2021 HSC malpractice data

This data reports on the breaches and offences that were committed for HSC assessments in 2021. Learn how many offences were committed, and the breakdown of breaches across subjects and assessment types.

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About assessment breaches and offences

Every year NESA receives a small number of reports on HSC students breaching the rules of exams or school-based HSC assessments.

Previous years' statistics and malpractice information can be found on:

Number of offences by course

In 2021, a total of 216 schools registered 853 offences in school-based assessments, involving 734 students.

View the table for a breakdown of the penalties imposed for this offence.

CourseNumber of offencesOffences per 1,000 students
English Advanced883.6
English Standard862.7
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education493.0
Biology402.1
English Studies404.5
Modern History393.6
Legal Studies383.6
Community & Family Studies343.8
Ancient History314.9
Chemistry313.1
Business Studies301.7
Industrial Technology305.3
Society and Culture265.5
Physics253.2
Visual Arts212.5
Mathematics Standard 1203.5
Board Endorsed Course201.0
Food Technology195.2
Design and Technology164.7
Mathematics Extension 1161.9
Mathematics Standard 2140.5
Mathematics Advanced130.8
Drama123.0
Economics122.4
Music 1112.3
All other courses931.5

 

Assessment types and total number of offences

Use the graph to see the total number of HSC assessment breaches. Use the accordions to view details about the type of offence that was committed for the different assessment types.

Overview

In 2021 there were:

  • 493 take-home written assessment offences
  • 190 timed examination offences
  • 100 other offences
  • 54 project offences
  • 8 oral examination offences
  • 7 practical assessment offences
  • 2 group work offences.
     
Take-home written assessments

There was a total of 493 take-home written assessment breaches in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the types of offences that were imposed.

Offence typeTotal number of offencesPercentage of all offences
Plagiarism37275%
Late submissions6012%
Use of electronic device11%
Timed examinations

There was a total of 190 timed examinations breaches in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the types of offences that were imposed.

Offence typeTotal number of offencesPercentage of all offences
Plagiarism6233%
Unauthorised notes2815%
Use of electronic device2614%
Late submissions84%
Offensive behaviour11%
Unauthorised access11%
Project

There was a total of 45 project breaches in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the types of offences that were imposed.

Offence typeTotal number of offencesPercentage of all offences
Plagiarism3373%
Late submissions1227%
Practical assessments

There was a total of 7 practical assessments breaches in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the types of offences that were imposed.

Offence typeTotal number of offencesPercentage of all offences
Late submissions457%
Plagiarism229%
Unauthorised notes114%
Oral examinations

There was a total of 8 oral examination breaches in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the types of offences that were imposed.

Offence typeTotal number of offencesPercentage of all offences
Plagiarism563%
Unauthorised notes225%
Late submissions112%
Group work

There was a total of 2 group work breaches in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the types of offences that were imposed.

Offence typeTotal number of offencesPercentage of all offences
Group work2100%
Other

There was a total of 100 other assessment breaches in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the types of offences that were imposed.

Offence typeTotal number of offencesPercentage of all offences
Plagiarism6969%
Late submissions88%
Unauthorised notes55%
Use of electronic device11%

Offence types and total penalties imposed

Overview

In 2021 there were:

  • 545 plagiarism penalties
  • 102 collusion penalties
  • 93 late submission penalties
  • 40 other penalties
  • 34 unauthorised notes penalties
  • 28 electronic device usage penalties
  • 4 false claim penalties
  • 3 unauthorised access penalties
  • 3 unacknowledged assistance penalties
  • 1 unauthorised alteration penalties
  • 1 offensive behaviour penalties.

 

 

Plagiarism

There was a total of 545 plagiarism offences. This makes up 64% of all offences in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the penalties imposed for this offence.

PenaltyTotal numberPercentage of all penalties for this offence
Reduced marks26949%
Zero marks25046%
Warning204%
Other61%
Late submissions

There was a total of 93 late submission offences. This makes up 11% of all offences in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the penalties imposed for this offence.

PenaltyTotal numberPercentage of all penalties for this offence
Zero marks4346%
Reduced marks3032%
Warning2022%
Collusion

There was a total of 102 collusion with other students offences. This makes up 12% of all offences in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the penalties imposed for this offence.

PenaltyTotal numberPercentage of all penalties for this offence
Reduced marks5756%
Zero marks4544%
Unauthorised notes

There was a total of 34 possessing or using unauthorised notes offences. This makes up 4% of all offences in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the penalties imposed for this offence.

PenaltyTotal numberPercentage of all penalties for this offence
Zero marks2676%
Reduced marks721%
Warning13%
Electronic device usage

There was a total of 28 electronic device usage offences. This makes up 3% of all offences in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the penalties imposed for this offence.

PenaltyTotal numberPercentage of all penalties for this offence
Zero marks2175%
Reduced marks518%
Warning27%
Other

There was a total of 40 other offences. This makes up 5% of all offences in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the penalties imposed for this offence.

PenaltyTotal numberPercentage of all penalties for this offence
Reduced marks2153%
Warning1128%
Zero marks718%
Other13%
Unauthorised alteration

There was a total of 1 unauthorised alteration offences. This makes up less than 1% of all offences in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the penalties imposed for this offence.

PenaltyTotal numberPercentage of all penalties for this offence
Zero marks1100%
Unauthorised access

There was a total of 3 unauthorised access offences. This makes up less than 1% of all offences in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the penalties imposed for this offence.

PenaltyTotal numberPercentage of all penalties for this offence
Reduced marks267%
Zero marks133%
Making a false claim

There was a total of 4 false claim offences. This makes up less than 1% of all offences in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the penalties imposed for this offence.

PenaltyTotal numberPercentage of all penalties for this offence
Zero marks375%
Reduced marks125%
Unacknowledged assistance

There was a total of 3 unauthorised assistance offences. This makes up less than 1% of all offences in 2021.

View the table for a breakdown of the penalties imposed for this offence.

PenaltyTotal numberPercentage of all penalties for this offence
Zero marks133%
Reduced marks133%
Warning133%

Examination breaches

In 2021 the following numbers were penalised by the Examination Rules Committee:

  • 150 cases of non-serious attempts
  • 41 students with 45 offences for the breach of examination rules and malpractice
  • 32 cases (projects penalised) for the non-certification of projects.*

* There was a drop in numbers from previous years as the majority of projects and performances were not submitted to NESA and marked at school.
 

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