Skip to content

A NSW Government website

Welcome to the NSW Curriculum website

NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority
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.

Contact

Street address:  117 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Postal address: GPO Box 5300, Sydney NSW 2001

Hours of operation: 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday

Who to contact about ACE Rules

Achieving the RoSA

1.1.1 Eligibility for the RoSA

For enquiries about retrospective satisfaction of eligibility requirements for Year 10 or the RoSA, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For enquiries about appealing NESA’s decision to withhold the RoSA, please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

1.1.2 Appealing NESA’s decision to withhold the RoSA

For enquiries about appealing NESA’s decision to withhold the RoSA, please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Achieving the HSC

1.2.2 Eligibility for the HSC

Please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

1.2.3 Appealing NESA’s decision to withhold the HSC

For enquiries about appealing NESA’s decision to withhold the HSC, please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Formal assessment programs and tasks

2.1.1 Preliminary course school-based assessment

For enquiries about formal assessment programs, please contact Quality in Credentialling by email at qc@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

2.1.2 HSC school-based assessment

For enquiries about formal assessment programs, please contact Quality in Credentialling by email at qc@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

2.1.3 Adjustments to school-based assessment

For enquiries about formal assessment programs, please contact Quality in Credentialling by email at qc@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For enquiries about adjustments for students with disability, please contact Diversity, Curriculum Standards by email curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Calculating and confirming submitted marks and grades

2.2.1 Submitting grades to NESA

Please contact Quality in Credentialling by email at grademonitoring@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

2.2.2 Submitting HSC school-based assessment marks to NESA

Please contact Quality in Credentialling by email at qc@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

2.2.3 Issuing rank order notices

Please contact Quality in Credentialling by email at qc@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

2.2.4 Certifying HSC results data

Please contact Quality in Credentialling by email at qc@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

2.2.6 Appealing Stage 6 grades

Please contact Quality in Credentialling by email at qc@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Allocating and submitting Stage 5 grades

Please contact Quality in Credentialling by email at grademonitoring@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Retaining student work samples and assessment activities

2.4.1 Selecting and retaining student work samples and corresponding assessment activities

For enquiries about submitting work samples in Schools Online, contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For enquiries about retaining work samples, contact Quality in Credentialling by email at grademonitoring@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

2.4.2 Retaining student work samples and corresponding assessment activities for Stage 5 and Stage 6

For enquiries about submitting work samples and corresponding assessment activities in Schools Online, contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au

For enquiries about retaining work samples and corresponding assessment activities, contact Quality in Credentialling by email at grademonitoring@nesa.nsw.edu.au

HSC practical exams

2.5.1 Developing HSC practical exams

For enquiries about developing HSC practical exams safely, email studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

2.5.2 Certifying and submitting HSC projects, submitted works and performances

For enquiries about certifying and submitting HSC projects, submitted works and performances, email studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

HSC results services

Students inquiring about their HSC results may contact the HSC Results Inquiry Centre on 1300 138 323.

Principals inquiring about HSC results may contact the contact the Quality in Credentialling on (02) 9367 8158 or by email ari@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Preliminary and HSC course commencement

For general curriculum enquiries contact curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For advice about starting Preliminary or HSC courses please contact Manager, Liaison Unit on (02) 9367 8387 or by email at liaisonteam@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Course eligibility

Please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Course entries, changes and exclusions

3.3.1 Course entries for Stage 5

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

3.3.5 Course changes

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.

3.3.6 Course exclusions

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

Course completion

4.1.1 Course completion – Stage 5 courses

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.

4.1.2 Course completion – Preliminary and HSC courses

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.

Non-completion and appeals

For enquiries about non-completion determinations and appeals, 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.

Curriculum requirements

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

Requirements for SDBECs and UDBECs

Please contact Board Endorsed Courses and Programs by email at curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Disability provisions program

Please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Conducting HSC exams

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.

Completing HSC exams

Please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Demonstrating the HSC minimum standard

For Minimum Standard enquiries including HSC minimum standard illness/misadventure, email LNsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au or phone 1800 200 955.

Administration of the HSC minimum standard tests

8.2.1 Entering students in HSC minimum standard tests

For Minimum Standard enquiries including HSC minimum standard illness/misadventure, email LNsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au or phone 1800 200 955.

8.2.2 Post-school leaver entries for HSC minimum standard tests

For Minimum Standard enquiries including HSC minimum standard illness/misadventure, email LNsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au or phone 1800 200 955.

8.2.3 Test equipment for HSC minimum standard tests

For Minimum Standard enquiries including HSC minimum standard illness/misadventure, email LNsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au or phone 1800 200 955.

8.2.4 Granting disability provisions for HSC minimum standard tests

For enquiries about malpractice or disability provisions, email studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Conducting HSC minimum standard tests

8.3.1 Sitting and supervising the HSC minimum standard tests

For Minimum Standard enquiries including HSC minimum standard illness/misadventure, email LNsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au or phone 1800 200 955.

8.3.2 Malpractice and breaches of HSC minimum standard test rules

For enquiries about malpractice or disability provisions, email studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

8.3.3 Illness or misadventure before, or during an HSC minimum standard test

For Minimum Standard enquiries including HSC minimum standard illness/misadventure, email LNsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au or phone 1800 200 955.

8.3.4 Requesting an inquiry into a minimum standard test result

Principals requesting an inquiry into a minimum standard test result must email msr@nesa.nsw.edu.au in accordance with the rules.

Illness/Misadventure program

Please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Malpractice

Please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

All My Own Work

For enquiries about AMOW or malpractice, email studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Non-serious attempts

Please contact Student Support on (02) 9367 8117 or by email at studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Life Skills in Stage 5

11.1.5 Course completion

For enquiries about course completion for courses based on Life Skills outcomes and content, 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.

Life Skills in Stage 6

11.2.3 Assessing Stage 6 Life Skills courses

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

11.2.5 Course completion

For enquiries about course completion for Life Skills 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.

Pattern of study

For enquiries about pattern of study, please contact Manager, Liaison Unit on (02) 9367 8387 or by email at liaisonteam@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Accumulating and/or repeating courses

For advice regarding accumulating and/or repeating courses please contact Manager, Liaison Unit on (02) 9367 8387 or by email at liaisonteam@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Students accelerating into a course(s)

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

Compressed curriculum

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

Credit transfer and RPL

13.3.1 Applying for credit transfer for non-VET courses

For credit transfer enquiries, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

External provider

13.4.1 Approving study with an external provider

Registered and accredited non-government schools seeking approval from NESA to outsource more than a minority of courses, must contact the School Registration Unit on (02) 9367 8866 or by email at schoolrego@nesa.nsw.edu.au

For enquiries about entering student data in Schools Online for students undertaking study with an external provider, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

13.4.2 Studying Stage 4 and Stage 5 courses with an external provider

For enquiries about entering student data in Loading... for students undertaking study with an external provider, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

13.4.3 Studying Stage 6 courses with an external provider

For enquiries about entering student data in Loading...for students undertaking study with an external provider, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au

Granting leave during an HSC course

For advice about granting leave to an HSC student, please contact Manager, Liaison Unit on (02) 9367 8387 or by email at liaisonteam@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Self-tuition

For further information about self-tuition, please email Student Records at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Study with an outside tutor

13.7.1 Approving study with an outside tutor

For enquiries about studying with an outside tutor, please contact Manager, Liaison Unit on (02) 9367 8387 or by email at liaisonteam@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

13.7.2 Studying Stage 5 courses with an outside tutor

To seek approval from NESA to authorise the study of more than two Stage 5 courses with an outside tutor in any calendar year, please email Student Records at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For enquiries about studying with an outside tutor, please contact Manager, Liaison Unit on (02) 9367 8387 or by email at liaisonteam@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

13.7.3 Studying Stage 6 courses with an outside tutor

For enquiries about studying with an outside tutor, please contact Manager, Liaison Unit on (02) 9367 8387 or by email at liaisonteam@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Transferring, withdrawing, and entering students

13.8.1 Entering and withdrawing students in Schools Online

For enquiries about Schools Online and student entries, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

13.8.2 Transferring students in Stage 5

For enquiries about Schools Online and student entries, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For enquiries about home schooling, please contact Home Schooling by email at homeschooling@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

13.8.3 Transferring students in Stage 6

For enquiries about Schools Online and student entries, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For enquiries about home schooling, please contact Home Schooling by email at homeschooling@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

13.8.4 Eligibility for the RoSA

For enquiries about Schools Online and student entries, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For enquiries about home schooling, please contact Home Schooling by email at homeschooling@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

VET curriculum requirements

14.1.1 Accessing VET curriculum

For enquiries about VET curriculum, VET courses, and students with disability, please email curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

VET entries and exclusions

For course entry and Schools Online enquiries, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

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

Entering VET units of competency and outcomes in Schools Online

For enquiries about entering VET units of competency and outcomes, please contact VET Records by email vetrecords@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Credit transfer, RPL, and VET

14.4.1 Credit transfer towards the HSC

For credit transfer towards the HSC enquiries, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

14.4.2 Credit transfer and/or RPL within VET courses developed or endorsed by NESA

For enquiries about credit transfer and/or RPL within VET courses developed or endorsed by NESA, please contact the Vocational Education team by email at curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

VET assessment requirements

14.5.1 Assessing VET courses

For enquiries about formal assessment programs, please contact Quality in Credentialling by email at qc@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For enquiries about VET competency-based assessment, VET courses, and students with disability, please email curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

14.5.2 Entering an estimated HSC exam mark for Frameworks

For Schools Online VET data enquiries, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

VET course completion

For enquiries about course completion for VET 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.

VET credentialling

14.7.1 Reporting student achievement of VET courses on the RoSA or HSC

For RoSA and HSC credential enquiries, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

For VET credential enquiries, please email vetrecords@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

14.7.2 Reporting of the Industry-based Learning course

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

For enquiries about the award of the RoSA and HSC, please contact Student Records on (02) 9367 8001 or by email at records@nesa.nsw.edu.au.