Cohort insights
2008 was the year most students started their 13 years of schooling.
The total number of HSC students in 2020.
Making the HSC the most popular school credential in Australia in 2020
How many students are studying for the HSC?
The HSC is the most popular high school credential in Australia with 76,310 students studying one or more HSC courses in 2020. Of these students, 68,673 are on track to complete their HSC this year.
Where are students studying their courses?
The majority are studying for the HSC at schools in the Sydney metropolitan area. The others are studying in regional areas of NSW, and a small number outside NSW.
The location is based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Remoteness Area classification.
Enrolment data is taken from 1 September 2020.
Learn more about the HSC course enrolments by region
Learn more about HSC course enrolments
Exam insights
There are now 120 written exams, which will be reviewed by the 96 exam committees 6 times before more than 700,000 exam papers are printed.
For the 2020 HSC, there was:
- 26 km of security wrapping
- 51 km of security strapping
- 7,000 boxes
- 17,000 consignments tracked
- 35,000 papers quality checked
- 40,000 return envelopes
- 1,975,000 items to pack
- 50 tonnes of steel cabinets
- 8,200,000 exam pages scanned.
Totalling 350 hours
With 300 committee members developing the HSC exams
Before more than 700,000 exam papers are printed
Staffed by over 7,500 supervisors and presiding officers
Marking insights
4,000 HSC markers, or 72% of all markers will mark online. 83 courses will be marked partly or wholly online. 3,200 online markers, or 80% of all online markers will work remotely.
will work across NSW in 9 marking centres and from home.
with 83 courses to be marked all or in part online.
will work remotely after attending a briefing and practice marking sessions at a marking centre.
What courses are students studying?
150 Board developed HSC courses, covering a broad range of subjects, are available to meet students’ diverse needs.
These include:
- 105 examinable courses
- 13 Industry Curriculum Frameworks (with examinations)
- 32 Life Skills courses for students with disability.
In addition, there are more than 120 Board Endorsed courses available, including vocational courses, through which students can also achieve an Australian Qualifications Framework credential, and courses designed by schools to meet local needs.
It is compulsory to study an English course for the HSC. 69,372 students (91% of the total cohort) are enrolled in at least one of the following HSC English courses:
- English Standard
- English Advanced
- English Extension 1
- English Extension 2
- English EAL/D
- English Studies
- English Life Skills.
58,316 students (76% of the total cohort) are enrolled in at least one of the following HSC Maths courses:
- Mathematics Standard 1
- Mathematics Standard 2
- Mathematics Advanced
- Mathematics Extension 1
- Mathematics Extension 2
- Mathematics Life Skills.
32,132 students (42% of the total cohort) are enrolled in at least one of the following HSC Science courses:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Investigating Science
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Science Life Skills courses (Living World Science, Chemical World Science, Physical World Science, Investigating Science, Earth and Space Science)
- Science Extension.
5,807 students are enrolled in at least one HSC Language course.
20,511 students (27% of the total cohort) are enrolled in at least one HSC Vocational Educational and Training (VET) course. Of these, 18,370 are enrolled in one or more of the VET Industry Curriculum Frameworks.
2,278 students are enrolled in at least one HSC Life Skills course.
Highest candidature subjects
There are 150 Board Developed HSC courses.
| Rank | Subject | Unique students |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 69,372 |
| 2 | Mathematics | 58,316 |
| 3 | Biology | 19,036 |
| 4 | Business Studies | 18,325 |
| 5 | Personal Development, Health & Physical Education | 17,557 |
| 6 | Studies of Religion | 14,534 |
| 7 | Modern History | 11,151 |
| 8 | Legal Studies | 10,943 |
| 9 | Chemistry | 10,298 |
| 10 | Community and Family Studies | 9,172 |
| 11 | Visual Arts | 9,153 |
| 12 | Physics | 8,151 |
| 13 | Ancient History | 7,431 |
| 14 | Hospitality | 7,062 |
| 15 | Industrial Technology | 6,175 |
Rank 1 Subject English Unique students 69,372 |
Rank 2 Subject Mathematics Unique students 58,316 |
Rank 3 Subject Biology Unique students 19,036 |
Rank 4 Subject Business Studies Unique students 18,325 |
Rank 5 Subject Personal Development, Health & Physical Education Unique students 17,557 |
Rank 6 Subject Studies of Religion Unique students 14,534 |
Rank 7 Subject Modern History Unique students 11,151 |
Rank 8 Subject Legal Studies Unique students 10,943 |
Rank 9 Subject Chemistry Unique students 10,298 |
Rank 10 Subject Community and Family Studies Unique students 9,172 |
Rank 11 Subject Visual Arts Unique students 9,153 |
Rank 12 Subject Physics Unique students 8,151 |
Rank 13 Subject Ancient History Unique students 7,431 |
Rank 14 Subject Hospitality Unique students 7,062 |
Rank 15 Subject Industrial Technology Unique students 6,175 |
| Rank | Language | Unique students |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japanese | 1,362 |
| 2 | French | 1,116 |
| 3 | Chinese | 879 |
| 4 | Italian | 526 |
| 5 | Spanish | 498 |
Rank 1 Language Japanese Unique students 1,362 |
Rank 2 Language French Unique students 1,116 |
Rank 3 Language Chinese Unique students 879 |
Rank 4 Language Italian Unique students 526 |
Rank 5 Language Spanish Unique students 498 |
| Rank | Framework | Unique students |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality | 7,062 |
| 2 | Construction | 3,947 |
| 3 | Business Services | 2,391 |
| 4 | Retail Services | 1,713 |
| 5 | Entertainment Industry | 1,067 |
Rank 1 Framework Hospitality Unique students 7,062 |
Rank 2 Framework Construction Unique students 3,947 |
Rank 3 Framework Business Services Unique students 2,391 |
Rank 4 Framework Retail Services Unique students 1,713 |
Rank 5 Framework Entertainment Industry Unique students 1,067 |
Fun facts
Joshua and Thomas topped the list of given names for the 2020 cohort. There are 879 sets of twins and 23 sets of triplets who will sit the 2020 HSC exams.
| Rank | First name | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua | 691 |
| 2 | Thomas | 594 |
| 3 | Emily | 581 |
| 4 | Lachlan | 580 |
| 5 | Jack | 569 |
| 6 | Daniel | 547 |
| 7 | Jessica | 544 |
| 8 | James | 536 |
| 9 | William | 516 |
| 10 | Nicholas | 503 |
Rank 1 First name Joshua Total 691 |
Rank 2 First name Thomas Total 594 |
Rank 3 First name Emily Total 581 |
Rank 4 First name Lachlan Total 580 |
Rank 5 First name Jack Total 569 |
Rank 6 First name Daniel Total 547 |
Rank 7 First name Jessica Total 544 |
Rank 8 First name James Total 536 |
Rank 9 First name William Total 516 |
Rank 10 First name Nicholas Total 503 |
| Rank | Family name | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nguyen | 540 |
| 2 | Smith | 434 |
| 3 | Tran | 267 |
| 4 | Jones | 266 |
| 5 | Lee | 259 |
| 6 | Brown | 238 |
| 7 | Williams | 236 |
| 8 | Wilson | 213 |
| 9 | Taylor | 210 |
| 10 | Chen | 198 |
Rank 1 Family name Nguyen Total 540 |
Rank 2 Family name Smith Total 434 |
Rank 3 Family name Tran Total 267 |
Rank 4 Family name Jones Total 266 |
Rank 5 Family name Lee Total 259 |
Rank 6 Family name Brown Total 238 |
Rank 7 Family name Williams Total 236 |
Rank 8 Family name Wilson Total 213 |
Rank 9 Family name Taylor Total 210 |
Rank 10 Family name Chen Total 198 |
| Sets of twins | Sets of triplets | Sets of multiple births |
|---|---|---|
| 879 | 23 | 902 |
Sets of twins 879 Sets of triplets 23 Sets of multiple births 902 |
Course and region numbers
More detailed data for courses (including VET and Life Skills) and enrolment by regions across NSW.
2020 course enrolments
NESA reports on student enrolment information for HSC courses each year. Learn the number of students enrolled in Board Developed HSC courses in 2020.
2020 region enrolments
Students are studying their HSC courses in schools throughout NSW, and even at some schools overseas. View the number of students at schools in each region for the 2020 HSC cohort.