Assessment
HSC examinations
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.
An understanding of the Python programming language is also assumed.
Some students with disability may be eligible for HSC exam provisions when completing the HSC examination.
Software Engineering HSC examination specifications
The examination will be worth 80 marks.
It will be undertaken by students using a computer.
The time allowed is 2 hours and 30 minutes including 10 minutes reading time.
Questions may contain stimulus material.
Headphones will be required for questions with video and audio stimulus.
The examination will consist of two types of test item.
Objective-response items (approx. 20 marks)
- Objective-response items may share stimulus with other objective-response items or short-answer items.
- Each item will be worth 1 to 4 marks.
- There will be 14 to 18 items in total.
Short-answer items (approx. 60 marks)
- Short-answer items may share stimulus with other short-answer items or objective-response items.
- At least three items will be worth 4 to 8 marks.
- There will be 16 to 18 items in total.
Features of online HSC exams
To learn more about the format and features of online HSC exams, see Loading .
Tools available in the Software Engineering online exam
There are specific tools available for this online exam as demonstrated in these videos.
HSC examination materials
An online sample exam for Software Engineering 11–12 is now available. Schools can enrol students in the sample exam via Schools Online. A guide on how to enrol students and conduct the exams is available in Schools Online > Downloads > Memos and Documents > HSC Online Exam Resources. Schools can determine the most appropriate time to enrol students and for the students to sit the sample exams.
The marking guidelines for the online sample exam are also available.
Further information
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- Adjustments to assessment for students with disability
- Life Skills
- Assessment Certification Examination (ACE)