Practical exam rules
Students, teachers and principals must understand the community standards and safety legislation that govern HSC practical and performance exams and showcases. Learn about the rules that apply to practical exams.
Practical exams
Practical exams are performances, projects or works submitted as part of assessment for some courses in the Higher School Certificate (HSC). The practicals are developed over time, under the supervision of the school.
These courses have a practical component to their HSC exam:
- Dance
- Design and Technology
- Drama
- English Extension 2
- Industrial Technology
- Music 1, Music 2, Music Extension
- Society and Culture
- Textiles and Design
- Visual Arts.
Certification of practical exams
All practical exams must be certified so that examiners can mark students fairly. As part of the certification, students must declare that the practical they submit is their own work. Understand how to certify a performance or work.
Community context for practical exams
Some practical works may challenge established views. As the practical component is part of an exam, students need to be aware of their audience in the context of the course.
Teachers and principals should provide clear guidance to students on community standards and audience expectations for works. Teachers must advise the principal of the nature and content of HSC works from an early stage so that practical work submitted for exams do not cause offence. It is important to understand and work within expectations.
Practical components that do not meet NESA’s requirements will not be eligible for showcases and/or exhibitions.
Legislative requirements
Principals and teachers must:
- be mindful of government regulations concerning the prohibition of weapons in schools
- understand that some works may need to be certified for health and safety requirements - see the Assessment Certification Examination (ACE) page on Submitted works and practical examinations: health and safety issues (ACE 9016)
- adhere to child protection law.
Audiences for submitted works
The primary audience for any HSC work is the marking team. As experienced teachers, markers have experience of a wide range of styles and expressions in their discipline. They understand the nature of the subject and the medium.
However, markers should not be confronted by works and performances that the general adult community would find offensive. Supervisors of marking will report inappropriate exam responses to NESA.
HSC showcase events
NESA showcases HSC works that reflect a range of topics, styles and forms. These works often include material and styles that are innovative, risk-taking and original in approach. Care is taken to ensure that the content and presentation of showcase work is appropriate for a general audience.
In selecting works, NESA considers these general principles:
- minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb them
- everyone should be protected from exposure to material that they find offensive
- it is necessary to take account of community concerns about depictions that
- condone or incite violence
- portray a person in a demeaning manner.
Works may not be considered suitable for showcase events if they contain the following elements:
- language likely to cause outrage or disgust
- violence, either real or perceived
- references to the use of illegal drugs
- sexual references or nudity
- themes considered inappropriate for a general audience.