Music Extension performance examinations and submitted works should be based on material covered in the Major work focus area.

Performance examination

Students will perform a solo piece and an ensemble piece.

The maximum combined length of the two pieces will be 16 minutes. Pieces that exceed 16 minutes will be in breach of examination rules. The HSC markers will stop performances that go over time.

Marking guidelines

Marking guidelines for the Performance examination will be available to download from the Teaching and learning support tab.

Choice of piece or repertoire

The solo and ensemble pieces must be different in period, genre, mood or style.

To meet maximum performance time requirements, selected pieces may be shortened through edits. When editing for this purpose, teachers and students should consider preserving musical continuity and a sense of cohesion in the piece.

Students can:

play two separate movements from within the one work, as two different pieces for the performance, provided they meet the representation requirement for ‘contrasting’ pieces and the time requirements.
present two short pieces of repertoire by one composer as a single performance. For example, for the solo performance, a student can present two movements from a work, or two songs from the same song cycle, provided that the maximum time limit is not exceeded.

Students must not perform the same piece for their Music 2 HSC examination and Music Extension HSC examination. Please see ACE 2.5.1 Developing HSC practical exams.

There is no advantage or disadvantage to playing music from memory. Students may use music in print or digital form during the examination. Photocopied music or digitally displayed music is permitted with the usual copyright restrictions and regulations observed.

Solo and ensemble accompaniment requirements

For the purpose of the HSC examination the term ‘ensemble’ refers to any piece presented by two or more performers that specifically demonstrates each individual student’s use and understanding of ensemble skills. In ensemble performances the student is permitted to undertake a non-solo part, provided that the musical contribution can be clearly identified in the performance. The specific parts of the ensemble do not need to be equal. It is important to consider how the choice of piece allows the student to demonstrate the outcomes related to performance.

For the purpose of the HSC examination a solo piece is where an instrument and/or voice is featured as distinct and plays a central musical role. A solo piece may be accompanied by one or more instruments.

Accompaniment may be one of the following:

live
prerecorded
both live accompaniment with prerecorded accompaniment.

The accompaniment must be in support of the students’ performance. Accompanists are not marked as part of the performance.

When using live accompaniment, a teacher may take on the role of an accompanist.

When using a prerecorded accompaniment, the student’s part must be clearly audible and not replicated on the recording. It may contain similar musical material, provided the student’s part remains distinct. Pre-recorded backing tracks should be of good audio quality with a balance between the performer(s) and the backing track that is suitable for the performance space. A click track may be used.

Only performers and markers are permitted in the examination venue. Ensemble members, accompanists and page turners are permitted for the duration of the piece in which they are involved.

Submitted composition

Students will compose and submit two original compositions.

The maximum combined length of the two pieces or movements will be 5 minutes.

For the purpose of the HSC examination, the term ‘composition’ applies to original works. The composition should reflect an understanding of Music context and Music language in the Music Extension course.

For each composition, students must submit:

a written score
an audio recording of the complete work.

Students may select from a range of notational languages to realise their score in their submitted manuscript. All details necessary to realise the scores must be included on the submitted manuscript, including composer instructions to performers as required.

The audio recordings are used as a guide to the intentions of the composer and therefore the production quality will not be taken into consideration. Audio recordings may be made from live performances and/or generated from the sound files of music composition software. There are no limitations on the use of performers or software in realising the score.

Marking guidelines

Marking guidelines for the Submitted composition will be available to download from the Teaching and learning support tab.

Submitted Musicology essay

Students devise a research question then prepare and submit one essay of between 2000 and 2500 words on one or more aspect(s) of music that they have studied in the Music Extension course.

The Submitted Musicology essay must contain the following:

research into an aspect of music and its relationship to artistic, cultural, historical and social practice and meaning
integration of Music context and Music language through the evaluation of musical evidence
musical examples and quotations to defend a critical position
a bibliography and/or discography.

Musical examples may be presented in the body of the essay as annotated short score extracts and/or separately submitted audio recordings. Musical evidence may include scores, recordings, interviews, commentary, musicological and/or ethnomusicological research, musical examples and quotations.

Bibliography and/or discography, footnotes and/or endnotes, brief annotations and labelled diagrams will not be included in the word count. These should be used judiciously and not to expand the exploration of the concept central to the work.

Marking guidelines

Marking guidelines for the Submitted Musicology essay will be available to download from the Teaching and learning support tab.

Certification

Development of the Music Extension performance(s) and/or submitted work(s) is to commence at the beginning of the HSC course.

Music Extension students must complete and sign a Student Declaration Form for all practical examinations (submitted works and performances). The Student Declaration Form can be downloaded from Schools Online and states that the planning, development, content and presentation of the submitted work or performance is the student’s own work. Supervising teachers must certify the student’s practical examinations and sign each student’s Student Declaration Form.

For the purpose of certification, supervising teachers must keep documented evidence to validate the authenticity and integrity of a student’s work. Supervising teachers may draw on the student’s Major work journal, as well as observations and discussions, to maintain the documented evidence of student’s work throughout the HSC year. Documented evidence and Major work journals are not submitted to NESA, however they may be requested in exceptional circumstances where the markers require further information or where non-certification is submitted to NESA by the teacher.

Judgements about students’ ownership of work should not be impacted by the provision of adjustments for students with disability during the development of the practical examinations.

For further information about certification and practical examination rules, see:

Supporting diverse learners

Adjustments to assessment for students with disability

Some students with disability may require adjustments in the development of the practical tasks or submitted works. Decisions about adjustments can be made by the school in collaboration with the student and parents or carers. More information about adjustments can be found on the NESA website:

Disability provisions program

Where a student’s disability impacts their functioning in the practical tasks, schools will need to apply through NESA’s HSC disability provisions program. More information about disability provisions can be found on the NESA website:

Schools may also request that a marker be made aware of a specific impact of a student’s disability, so that a student’s disability can be noted when conducting the examination. The ‘Examiner/marker aware’ provision does not involve variation to the marking guidelines. A request for the ‘Examiner/marker aware’ provision should be made through NESA’s HSC disability provisions application process.

Examination logistics information – Performance examinations

Performance examinations will be administered and marked at special centres or schools in August/September. More information can be found on the NESA website:
HSC practical exams.

Schools will be notified of their particular marking dates and times via Schools Online. Principals and HSC Music teachers will receive an email when this information is made available. Detailed information for teachers preparing for HSC Music performance examinations is provided to schools close to the examination date. Specific requirements for the examination may vary from year to year. As such, teachers and schools must ensure they follow the instructions provided by NESA for the examination’s current year.

HSC Music teachers should have a Schools Online profile with appropriate access. They are also required to supply their email address to receive communications directly from NESA. Teachers should see their principal to ensure they have been provided with the appropriate access to their school’s Schools Online account.

Performance examinations checklist

Teachers should ensure they have the following documents prepared before the day of the examinations and available for markers:

Timetable of Music Practical Exams. More information can be found in the Music Preparation Guide via Schools Online » Downloads » Memos and Documents » HSC Practical Examinations Advice.
Performance Summary Forms, which can be downloaded from Schools Online » Downloads » Memos and Documents » HSC Practical Examinations Advice.
Illness/misadventure details if relevant.

Markers

The marking team will usually comprise 2 or 3 markers who will wear an official NESA ID card with their photograph displayed. Other NESA officers may also attend for part or the entire program, and will identify themselves to the school on arrival. Teachers must ensure that students are well briefed about how the performance examinations will be conducted.

Electronic instruments

The use of electronic instruments must be considered in the same way as any conventional instrument for performance and not as a device for programming sound. Electronic instruments may be used as solo instruments, as an accompaniment or as part of an ensemble.

Examples of electronic instruments include:

synthesisers
digital-controlled instruments (sequencers, drum machines, electronic percussion and samplers)
recorded accompaniment
looping pedals and launch pads.

Electronic instruments must be appropriate to the performance with no pre-programmed material or connection to the internet. Broadcast capability must be enabled.

Musical instruments and sound sources

It is not necessary to seek permission to use standard orchestral instruments, band instruments or piano. Teachers should contact NESA to seek advice and permission if their students wish to use less conventional musical instruments or sound sources in the examinations:

Music Coordinator
Marking and Quality NESA
Email: hscpracticals@nesa.nsw.edu.au

Digital devices

Teachers and students are advised that the use of laptops, tablets and mobile phones are permitted in HSC Music performance examinations. If a digital device is used for backing tracks, it must:

be in flight mode and disconnected from the internet
have an appropriate docking system or connection available in the examination room (itinerant centres only)
be of good sound quality
contain the accompaniment to be used in a separate folder or file for each examination component.

Where a student intends to use a digital device, the student must advise HSC markers prior to their examination and demonstrate that the device is in flight mode and the wi-fi is turned off.

The use of technology should not delay the examination process. Sound and balance checks should be carried out before the examination begins. Sound mixing and/or effects devices may be used during the examination provided they are operated by the student. Students’ programs should be scheduled to allow them to use the same technology without delaying the examination process.

Illness/misadventure for the Performance examination

Formal applications to NESA for illness/misadventure in relation to the Performance examination cannot be made until the HSC performance date. For internal school assessment teachers should follow their school policy and guidelines.

If an illness/misadventure application is sought on the day of the Performance examination due to the absence of a student, the school must advise NESA, and have the students complete an illness/misadventure form. HSC examinations will not be re-scheduled due to illness or misadventure.

Examination logistics information – Submitted works

Submitting the composition

Compositions must be submitted:

as MP3 files for sound files.

Written scores must be submitted:

as PDF files
on A4 pages
with each page numbered.

Each composition must have a completed Coversheet (schools can download this via Schools Online » Memos and Documents » HSC Project Uploads).

Schools are required to upload and certify their students’ compositions via Schools Online. Submission instructions can be found via Schools Online » Memos and Documents » HSC Project Uploads.

Submitting the Musicology essay

Essays must be submitted:

as PDF files
as MP3 files for sound files
on A4 pages using 1.5 spacing
using Arial or Times New Roman in font size 12
with each page numbered.

Sound files referred to in Musicology essays need to be saved as a single MP3 file (all sound excerpts in one file). Each excerpt in the sound file should be labelled in the body of the essay and state the time the sound file starts and finishes playing. For example, Excerpt 3 (0:17-0:32). Each excerpt should be separated by a short pause.

Each Musicology essay should have a completed Coversheet (schools can download this via Schools Online » Memos and Documents » HSC Project Uploads).

Schools are required to upload and certify their students’ Musicology essays via Schools Online. Submission instructions can be found via Schools Online » Memos and Documents » HSC Project Uploads.

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11–12Music Extension 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

Assessment