HSC merit lists
The merit lists celebrate the outstanding achievements of students in the HSC. Learn about each award and where to view the current and previous years' HSC merit lists.
About the merit lists
Students who achieve high marks in their HSC courses or optional exams are celebrated on the HSC merit lists. There are four merit lists:
- First in Course
- Top Achievers in Course
- Distinguished Achievers
- All-round Achievers.
Each list represents the highest achievements in the HSC. New lists are added each year after the HSC results are released.
The merit lists refer to students receiving the highest band in a HSC course or optional exam. The highest bands for each course are:
- Band 6 for non-extension courses and exams
- Band E4 for extension courses.
First in Course
Students who received first place in a HSC course or optional exam and also achieved a result in the highest band possible are celebrated in the First in Course merit list.
Placing first in a HSC course or optional exam is an enormous achievement. Students who receive this result are celebrated at an annual awards ceremony presented by the Deputy Premier.
View the current First in Course list
Download previous years' First in Course recipients
The First in Course Ceremony is an opportunity to recognise the outstanding achievement of NSW students who place first or equal first in an HSC course.
The 2023 recipients were announced on Wednesday 13 December at a ceremony held at the University of Western Sydney, Parramatta South Campus.
If two or more students are equal on the highest HSC mark, the recipient of the First in Course award is determined by:
- taking an average of each student’s examination mark and assessment mark after alignment to performance bands, each to one decimal place, then for students remaining equal
- taking an average of each student’s examination mark and assessment mark before alignment to performance bands, each to two decimal places, then for students remaining equal
- where the subject area includes extension courses, using each student’s marks awarded in other courses in the subject area.
Top Achievers in Course
This list acknowledges students who received one of the highest places in a HSC course or optional exam and also received a result in the highest band.
View the current Top Achievers list
Download previous years' Top Achievers recipients
The maximum number of places for Top Achievers varies depending on how many students are enrolled in a course.
The number of students may be more or less than the number of places due to tied students or not enough students achieving the highest possible band.
This table indicates the maximum place available given the number of students in a course. There are three categories.
Number of students in a course | Maximum place in Top Achievers |
|---|---|
Greater than 10,000 | 20 |
From 1,001 to 10,000 | 10 |
Less than or equal to 1,000 | 5 |
Sometimes courses will have fewer students than in previous years. If this happens, and the course moves to a lower category, NESA may decide to award more places for Top Achievers.
If two or more students are equal highest on the HSC marks, the Top Achiever places are determined by:
- Taking an average of each student’s examination mark and assessment mark after alignment to performance bands, each to one decimal place, then for students remaining equal
- Taking an average of each student’s examination mark and assessment mark before alignment to performance bands, each to two decimal places, then for students remaining equal
- Where the subject area includes extension courses, using each student’s marks awarded in other courses in the subject area.
Distinguished Achievers
This list recognises students who achieved the highest band possible for one or more HSC courses or optional exams.
All-round Achievers
This list celebrates students who achieved the highest possible band in 10 or more units in their current pattern of study.
View the current All-round Achievers list