with disability are supported4 to review and sign their Confirmation of Entry
    5. retain digital or hard copies of the Confirmation of Entry for 24 months, and
    6. provide a copy of a student’s signed Confirmation of Entry to NESA upon request.
  2. Students must review and sign their Confirmation of Entry physically or digitally.

Amending Stage 5 course entries

  1. Schools must:
    1. make amendments to student entries in Loading , as required
    2. provide a new Confirmation of Entry for an amended student entry
    3. ensure students review their new Confirmation of Entry and a signature is recorded as per the processes in Confirming Stage 5 course entries, and
    4. ensure students with disability are supported5 to review and sign their new Confirmation of Entry
  2. Students must sign their new Confirmation of Entry physically or digitally.

Online resources

Related ACE Rules

For further information

Please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. This includes students accumulating or accelerating into Stage 5 (Year 10) courses in the current calendar year.

  2. For 100-hour elective courses completed in Year 9, schools enter students in the course when submitting course entries for Stage 5 (Year 10), for them to be reported on the RoSA/HSC. VET course entries differ from general education courses.

  3. For example, a student studying a 200-hour elective course may transfer schools partway through Year 10 to a school where they cannot continue studying the elective course.

  4. Students with disability may use assistive technology to produce a signature or other identifying mark. Some students with disability may require support to understand the document. In some instances, it may be appropriate for a parent/carer to sign on their behalf.

  5. Students with disability may use assistive technology to produce a signature or other identifying mark. Some students with disability may require support to understand the document. In some instances, it may be appropriate for a parent/carer to sign on their behalf.

Categories

HSC credentialHSC (curriculum)Life SkillsPreliminaryRoSASchools Online

Entry requirements for Preliminary and HSC courses

  1. Schools must:
    1. submit student entries to NESA in Loading  by the due date published in the Loading , and
    2. enter students for the courses they are undertaking1, including courses studied outside the school.
  2. Principals must certify students’ completion of All My Own Work (or its equivalent) in Schools Online before submitting student entries for Preliminary and HSC courses.
  3. Students studying a full Stage 6 Life Skills pattern are not required to complete All My Own Work.

Entering provisionally-entered Preliminary students into HSC courses

  1. Principals must, at the time of HSC entry, be satisfied that a student who has provisionally entered Preliminary courses has satisfactorily completed the equivalent of Year 10. 
  2. Principals may base their judgement on the student’s satisfactory study of Preliminary courses.

Entering new students into HSC courses for the first time

  1. Principals have discretion to enter a student entering into a NSW school for the first time2 into HSC courses in that year if they are satisfied that the student:
    1. has achieved equivalent outcomes to those of the requisite Preliminary courses
    2. has the equivalent of a certificate awarded at the end of Year 10, or end of secondary schooling by another jurisdiction, or have satisfactorily completed study until Year 10, and
    3. is able to enter in sufficient time:
      1. to meet all the requirements of the HSC courses, and
      2. for the school to provide assessment mark(s).
  2. Schools must enter students into HSC courses no later than 30 June each year. Students arriving after 30 September of the HSC course year may not sit for the HSC exam in the same year. Schools cannot enter students into courses after the due date published in the Loading  for the submission of assessment marks.

Confirming Stage 6 course entries

  1. Schools must:
    1. provide a Confirmation of Entry to every student entered as soon as course entries are completed
    2. ensure students review their Confirmation of Entry
    3. ensure a signature is recorded on the Confirmation of Entry, which may be either:
      1. physically (a handwritten mark of approval) on a hard copy; or
      2. digitally
    4. ensure students with disability are supported3 to review and sign their Confirmation of Entry
    5. retain digital or hard copies of the Confirmation of Entry for 24 months, and
    6. provide a copy of a student’s signed Confirmation of Entry to NESA upon request.
  2. Students must review and sign their Confirmation of Entry physically or digitally.

Amending Stage 6 course entries

  1. Schools must:
    1. make amendments to student entries in Loading , as required
    2. provide a new Confirmation of Entry for an amended student entry
    3. ensure students review their new Confirmation of Entry and a signature is recorded as per the processes in Confirming Stage 6 course entries, and
    4. ensure students with disability are supported4 to review and sign their new Confirmation of Entry. 
  2. Students must sign their new Confirmation of Entry physically or digitally. 

Online resources

Related ACE Rules

For further information

Please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. This includes students accumulating or accelerating into Stage 6 courses in the current calendar year.

  2. A student entering a NSW school for the first time may include interstate, intrastate, or overseas students, as well as students from registered but unaccredited schools or former home-schooling students.

  3. Students with disability may use assistive technology to produce a signature or other identifying mark. Some students with disability may require support to understand the document. In some instances, it may be appropriate for a parent/carer to sign on their behalf.

  4. Students with disability may use assistive technology to produce a signature or other identifying mark. Some students with disability may require support to understand the document. In some instances, it may be appropriate for a parent/carer to sign on their behalf.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credentialHSC (curriculum)Life SkillsPreliminaryRoSASchools OnlineVET

Preliminary courses

  1. A student who leaves a NSW school before the completion of Year 10 and returns after the start of the Preliminary course1 may enter the Preliminary course if their principal is satisfied that they have studied subjects broadly comparable to Stage 5 courses while outside the NSW system.
  2. A student returning after the start of the Preliminary course must provide to their principal:
    1. details of the content of courses studied while outside the NSW system, and
    2. certification that they satisfactorily studied the courses while absent from the NSW system.

HSC courses

  1. A student who leaves a NSW school after the start of a Preliminary course and returns before 30 June in a subsequent year may be eligible to enter for the HSC that year if:
    1. the principal is satisfied that the student has achieved the Preliminary course outcomes while outside the NSW system, and
    2. the school can provide assessment data for all HSC courses entered in that year2.
  2. Students returning before 30 June must:
    1. provide results and/or documentation about courses or subjects studied while outside the NSW system to their principal
    2. take responsibility for adhering to HSC course requirements outlined in the relevant syllabus package
    3. comply with all HSC course requirements for every course entered, including submitting works as part of HSC external exam requirements for courses with submitted works, and
    4. if entering a VET course, meet all VET course requirements, including indicative hours.
  3. In determining whether a student has achieved the Preliminary course outcomes while outside the NSW school system, principals may:
    1. consider whether the student’s schooling experience outside NSW has been broadly comparable to that attainable through the NSW system, and
    2. request results obtained and documentation about courses or subjects studied by the student while outside the NSW system.3
  4. When considering whether an assessment mark can be provided, schools must determine the returning student’s ranking in a course by considering their available assessment task marks with the set of marks for other students in the same course4.

Students returning after 30 June or in atypical study patterns

  1. Please contact Manager, Liaison Unit on (02) 9367 8387 or by email at liaisonteam@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Related ACE Rules

For further information

Please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. For example, an exchange student.

  2. Assessment data includes HSC assessment marks; and/or grades; and/or optional exam estimated marks; and/or Life Skills outcomes. If the school cannot provide an assessment mark, the student is not eligible to enter for the HSC exam for that course in that year.

  3. For example, course or subject guidelines, school reports or work samples.

  4. In general, students should not have to do tasks they missed as a result of schooling experience outside the NSW education system.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC (curriculum)K–10PreliminarySchools Online

Changing Stage 5 elective courses

  1. Students may request a change of Stage 5 elective courses.
  2. Principals may approve changes of Stage 5 elective courses:
    1. that they consider are in a student’s best interest, and
    2. if there is sufficient time for students to demonstrate achievement of the outcomes and content of each new course.

Changing Preliminary courses

  1. Students may request a change of Preliminary courses.
  2. Principals have discretion to make decisions regarding students’ changes of Preliminary courses. In allowing a change of a Preliminary course, principals must be satisfied that the student can demonstrate achievement of the outcomes and content, and satisfactorily complete the new course in the time available.
  3. Principals may contact Manager, Liaison Unit for advice regarding students in atypical circumstances on (02) 9367 8387 or by email at liaisonteam@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Changing HSC courses

  1. Students may request a change of HSC courses.
  2. Principals have discretion to make decisions regarding students’ changes of HSC courses. In allowing students to start a new HSC course during the HSC year, principals must:
    1. not enter students in HSC courses after 30 June in the HSC exam year; and
    2. be satisfied that the student:
      1. has satisfactorily demonstrated achievement of the Preliminary course outcomes and content (or equivalent) of the course they wish to enter, and
      2. will be able to complete all HSC course requirements, including assessment requirements, and
    3. advise students of any consequences arising from the change, including eligibility and pattern of study requirements.
  3. Principals may allow students to begin study of the HSC course while concurrently completing Preliminary course requirements.
  4. NESA will record the completed Preliminary course on a student’s RoSA or HSC Record of Achievement, regardless of whether the corresponding HSC course is completed.

Changing HSC courses for students transferring schools within NSW

  1. Students transferring from one NSW school to another may:
    1. continue studying an HSC course they were previously studying at their new school, or
    2. if the HSC course is not available at their new school, continue studying the HSC course with an external provider or an outside tutor.
  2. Principals may allow a student to change HSC courses before 30 June if the HSC course is not available for study:
    1. at the new school, or
    2. with an external provider or an outside tutor.

Withdrawing students from HSC courses

  1. Students may withdraw from an HSC course prior to the HSC written exam.1
  2. Principals must advise students of any consequences arising from the change, including implications for eligibility and pattern of study requirements.
  3. Schools must withdraw students from HSC courses:
    1. in Loading , if the withdrawal occurs before the due date for submission of HSC school assessment data to NESA, or
    2. by emailing NESA at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au, if the withdrawal occurs after the due date for submission of HSC school assessment data2 to NESA.

Withdrawing students from the Mathematics Extension 2 course

  1. Students withdrawing from the Mathematics Extension 2 course but continuing in the Mathematics Extension 1 HSC course must be entered into (or have already completed) the Mathematics Advanced HSC course.
  2. Withdrawing from Mathematics Extension 2 and continuing in the Mathematics Extension 1 HSC course is only permitted:
    1. if the school can provide a valid assessment mark for the Mathematics Advanced HSC course, if the course has not been completed previously3
    2. up to the due date for submission of HSC school assessment data to NESA.

Withdrawing students from optional HSC exams for which they have been entered

  1. Students may withdraw from an optional HSC exam, prior to the HSC exam, for the following courses:
    1. Stage 6 VET Industry Curriculum Frameworks (Frameworks)
    2. English Studies
    3. Mathematics Standard 1.
  2. Schools must withdraw students from an optional exam who have informed their school that they will not be sitting the optional HSC exam.
  3. Schools must withdraw students from optional HSC exams:
    1. in Loading , if the withdrawal occurs before the due date for submission of optional HSC exam estimated marks to NESA, or
    2. by emailing NESA at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au, if the withdrawal occurs after the due date for the submission of optional HSC exam estimated marks to NESA.
  4. NESA will not report the withdrawn optional HSC exam on the RoSA or HSC.

Online resources

Related ACE Rules

For further information

Please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For advice regarding students in atypical circumstances please contact Manager, Liaison Unit on (02) 9367 8387 or by email at liaisonteam@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. Schools with students wishing to withdraw after having completed a practical or performance exam must contact NESA by emailing records@nesa.nsw.edu.au

  2. Assessment data includes HSC assessment marks; and/or grades; and/or optional exam estimated marks; and/or Life Skills outcomes.

  3. If the Mathematics Advanced HSC course has not been completed previously, schools must enter students into this course.

Categories

HSC credentialHSC (curriculum)Life SkillsPreliminaryVET

Course exclusions in HSC pattern of study

  1. NESA excludes students from entering into certain combinations of HSC courses. Exclusions for each HSC course are identified in the HSC course descriptions on the Loading .
  2. Schools are responsible for ensuring students understand and adhere to the exclusions which apply to HSC courses. Students must comply with pattern of study requirements.
  3. For students studying both VET and general education courses, schools must check course exclusions, including options.

HSC Languages courses

  1. A student can only count one of the following CCAFL languages in their pattern of study: Croatian, Macedonian or Serbian.
  2. For exclusions for Languages courses, refer to the NESA website.

Content endorsed courses

  1. Schools are responsible for ensuring students understand and adhere to the exclusions which apply to Content Endorsed courses. These exclusions may be course exclusions, or content exclusions in particular courses.

Course exclusions – Life Skills

  1. Students entered into a course based on Life Skills outcomes and content from one or more syllabuses cannot be entered into any other general education course drawn from the same syllabus(es).
  2. Students entered into a Life Skills course cannot also be entered into the equivalent Stage 6 general education course.

Online resources

Related ACE Rules

For further information

For general curriculum enquiries, please email curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

All My Own Work (AMOW)

An educational program designed to support students to follow the principles and practices of good scholarship before they are entered into Preliminary and/or HSC courses.

Collaborative Curriculum and Assessment Framework for Languages (CCAFL)

National collaborative curriculum and assessment model that provides a common framework for syllabus development and external assessment across small candidature languages. It supports the provision of high-quality languages education at the senior secondary level.

Confirmation of Entry

A report generated by schools, using Schools Online, for each student. It contains: a student's personal details, their NESA student number, courses, and whether or not they are eligible for the HSC and an ATAR.

Content Endorsed course (CEC)

A course developed by NESA, that caters to the learning needs of students in specific areas of need not served by Board Developed courses.

elective courses

100 or 200-hour courses of study additional to the NESA mandatory curriculum, which can be studied through Years 7–10.

external provider

A separate entity to the school that delivers an entire course to the student(s). These courses may be delivered on school premises or elsewhere, but the school remains primarily responsible for each student.

HSC Record of Achievement

A cumulative record of all Preliminary and HSC courses satisfactorily completed by a student. Issued to students who fulfill the requirements for the award of the HSC. It details a student's HSC Stage 6 results, Preliminary Stage 6 grades, and, if applicable, Stage 5 grades; and personalised course reports for relevant HSC courses.

illness

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.

misadventure

An incident or event that is unexpected; and is beyond a student's control; and prevents attendance or diminishes exam performance.

outside tutor

An individual who is not a member of the school’s teaching staff but is approved by a school to deliver a specified course of study that is part of the curriculum. They are not casual teachers or people who provide specialist expertise for part of a course under the supervision of a teacher.

Stage 6 VET Industry Curriculum Framework (Framework)

Syllabuses developed by NESA to provide students with the opportunity to gain industry-recognised national vocational qualifications (Certificate or Statement of Attainment) under the AQF as part of their HSC. Courses within a Framework count as Board Developed unit credit for the HSC, and include an optional HSC exam which provides the opportunity for students to have this HSC exam mark contribute to the calculation of their ATAR.

work sample

Any item of work completed by the student and graded by the teacher.