11–12English Extension 11–12 Syllabus (2024)

This examination will be undertaken by students using a computer.

The examination will be worth 50 marks.

Time allowed: 2 hours plus 10 minutes reading time.

Headphones will be required for questions with video and audio stimulus.

The paper will consist of 2 questions.

Question 1 – Literary worlds (25 marks)

• The question will require a response to stimulus and/or unseen material.
• The question may contain two parts or it may require a sustained response.
• The question will require a critical or creative response, or both.

Question 2 – Electives (25 marks)

• Students will be required to answer one question based on their elective.
• The question may include stimulus.
• The question will require a sustained critical response based on the student’s prescribed texts and related text.

The HSC examination will consist of an online written exam worth 40 marks and a Major work worth 20 marks. The marks for the Major work will be converted to a mark out of 60, giving a total mark out of 100 for the examination.

This examination will be undertaken by students using a computer.

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

Headphones will be required for questions with video and audio stimulus.

The examination will consist of two questions with a maximum of three items total.

Question 1 – Author and authority (20 marks)

• The question will include stimulus and/or unseen material.
• The question may contain two parts or it may require a single extended response.
• The question will require a critical or creative response, or both.

Question 2 – Author study (20 marks)

• Students will respond to a question about their author study.
• The question may include a stimulus and/or unseen material.
• The question may contain two parts or it may require a single extended response.
• The question will require a critical or creative response, or both.

Students will develop and submit a Major work in one of seven forms. All submissions must comply with the requirements for the Major work, and in accordance with the information provided for each form.

Forms

The seven forms for the Major work are set out below.

A student’s Major work can draw on features of multiple forms, provided the final submission complies with the requirements outlined below. Any use of other forms within the Major work – for example, sections of poetry within a short story – should be contextually relevant.

Short fiction

Students complete short fiction that responds to an area of special interest which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses, up to a maximum of 3500 words.

Students may consider:

• a new or different perspective or idea
• an appropriation or manifestation of a text
• experimentation with genre, form, style or language (including hybridity).

Creative nonfiction

Students develop short creative nonfiction that responds to an area of special interest which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses, up to a maximum of 3500 words.

Students may consider:

• life writing
• investigative journalism
• an historical recreation or representation.

Poetry

Students write a suite of poems, a collection of poems or an extended poem that responds to an area of special interest which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses, up to a maximum of 1500 words.

Students may consider:

• a new or different perspective or idea
• an appropriation or manifestation of a text
• experimentation with genre, form, style or language.

Critical response

Students develop a critical response based on their independent research into an area of special interest which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses, up to a maximum of 3000 words.

Students may consider:

• a critique of an author’s work/particular text or texts
• an independent investigation into an aspect of language or writing
• an independent investigation into the works of a particular historical period
• an independent investigation into the works of a particular paradigm related to the study of English.

Film, television or stage script

Students develop a script of a complete work for the medium of film, television or stage based on their independent research into an area of special interest and which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses. The intended playing time for the script must be no more than 15 minutes.

No particular style or format for scriptwriting conventions is required, as this may be contingent on the genre or context of the drama the student is creating.

Students may consider:

• a new or different perspective or idea
• an appropriation or manifestation of a text
• experimentation with genre, form or style.

Podcasts: drama, storytelling, speeches or performance poetry

Students present a podcast that responds to an area of special interest and which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses, with a playing time of no more than 10 minutes. All content, including music and sound effects, counts towards the playing time of podcast submissions.

This podcast may be a single piece or it may be a collection of smaller pieces.

Students must submit an audio recording of the podcast and a print copy of the script, storyboard or flow chart consistent with the final edited podcast submission. There is no required style or format for this print copy.

The student presenting the Major work must be the principal performer (minor voices should be used judiciously), sole writer and sole director/producer. For drama, the student must be the sole director/producer.

Students may consider:

• a new or different perspective or idea
• an appropriation or manifestation of a text
• experimentation with genre, form or style.

Multimedia

Students develop a multimedia submission that responds to an area of special interest and which is an extension of the knowledge and understanding developed in Stage 6 English courses, with a playing time of no more than 5 minutes. All content, including credits, counts towards the running time of multimedia submissions.

This multimedia must integrate two or more expressive modes.

Students must submit a digital file and a print copy of script, storyboard or flow chart consistent with the final edited multimedia submission. There is no required style or format for this print copy.

The student presenting the Major work must be the sole writer, director/producer and editor.

Students may consider:

• a new or different perspective of a concept
• an appropriation or manifestation of a text
• experimentation with genre, form or style.

Marking guidelines

Marking guidelines for the Major work are available under Loading .

All other requirements related to the Major work can be found in Loading .

To learn more about the format and features of online HSC exams, see Loading .

There are specific features available for the HSC English Extension 1 and 2 online exams.

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• Adjustments to assessment for students with disability
• Life Skills
• Assessment Certification Examination (ACE)