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On the day of the first English exam and for the Science Extension, Enterprise Computing, and Software Engineering exams, arrive at the exam centre at least 30 minutes before the exam starts. For all other exams, arrive at least 10 minutes early.
If you arrive more than one hour after an exam has started, you can enter the exam, but you will need to explain why NESA should accept your responses for marking. The presiding officer will give you instructions on how to submit this explanation to NESA.
If you miss an exam because you misread the timetable, contact your principal immediately. You cannot apply for illness or misadventure on these grounds.
If you miss an exam for which there are no other exam components, for example, Economics or Modern History, you will not be eligible to receive a result in that course. You must see your principal, who will need to write to NESA to explain the situation. If NESA accepts the reason, you will receive zero marks for the exam, but you will retain the course and the assessment mark.
If you miss an exam for which there are multiple exam components, for example, English or Visual Arts, you will:
You must:
Students are reminded not to put themselves in danger by attempting to attend an exam, for example during bushfires or floods.
If you have an illness or misadventure:
If you do not attend an exam and NESA declines your illness or misadventure application, you will receive no marks for that component (eg the speaking component of a Language course or one paper of an English course). If the course has only one component, you will receive no result for the course and it will not appear on your NESA record. This could mean you are no longer eligible for your HSC or ATAR (see 5.5 Applying for illness or misadventure provisions).
If you are entered for an Extension course (other than Mathematics Extension 2) and do not sit for the related 2-unit course exam, you will receive no result for either course – unless you submit an illness or misadventure application, and we uphold it.
If you are an English Extension 2 or Mathematics Extension 2 candidate and you do not sit for the related Extension 1 exam, you will receive no result for either course – unless you submit an illness or misadventure application, and we uphold it.
You should bring the exam equipment you need and know what equipment is allowed for each exam. Make sure that your equipment is in good working order, because we will not uphold misadventure applications for equipment failure.
You can bring the following items into your exams:
You need to bring certain equipment (eg a calculator) for some exams. Check the list of equipment for specific exams on Students Online or the NESA section of the NSW Government website.
If you are allowed a scientific calculator, make sure you have an approved model.
If you are studying Science Extension, Enterprise Computing or Software Engineering you need a computer that conforms to the requirements and has had the latest version of the lockdown browser loaded onto it. Speak to your teacher to make sure you have the right computer. Smart Phones or iPads cannot be used for any online exams.
When equipment is listed for an exam, it means that you might need it to answer some questions. If equipment is listed as optional, it is not essential for answering any questions, but you can bring and use it if you wish.
You must not bring any of the following items into your exam room:
You cannot borrow equipment during exams.
Exam supervisors may inspect your equipment when you enter the room and will tell you where to place any unauthorised items. Supervisors are permitted to ask you to remove any unauthorised items. Otherwise, they can take them away from you during an exam. They are not responsible for taking care of any removed items.
If any writing is visible on your body before the exam, you will be asked to remove it. If writing is discovered during the exam, supervisors will follow malpractice procedures.
Before starting each exam, you must sit at the desk that shows your name and NESA student number. Desks may be set up differently at each exam.
Make sure that you have the correct exam paper for the course you have entered. When the supervisor asks you to, you must also check that no pages are missing from your exam paper.
For any exams with personalised exam materials, check that you have been issued the correct booklets with your NESA student number and/or name printed.
You will have a set reading time for each paper. During this time, you must not write, use any equipment, including highlighters, or mark your paper in any way. Students are permitted to highlight during reading time in online exams only.
If you are allowed a dictionary, you can read it, but you cannot write on or mark it during reading time.
During each exam, you must:
During each exam, you must not:
You must follow the day-to-day rules of the school or institution where you sit for your exams. If you do not follow these conduct rules, you may get zero marks for the exam or no result for the course. If this reduces your completed courses to less than 10 units, you may no longer be eligible for the HSC.
The presiding officer and supervisors are in charge of HSC exam rooms and will enforce HSC exam conduct during the exam period.
During each exam, you must:
During each exam, you must not:
Supervisors can ask you to leave the exam if you do not follow these rules. You will then be reported to NESA. You could get zero marks for the exam and retain the course, or your course may be cancelled which may affect your eligibility for the HSC. If your actions might be illegal, you will also be reported to the police.
If unexpected illness or misadventure stops you from attending an exam or affects your performance in the exam, it is your right and responsibility to submit an illness or misadventure application.
To do this, ask your principal or the exam’s presiding officer for the application forms and the Information Guide for Students, which explain how to apply. Follow the instructions and keep the acknowledgement letter you will receive in Students Online.
Illness or misadventure applications are for cases where an illness or misadventure:
These applications do not cover:
Always attend exams if you can, even if you have had an illness or misadventure. NESA does not expect you to attend an exam against medical advice or if it is unsafe to do so.
Speak to your principal if you are unable to attend an exam.
If you apply for illness or misadventure, you will need to include advice from a relevant independent expert. For example, a doctor or police officer must complete Section C of the form, to indicate:
You must seek independent evidence on the same day, either immediately before or after each exam for which you are applying. The documentation you provide must be current, specific to the date and time of the exam, and submitted with the Illness or Misadventure form. A medical certificate that merely states you were unfit for work or study is unacceptable.
NESA will not uphold an illness/misadventure application without sufficient evidence supporting a genuine reason.
Your school must lodge the illness or misadventure application for HSC written exams with NESA within one week of the affected exam.
If you are affected in multiple exams, the school must submit your application within one week of your last affected exam.
For practical exams (projects, submitted works or performances), your school must submit your application within one week of the exam, performance or submission date. Your principal or delegate must certify your application. We will only consider late applications in exceptional circumstances.
If we uphold your application, you will receive either:
whichever is higher.
You will receive a decision letter for your illness or misadventure application via Students Online on the same day as the release of your HSC results.
You can find out your assessment ranks (your final position in each school course) in your Students Online account after the final HSC exam.
You cannot appeal your marks for individual assessment tasks. But if you feel your rank is wrong in a course, talk to your teacher immediately.
If you are still not satisfied that your rank is correct, you can apply to your principal for a review.
In this review, the school will consider whether it:
If you want to apply for a review, you must do this before NESA's cut-off date. Your school will tell you the review outcome and inform NESA if your assessment mark should change.
If you are dissatisfied with the process of the school’s review, you can ask your principal to lodge an appeal with NESA. NESA will only consider whether the school’s review was:
NESA will not revise assessment marks or rank order. If NESA upholds your appeal, we will ask the school to correct any errors.
Your school can provide you with an assessment rank appeal form. You must lodge appeals to NESA at your school by the cut-off date on the form. NESA will not process any appeals after this date, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
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