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Conducting HSC exams

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Updated 22 Sep 2025

NESA has made the following changes to Rules 7.1.2, 7.1.4, and 7.1.5.

Rule 7.1.2 Provision of accommodation as an exam centre or exam room

Changes clarify:

  • what preparations schools must have for alternative exam centres (see paragraph 6)
  • the circumstances in which a student may be required to attend an exam centre in another school (see paragraph 10).

Rule 7.1.4 Presiding Officers

Paragraph 22 has been updated to accurately reflect the:

  • exams that school staff are required to assist with (see paragraph 22.b)
  • the type of assistances exam IT coordinators may provide for online exams (see paragraph 22.c).

A new footnote clarifying Presiding Officer eligibility for persons that have previously acted as supervisors in school-based exams has been added to the rule (see paragraph 20.b, footnote 1).

Rule 7.1.5 HSC exam supervisors

HSC exam supervisor eligibility requirements have been clarified (see paragraph 25), including for persons that have previously acted as supervisors in school-based exams (see paragraph 25.e, footnote 1). 

View all changes

NESA is authorised under section 20A of the Education Act 1990 (NSW) to:

  • determine rules and procedures for the conduct of the HSC exams
  • prepare and distribute to schools information relating to the conduct of exams for HSC candidates.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credential

About conducting HSC exams

  1. NESA develops and publishes the Loading  each year. The published timetable is final, and individual times and dates of exams are not subject to change to accommodate individual circumstances1.
  2. For HSC exams, schools must:
    1. provide suitable accommodation and equipment
    2. nominate a Presiding Officer
    3. nominate HSC exam supervisors
    4. have a school delegate available for the full duration of each exam session
    5. have appropriate school staff to check exam equipment prior to a scheduled exam
    6. nominate an exam IT coordinator for online exams and audio files (if required), and
    7. receipt and securely store exam answer booklets and other sensitive materials.

Online resources

Related ACE Rules

For further information

For enquiries about conducting HSC exams, including clarification on the eligibility requirements for exam staff, please contact NESA on 1800 200 955 or by email at presidingofficers@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. For example, weddings, holidays or sport. NESA may use its discretion for eligible HSC students who have approved disability provisions.

Categories

HSC credentialHSC (assessment)

About provision of accommodation

  1. NESA approves an exam centre based on the:
    1. number of students sitting an exam in an exam centre, and
      1. schools must demonstrate evidence of 25 students for at least one exam session1
    2. the proximity of an exam centre to other schools.
  2. Schools must provide accommodation for HSC exams that:
    1. is adequately lit and ventilated
    2. is free from as much external noise as possible
    3. is accessible for all students
    4. caters for the needs of students with approved disability provisions, and
    5. complies with any additional requirements specified by NESA.
  3. Schools must make assembly halls, multipurpose centres and gymnasiums available as exam rooms/centres. Schools may use classrooms or external venues only if this does not increase the number of HSC exam supervisors required and security can be maintained.
  4. Schools must have contingency plans in place for alternative exam centres in the event that their approved exam centres are not available on the day of exams.
  5. External disturbances need to be kept to a minimum during the exams.2
  6. Schools must provide a secure, quiet, dedicated and private space within the school for exams with markers onsite (itinerantly marked courses).
  7. NESA may allocate students to a school’s exam centre, such as students from other schools or self-tuition applicants. NESA must provide the school principal with details of any students allocated to their exam centre.
  8. A student’s home school provides the exam centre for all of their exams, including when the course is studied through an external provider or outside tutor. Students may need to attend an exam centre in another school where the home school is unable to provide the exam centre for an exam.
  9. The final decision about approved exam centres and student allocations to exam centres, rests with NESA.

Online resources

Related ACE Rules

For further information

For enquiries about conducting HSC exams, including clarification on the eligibility requirements for exam staff, please contact NESA on 1800 200 955 or by email at presidingofficers@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. Schools unable to demonstrate evidence of 25 students for at least one exam session should contact NESA on 1800 200 955 or by email at presidingofficers@nesa.nsw.edu.au. Students sitting different exams in either English or Mathematics courses can be grouped together in a single exam session if the exams are being held at the same time. For example, students sitting the exam for English Advanced can be grouped with students sitting the exam for English Standard at the same time.

  2. External disturbances include, but are not limited to, school bells and noisy playground spaces adjacent to an exam room.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credential

About approved exam equipment

  1. Students must take responsibility for knowing and adhering to what equipment can be taken into an exam room.
  2. A list of Loading  is published on NESA’s website.
  3. Principals must make arrangements for appropriate school staff to assist the Presiding Officer in checking exam-specific equipment1 before students are allowed into the exam room.
  4. Presiding Officers must remove unauthorised equipment from the exam room, but are not responsible for its safe keeping.

Online resources

Related ACE Rules

For further information

For enquiries about conducting HSC exams, including clarification on the eligibility requirements for exam staff, please contact NESA on 1800 200 955 or by email at presidingofficers@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. Including calculators and dictionaries.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credential

About Presiding Officers

  1. Principals must nominate one Presiding Officer on behalf of NESA for the HSC exams. One Presiding Officer is appointed for each exam centre, and the role cannot be shared. Principals may choose to withdraw and replace a nomination at any time.
  2. The final decision about approving Presiding Officers rests with NESA.
  3. The Presiding Officer is responsible for the receipt of question papers, the general administration of the exams, the organisation of the work of HSC exam supervisors and the dispatch of worked scripts.

Eligibility requirements for Presiding Officers

  1. Presiding Officers must:
    1. hold a valid Working with Children Check for paid employment prior to commencing work
    2. comply with all other conditions of employment set by NESA and the exam centre.
  2. A person cannot be nominated for the position of Presiding Officer if:
    1. they have a child or near relative (including grandchildren, nieces, nephews or first cousins) sitting the HSC exams in the same year at any school
    2. they are/were recently employed by the school (paid or volunteer) and may be perceived as a conflict of interest.1 This may include, but is not limited to, clerical staff, casual, relief, part-time or permanent teachers, canteen volunteers, board members or P&C members
    3. they tutor students sitting the HSC exams in the same year.

Working with your Presiding Officer for the administration and conduct of exams

  1. The principal (or delegated coordinator) must work with the Presiding Officer to ensure all arrangements for the administration of the exam are made as per the NESA Presiding Officer Handbook, which is published each year in Presiding Officers Online and Loading 
  2. Principals must arrange for the following school staff to assist the Presiding Officer administer these HSC exams:
    1. a music teacher should assist with the aural component of the exam in music
    2. a senior school employee should assist with the aural component of the exams in languages and English EAL/D, and
    3. the exam IT coordinator must assist with the setup of any online exams and audio files, and be available to assist in the resolution of any technical issues that arise during the exam.
  3. Other than these nominated exceptions, no other school staff may be involved in the conduct of the exam.

Online resources

Related ACE Rules

For further information

For enquiries about conducting HSC exams, including clarification on the eligibility requirements for exam staff, please contact NESA on 1800 200 955 or by email at presidingofficers@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. Persons that have previously been supervisors for HSC school-based exams eg HSC trial exams may be nominated for the position of Presiding Officer provided all requirements for the role are met.

Categories

HSC (assessment)HSC credential

About HSC exam supervisors

  1. Principals must nominate HSC exam supervisors for the HSC exams. Principals may choose to withdraw and replace a nomination at any time.

Eligibility requirements for HSC exam supervisors

  1. HSC exam supervisors must:
    1. hold a valid Working with Children Check for paid employment prior to commencing work
    2. comply with all other conditions of employment set by NESA and the exam centre
    3. not have a near relative sitting the HSC exams at the same school they wish to work
    4. not tutor HSC students at the same school they wish to work at, and
    5. not be employed or have been recently employed by the school in a student focused role.1

Online resources

For further information

For enquiries about conducting HSC exams, including clarification on the eligibility requirements for exam staff, please contact NESA on 1800 200 955 or by email at presidingofficers@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Footnotes

  1. Persons that have previously been supervisors for HSC school-based exams eg HSC trial exams may be nominated as HSC exam supervisors provided all requirements for the role are met.

disability provisions

Practical support available to students to enable a student with disability to access and participate in HSC exams. Disability provisions have been designed to meet NESA’s obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) and Disability Standards for Education 2005.

exam centre

A place where the HSC exams are conducted.

exam room

The space where an HSC exam is held. For example, a classroom, school hall, library or community hall.

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.

home school

The school where the student is enrolled.

HSC exam supervisor

An independent person selected and appointed on behalf of NESA by a principal/Presiding Officer, who supervises students during an HSC exam.

Presiding Officer

Person responsible for managing supervisors and coordinating the delivery and conduct of HSC exams at an exam centre. They are nominated by the school principal and employed by NESA to undertake their responsibilities.

self-tuition applicant

A person who is studying an HSC course(s) but is not attending a NSW government school, a school accredited by NESA, an institute of TAFE NSW or a school outside NSW recognised by NESA.

unauthorised equipment

Any item not included in NESA’s exam rules in the HSC Rules and Procedures Guide, HSC timetable, and on its website about equipment that a student may take into the exam centre and/or exam room for HSC exams.