11–12English EAL/D 11–12 Syllabus (2024)

Implementation from 2026

Expand for detailed implementation advice

Assessment

The external HSC examination measures student achievement in a range of syllabus outcomes.

The external examination and its marking relate to the syllabus by:

providing clear links to syllabus outcomes
enabling students to demonstrate the levels of achievement outlined in the Performance Band Descriptions
applying marking guidelines based on criteria that relate to the quality of the response
aligning performance in the examination each year to the standards established for the course.

Examination questions may require students to integrate knowledge, understanding and skills developed through studying the course.

The Year 11 course is assumed knowledge for the Year 12 course.

Some students with disability may be eligible for HSC exam provisions when completing the HSC examination.

Stage 6 - Year 12

The examination will consist of 2 written papers worth 100 marks in total.

Time allowed: 1 hour and 30 minutes plus 10 minutes reading time.

The paper will consist of 2 sections.

This section will contain 4 to 6 short-answer questions.
Questions may contain parts.
Questions will be based on stimulus and/or unseen texts related to Texts and human experiences.

There will be one question.
The question will require an extended response based on the student’s prescribed text.
The question may include stimulus and/or unseen texts.

Time allowed: 2 hours plus 5 minutes reading time.

The paper will consist of 3 sections.

Questions may contain stimulus and/or unseen texts.

There will be one question.
The question will require an extended response based on the student’s prescribed text.

There will be one question.
The question will require an extended response based on the student’s prescribed text.

There will be one question which will require an imaginative, discursive or persuasive response.

Stage 6 - Year 12

Stage 6 - Year 12