2021 HSC: Merit Lists and Results

Data as at 15 January 2022

OVERALL 

• In 2021, 66,710 students were awarded the Higher School Certificate and 54, 847 students were eligible for an ATAR. A further 8,782 students completed one or more HSC courses. 
• 99% of students achieved the HSC minimum standard 

COURSES 

• 46% completed English Standard, 36% English Advanced, 12% English Studies, 3% English as an Additional Language/Dialect and 3% English Life Skills 
• 84% completed a Mathematics course 
• 47% completed a Science course 
• 27% completed a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course 
• 8% completed a Language course 
• 3% completed a Life Skills course 

PERFORMANCE 

• Indicating the hard work that the Class of 2021 put into their HSC, 12% of all course results were in the top band (Band 6 or E4), 41% in the top two bands, and 70% in the top three bands. 
• 97% of course results were at or above the Minimum Standard Expected (at least Band 2 or E2) 
• These percentages are consistent with previous years. 
• 139 students achieved First in Course 
• There were 1,476 All-round Achievers, who were on the Distinguished Achievers List for at least 10 units of study. 
• 786 students achieved one of the top places and a result in the highest band in one or more HSC courses and were awarded the Top Achievers Award. 
• 17,820 students were recognised on the Distinguished Achievers list with 39,443 Band 6 or E4 course results 

Special consideration

• Over 13,000 students from around 350 schools received an upheld Special Considerations application
• More detailed Special Consideration data will be released by mid year as part of the 2021 HSC Fairness and Integrity data

HSC minimum standard 

• Less than one per cent (586) of students, otherwise eligible for the HSC, did not meet the HSC minimum standard. 
• Of the students who did not meet the minimum standard: 
  • 106 (18%) are yet to achieve the reading standard 
  • 429 (73%) are yet to achieve the writing standard 
  • 310 (53%) are yet to achieve the numeracy standard. 
• Of the students who were awarded the HSC, 3% were exempt from meeting the HSC minimum standard.