Starting from 2020, high school students in New South Wales will need to meet a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy to receive the HSC.
Students will need to complete a series of short online reading, writing and numeracy tests and achieve a minimum Level 3 or 4 to meet the minimum standard. You can attempt each test twice a year starting in Year 10.
The standard will be introduced to help improve the literacy and numeracy of students, and ensure that they have the basic skills required for life after school. For example, regardless of your plans for after school, you are going to need some math skills to make sure you get a good deal on your mobile phone plan.
Year 12 students in 2020 don’t need to sit the reading, writing or numeracy tests if they achieved Band 8 or above in the respective 2017 Year 9 NAPLAN tests. From 2021 and onwards, it will be compulsory to complete the online tests.
If you don’t meet the minimum standard, you will not be able to receive a HSC. However, you don’t need to meet the HSC minimum standard to:
- study HSC courses
- sit HSC exams
- receive HSC assessment and exam results
- receive an ATAR
- receive a Record of School Achievement.
You can read more about the upcoming changes here: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/hsc-minimum-standard
You can also read about what each short test will involve and look at example questions here: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/hsc-minimum-standard/online-tests
