This report is a contribution to the NSW Education Standards Authority’s (NESA) work in assessing options for improving the New South Wales Higher School Certificate (HSC). It notes key strengths of the HSC and provides four options for incremental improvements to the HSC.

Key points

• The credential is pathway-agnostic, supporting university, vocational and employment routes without early streaming.
• Its assessments provide domain depth by gauging subject-specific knowledge alongside general skills and rewarding sustained conscientious effort.
• External exams, conducted and moderated independently of schools, preserve uniform standards, constrain grade inflation and sustain public confidence.
• Governance remains local and accountable, with systematic teacher input into syllabus design, implementation and marking.
• Continuous review has promoted adaptability, allowing the HSC to evolve while retaining its prestige and currency. 

Recommendations

1. Reform the HSC awards to make them fairer and reduce misconceptions on subject scaling.
2. Reduce reliance on take-home assessments amidst the rise of AI.
3. Deploy Minimum Standard tests proactively.
4. Better utilise scaled subject scores in the context of university admissions to reduce reliance on HSC bands.