Skills needed to meet the HSC minimum standard

Students in NSW are supported to meet a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy to receive the HSC. Find out about the skills needed to reach the standard.

Meeting the HSC minimum standard

The HSC minimum standard is set at Level 3 of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF).

Students need to achieve Level 3 or 4 in short online numeracy, reading and writing tests of skills for everyday life to meet the HSC minimum standard.

This means that students who demonstrate the standard have the skills to do things like:

  • follow safety instructions in equipment manuals
  • understand a mobile phone plan
  • write a job application
  • create a personal weekly budget.

Achievement level descriptions

The following achievement level descriptions outline the typical performance of students in numeracy, reading and writing across Levels 1 to 4 of the ACSF.

Numeracy

Level 4

Individuals performing at this level typically:

  • select appropriate strategies from a range of mathematical processes and apply them in a range of contexts
  • extract, interpret and comprehend mathematical information in written material, tables, diagrams, charts and spreadsheets
  • use fractions, decimals and percentages, and apply ratio, rates and proportion
  • interpret and use routine formulae and algebraic representations
  • calculate using positive and negative numbers, and use numbers expressed as roots and powers
  • use averages and simple measures of spread, and interpret information from maps including scales, travel distances, speeds and times
  • calculate and interpret dimensions, quantities and costs, and convert quantities to metric and non-metric units
  • understand and use 2 and 3 dimensional (2D and 3D) shapes and objects, including compound shapes
  • use knowledge about chance and probability to estimate and interpret the outcomes of common chance events.

Level 3 – HSC minimum standard

Individuals performing at this level typically:

  • select appropriate strategies from a variety of everyday mathematical processes in familiar and some less familiar contexts
  • interpret and comprehend mathematical information in written material, diagrams, charts and tables
  • use large whole numbers in words and figures, and understand and convert routine fractions, decimals and percentages, and apply rates
  • use and apply order of arithmetical operations to solve multi-step calculations
  • describe, compare and interpret the likelihood of everyday chance events
  • interpret and comprehend dates and time, including 24-hour time
  • identify and estimate common angles, and understand and calculate familiar metric measurements for length, mass, volume, temperature and simple area
  • use scales and keys to read everyday maps and plans
  • understand and use common 2 and 3 dimensional (2D and 3D) shapes and objects.

Level 2

Individuals performing at this level typically:

  • select appropriate methods with one or two familiar mathematical steps to solve problems
  • identify and interpret simple mathematical information in written material, diagrams, charts and tables
  • use whole numbers into the 1000s and simple everyday fractions, decimals and percentages
  • perform simple calculations to add, subtract, multiply and divide
  • identify and interpret analogue and digital times and dates
  • identify and interpret simple measures of length, mass, volume and temperature, and use simple measuring devices
  • use knowledge of direction and simple coordinates to read simple maps and plans
  • recognise and use common 2 dimensional (2D) shapes and some common 3 dimensional (3D) shapes and objects.

Level 1

Individuals performing at this level typically:

  • locate and recognise mathematical information in simple written material
  • understand place value and recognise and compare whole number amounts into the 100s
  • add and subtract simple whole number amounts and familiar monetary amounts in real-life contexts
  • compare information and data in highly familiar simple texts, lists, tables, charts, diagrams and graphs
  • recognise analogue and digital times
  • recognise familiar 2 dimensional (2D) shapes and objects
  • identify and use basic measurement tools appropriately
  • compare basic metric measurements and quantities such as length and time
  • give and follow simple directions.
Reading

Level 4

Individuals performing at this level typically:

  • comprehend written texts of relative complexity, including those incorporating visual information
  • understand distinguishing features of different types of texts, and use inference and an understanding of symbolism to interpret texts
  • identify ways in which a writer uses structure, language and tone to create a particular message
  • extract, analyse, compare and synthesise information from a variety of sources including tables and charts
  • use punctuation effectively as an aid to understanding.

Level 3 – HSC minimum standard

Individuals performing at this level typically:

  • comprehend everyday texts in familiar and some less familiar contexts
  • recognise the distinguishing features of common types of texts
  • locate, integrate and interpret information in detailed written material, charts, diagrams and tables
  • identify some implied meanings and make simple inferences
  • recognise common expressions, and understand that words may have different meanings in different contexts
  • compare information from different sources, and use strategies to predict the meaning of unknown words
  • use punctuation such as apostrophes and quotation marks as an aid to understanding.

Level 2

Individuals performing at this level typically:

  • comprehend simple texts in predictable contexts
  • locate specific information and identify the main idea in short, clear, written material
  • compare information from different sources, and provide simple interpretations
  • recognise the difference between formal and informal language in familiar texts, and understand that the meaning of words and phrases may change in different contexts
  • understand instructions in words and diagrams
  • use strategies to identify unknown words and predict their meaning in simple sentences
  • use familiar vocabulary and basic punctuation, such as capital letters and commas, as an aid to understanding.

Level 1

Individuals performing at this level typically:

  • comprehend simple, brief texts in highly familiar contexts
  • locate specific information in simple diagrams, tables or maps, and interpret visual information in written material
  • make links between pieces of information, and follow simple written or pictorial instructions
  • recognise common signs, symbols and abbreviations
  • recognise high frequency words and use a limited range of strategies to understand unfamiliar words
  • use basic punctuation as an aid to understanding.
Writing

Level 4

Individuals performing at this level typically:

  • produce a broad range of texts using appropriate writing conventions, features and grammatical structures
  • write appropriately for the audience and purpose using logically constructed and coherently linked paragraphs
  • select the appropriate formal or informal language for the context, and use vocabulary appropriately
  • use tenses and complex sentences which match the purpose of the writing
  • use punctuation accurately and effectively to ensure meaning is clear
  • accurately spell frequently used words and use strategies to spell less familiar words.

Level 3 – HSC minimum standard

Individuals performing at this level typically:

  • produce a range of familiar texts with appropriate grammatical structures and writing conventions
  • sequence writing to produce cohesive texts and vary language to suit the audience and purpose
  • use a range of formal and informal language, and appropriate vocabulary with increasing precision for the audience and context
  • use tense appropriately, and simple, compound and some complex sentences
  • use punctuation to aid understanding
  • spell frequently used words with reasonable accuracy, and use strategies to spell unfamiliar words.

Level 2

Individuals performing at this level typically:

  • produce familiar texts using simple vocabulary, grammar and writing conventions
  • recognise that texts have a structure, and begin to sequence their writing
  • recognise some differences between formal and informal language, and understand that words and grammatical choices may change according to the audience and purpose
  • write using simple joining techniques, and words that indicate time and place
  • use action words and simple tenses in simple and compound sentences
  • generally use simple adjectives, pronouns and prepositions accurately, and extend key vocabulary to include familiar words that have personal relevance
  • use basic punctuation such as capital letters, full stops and commas
  • spell words with some variation that does not affect the overall meaning.

Level 1

Individuals performing at this level typically:

  • produce brief texts that convey simple ideas, opinions or factual information in very familiar contexts
  • recognise that texts have different purposes
  • demonstrate limited understanding of writing conventions and very limited understanding of sequencing
  • use basic structures and simple verbs or verb groups with limited grammatical accuracy
  • use a small bank of words and phrases
  • use basic punctuation such as capital letters and full stops, though not always consistently
  • approximate spelling with some inconsistency and variation.
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