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ACE Rules

Clarified ACE Rules came into effect on 14 October 2024. These rules apply to students commencing HSC courses from Term 4 2024, for students sitting for HSC exams in 2025, and for students receiving the RoSA from October 2024.

For students sitting for HSC exams in 2024, the previous ACE Online rules continue to apply.

To learn more about how NESA has clarified the ACE Rules, refer to the information sheets.

Course completion

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Updated 03 Jul 2024

NESA has not changed its requirements for course completion, non-completion and appeals.

All current ACE Online rules concerning course completion, non-completion and appeals have been transferred to the NSW Curriculum website without change to content. Schools should continue to follow their existing processes for course completion, non-completion and appeals until NESA publishes clarified requirements.

View all changes

Sections 11 and 94 of the Education Act 1990 (NSW) set out the curriculum requirements and eligibility requirements for the award of the RoSA.

Sections 12, 95 and 95A of the Education Act 1990 (NSW) set out the curriculum requirements and eligibility requirements for the award of the HSC.

Categories

K–10RoSA

Criteria for satisfactory completion of a course

  1. A student is considered to have satisfactorily completed a course if, in the principal’s view, there is sufficient evidence that the student has:
    1. followed the course developed or endorsed by NESA; and
    2. applied themselves with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks and experiences provided in the course by the school; and
    3. achieved some or all of the course outcomes.
  2. NESA does not set a minimum attendance for the satisfactory completion of a course. The principal may determine that, as a result of absence, the above course completion criteria might not be met. Clearly, such absences are serious and principals must give students early written warning of the consequences of non-completion of course requirements. The warning must relate the student’s absence to the non-completion of the course requirements.

Record of School Achievement – attendance in relation to satisfactory completion of a Stage 5 course

  1. Where a student’s attendance pattern may jeopardise the satisfactory completion of a mandatory and/or Stage 5 course, the reason for absence and its likely effect on the student’s course progress should be established.
  2. Principals should consider:
    1. the nature and duration of the absence;
    2. the standing of the student within the course at the time of the absence;
    3. the student’s prior pattern of attendance, application and achievement; and
    4. the ability and commitment of the student to compensate for the classroom experiences missed.
  3. Leave may be granted to cover absence from the school’s educational program for short periods, provided that the reason for the absence is substantial and that the progress of the student towards course outcomes will not be unduly affected.
  4. When leave is granted by the principal, such leave should not, of itself, jeopardise the student’s eligibility for the Record of School Achievement.
  5. In cases of prolonged absence and/or where the principal is not satisfied that course completion criteria can be met or that progress can be maintained, the principal may judge that catching up is not feasible. As far as possible, early warning of the consequences for a student of such an absence should be given. The warning must relate the absence to the non-completion of course requirements.

Record of School Achievement – procedures for dealing with absences in Years 7–10

Absence through illness and/or physical injury

  1. In the case of prolonged or recurring illness or injury, a medical certificate will be accepted as satisfactory evidence of legitimate absence.
  2. In many instances, school work may be undertaken while at home or in hospital. In this way, the principal may be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence for deeming that a student has met course requirements and achieved the outcomes of the course.
  3. A student affected by long-term illness may elect to accumulate the Record of School Achievement. The student will then be graded with the cohort of students with whom he or she completes each course.

Absence on holidays

  1. It may be possible for compensatory assignments to be negotiated, completed and posted back to school by students who are absent on holidays. In this way, the principal may be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence for deeming that a student has met course requirements and achieved the outcomes of the course.
  2. Some students may be judged able to catch up missed work upon return, in order to meet course requirements and achieve the outcomes of the course.

Absence without satisfactory explanation

  1. Any unsatisfactorily explained absence, or series of unexplained absences, if the length or pattern is extensive, may result in a course(s) not being satisfactorily completed. Warning letters to the student/parent must indicate how the absence may result in non-completion of course requirements and must set out the steps necessary for the student to satisfactorily complete the course(s).

Absence prior to the final date for Year 10 

  1. It is a requirement for the award of the Record of School Achievement that students attend until the final day of Year 10 as determined by the school system concerned or by the principal of non-systemic schools. In all cases, schools are to ensure that syllabus outcomes and course study requirements, including indicative hours of study as specified by NESA are met.

Related ACE Rules

For further information

For enquiries about course completion in Stage 5, please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For further information, please contact your region’s NESA Liaison Officer on (02) 9367 8387 or by email liaisonteam@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credentialHSC (curriculum)PreliminaryVET

Satisfactory completion of a Preliminary or Higher School Certificate course: course completion criteria

  1. The following course completion criteria refer to both Preliminary and HSC courses. A student will be considered to have satisfactorily completed a course if, in the principal’s view, there is sufficient evidence that the student has:
    1. followed the course developed or endorsed by NESA; and
    2. applied themselves with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks and experiences provided in the course by the school; and
    3. achieved some or all of the course outcomes.

Satisfactory completion of a Preliminary course

  1. A student will be considered to have satisfactorily completed a Preliminary course if, in the principal’s view, there is sufficient evidence that the student has met the course completion criteria.
  2. Satisfactory completion of the Preliminary course or its equivalent is a prerequisite for entry into an HSC course.

Satisfactory completion of an HSC course

  1. Students studying an HSC course must make a genuine attempt to complete the course requirements. It is a matter for the teacher’s professional judgement to determine whether a student has made a genuine attempt to complete the requirements.
  2. For courses where school-based assessment marks are submitted, students must make a genuine attempt at assessment tasks that contribute in excess of 50 percent of the available marks. It is emphasised that completion of assessment tasks worth exactly 50 percent is not sufficient; tasks worth in excess of 50 percent must be attempted. Furthermore, the student must fulfil the course completion criteria.
  3. A course will not be listed on the RoSA unless both of these conditions are met.
  4. In the case of competency-based courses, where a student has not successfully completed any units of competency, it is a matter for the teacher’s professional judgement to determine whether the attempts made by the student to complete the course are genuine.
  5. Where students are studying an HSC course that includes a requisite examination, students must sit for and make a genuine attempt at the examination.
  6. If it is determined that a student has not made a genuine attempt to complete the course requirements, the principal must indicate on the appropriate documentation that the course has not been satisfactorily completed.
  7. Students studying Loading...must complete the mandatory work placement hours in order to be deemed satisfactory.
  8. Until a student presenting for a Higher School Certificate has satisfactorily completed courses totalling at least 12 units of Preliminary courses and 10 units of HSC courses that satisfy NESA's pattern of study requirements, the student will not be eligible to receive the award of a Higher School Certificate.

Satisfactory completion of an HSC course: HSC assessment

  1. In addition to any other set tasks and experiences in any HSC course, students must complete HSC assessment tasks that contribute in excess of 50 percent of available marks in courses where school-based assessment marks are submitted.

Completion of HSC school-based assessment tasks

  1. NESA expects students to attempt all assessment tasks set.
  2. For all Board Developed Courses (except Life Skills courses) NESA requires all students to follow an assessment program and have a school-based assessment mark submitted. There are different formal assessment requirements for VET courses.
  3. The minimum requirement is that the student must make a genuine attempt at assessment tasks that contribute in excess of 50 percent of available marks in the course.
  4. A student who does not comply with the assessment requirements and receives a non-completion determination in a course will have neither an assessment mark nor an examination mark awarded for that course.
  5. In the case of Extension courses, students who do not comply with the minimum assessment requirements for any co-requisite course will not receive a result in either course.

Satisfactory completion of a course: Extension Preliminary and HSC courses

  1. Preliminary English Extension (60 hours);
    1. Concurrent with or after completing Preliminary English Advanced;
    2. Completion of Preliminary English Advanced and Preliminary English Extension.
  2. HSC English Extension 1 (60 hours);
    1. Concurrent with or after completing HSC English Advanced;
    2. Completion of Preliminary English Advanced and Preliminary English Extension.
  3. HSC English Extension 2 (60 hours);
    1. Concurrent with or after completing HSC English Advanced and HSC English Extension 1.
  4. Preliminary Mathematics Extension (60 hours);
    1. Concurrent with or after completing Preliminary Mathematics Advanced.
  5. HSC Mathematics Extension 1 (60 hours);
    1. Concurrent with or after completing Preliminary Mathematics Advanced, Preliminary Mathematics Extension 1 and HSC Mathematics Advanced.
  6. HSC Mathematics Extension 2 (60 hours);
    1. Completion of Preliminary Mathematics Advanced and Preliminary Mathematics Extension 1;
    2. Concurrent with or after completing HSC Mathematics Extension 1 Course.1
  7. Science Extension (60 hours);
    1. Completion of at least one Preliminary science course;
    2. Concurrent with or after completing at least one HSC science course.
  8. All other HSC Extension courses (60 hours);
    1. Completion of Preliminary course;
    2. Concurrent with or after completing the HSC course.
  9. VET Curriculum Framework Extension Courses (60 hours);
    1. Concurrent with or after completing the corresponding 240-hour course;
    2. Refer to syllabus documents on NESA's website.

Online resources

Related ACE Rules

For further information

For enquiries about course completion in Preliminary and HSC courses, please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For further information, please contact your region’s NESA Liaison Officer on (02) 9367 8387 or by email liaisonteam@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. Note: schools can be flexible when programming the Mathematics Extension 1 course in order to meet the needs of their students. Topics from the Mathematics Extension 1 HSC course may be taught before all the topics of the Mathematics Extension 1 Preliminary course have been taught.