Seniors (Years 10 to 12)

These rules should be read in conjunction with the school’s Assessment Processes and Procedures & the 2026 HSC Rules and Procedures Guide published by NESA and distributed to all Year 12 students.

The school is required to provide students with the following information:

• an assessment calendar, which outlines which components are to be assessed, when the assessment tasks are scheduled and the relative weighting attached to each assessment task.
• assessment tasks of the same type and same weighting for all classes studying that course. At the completion of each task, students will receive a mark, rank and cumulative rank, detailed marking criteria and written feedback concerning areas for development.
• written notification of the specific nature of each calendared assessment task at least two weeks in advance. This is a more detailed explanation of the specific nature of the task.
• in exceptional circumstances where some tasks may be rescheduled or substituted, written notification from the class teachers of the new arrangements in writing at least two weeks in advance.
• official warning letters of concern posted home to parents/carers outlining the areas of unsatisfactory completion of the HSC course requirements.

Disability Provisions for Assessment Tasks

Students who wish to apply for Disability Provisions for Assessment Tasks should contact the Head Teacher, Teaching and Learning.

The Principal has the authority to decide on, and to implement, disability provisions for school-based assessment tasks including examinations. Disability provisions will be granted if a student has a permanent or temporary disability that would, in a normal situation, prevent them from:

1. Reading the examination questions, and/or
2. Communicating their responses.

Please refer to the school’s Disability Provisions Policy for further information.

N-Award Warnings and N-Determinations

At our school, we are committed to supporting all students to meet the requirements of their courses. The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) requires schools to issue ‘N’ (non-completion) warnings when a student is at risk of not completing a course. This procedure ensures that expectations are clear and that students and families are supported to take action early. This procedure reflects NESA’s ACE Rules, including delegation to principals to apply ‘N’ determinations where course requirements are not met.

It ensures consistency, fairness, and transparency in aligning with Department and NESA policy.

1. Warning Process “N‑Award Warning”

An N-Award Warning is a formal notification that a student is at risk of not meeting the requirements of a course. It does not mean the student is failing academically. A warning is issued when a student:

• Does not submit a required assessment task
• Submits work that does not show a genuine attempt
• Fails to meet course participation requirements e.g. attendance, engagement

This warning:

• Clearly states which assessment or requirement is in question.
• Explains what the student must do and by what date.
• Specifies that failure may result in an ‘N’ determination.
• Asks for acknowledgment from the student and guardian if under 18.

At least one follow‑up warning letter must be issued if the initial one is ineffective

2. Issuing an N-Determination

If a student does not respond to two formal warnings and continues to not meet course requirements, the school may issue an N-Determination. This means the student will:

• Not receive credit for the course
• Not have the subject listed on their official school record (RoSA or HSC)
• Potentially be ineligible for the HSC if the course is mandatory

Warning Process

Appeals and Reviews

• Students or their parents/carers, can appeal the ‘N’ determination. This can occur internally at school and, if unresolved, externally to NESA.
• The Assessment Review Committee is convened to consider appeals, typically involving the Principal, relevant Deputy or Head Teacher, and Year Adviser.

• If the appeal is upheld at school, the school notifies NESA to remove the N-determination and reinstate the achievement grade.

Procedures for Absence, Lateness, Illness or Misadventure

Consideration is given to students who suffer illness or misadventure at the time of a task. It is important to note that set procedures must be followed for this consideration to be applied in order to ensure fairness for all students.

You cannot submit an appeal on the basis of:

• difficulties in preparation or loss of preparation time including difficulties experienced with computers
• alleged deficiencies in tuition
• long-term illnesses such as glandular fever, asthma, epilepsy, depression – unless you have suffered a 'flare-up' or exacerbation of your symptoms during the examination/task period
• the same grounds for which you received disability provisions – unless you have experienced additional difficulties during a task
• misreading the task/examination or the task/examination instructions

The Illness/Misadventure application is limited to matters pertaining to the conduct and presentation of the missed task only.

Students need to be aware that if they commence or attempt an assessment task the result they achieve will be recorded. In this case, Illness/Misadventure therefore does not apply retrospectively.

An Illness/Misadventure Application Form must be completed and all paperwork returned within two days of the student’s return to school. Relevant written evidence from a medical practitioner is mandatory for any application relating to illness to be considered by the Assessment Review Committee (ARC).

In the case of:

1. Absence due to illness/misadventure on the day of an in-school assessment task.

• The student or family member is requested to contact the school on the morning the task is scheduled. 
• Students must report to the relevant subject Head Teacher on the first day of their return to school. The student must complete an Illness/Misadventure Form, which can be obtained from the faculty Head Teacher or the Deputy Principal. This form, once it has been completed, must be returned to the Head Teacher within two days.

2. Absence due to illness/misadventure on the day an assessment task is due to be submitted.

• The student or family member is requested to contact the school on the same day a task is due to be handed in.
• On the first day of the student’s return to school, the student must submit the task to the relevant Head Teacher of the faculty and complete an Illness/Misadventure form.

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3. Illness/misadventure during an in-school assessment.

• The student must acknowledge their condition to the supervisor of the task before leaving the room, or sitting for the task and collect an Illness/Misadventure Form from the relevant Head Teacher or Deputy Principal.
• A student who is present for an assessment task cannot apply retrospectively for any special consideration due to illness. They must notify the supervisor before the commencement of the task or during the task.

4. Illness/misadventure during an examination period.

• The student must contact the faculty Head Teacher or Deputy Principal
• The faculty Head Teacher or the Deputy Principal will liaise with the student and organise a rescheduling of the affected examination(s).
• The student must complete an Illness/Misadventure Form for the missed examination and return it to the faculty Head Teacher or Deputy within three days.

5. Group performance illness/misadventure.

• When a group performance cannot go ahead on a scheduled date, the affected students need to complete a group performance Illness/Misadventure Form.
• This form should be returned to the relevant Head Teacher within two days. The Head Teacher will reschedule an alternative date for the performance.
• The student responsible for this group illness/misadventure application must complete an individual Illness/Misadventure Form outlining the nature of their application (illness/misadventure). Please note that the application will be considered separately to the group’s application.

In all the cases (1-5):

• The Illness/Misadventure Form must be completed and returned to the Head Teacher within two days of the initial return to school. The urgency and accuracy of the procedures are important in enabling the case to be seriously considered.

The consequences of not following these procedures may result in your application for illness/misadventure being rejected.

Outcome of Illness/Misadventure

The Assessment Review Committee (comprising the Deputy Principal and two Head Teachers) will consider all invalid or unreliable tasks, illness/misadventure cases. They will assess the presented evidence and determine whether the application should be upheld or rejected.

If the application is upheld, one of three things may occur:

1. a zero will be recorded for the original task and the student will be required to complete the task or a substitute task. The mark gained for this task will replace the zero or
2. the performance may be considered to be unaffected, and the student’s result in the task will remain as marked or
3. in some circumstances where undertaking an alternative task is not feasible, the Principal may authorise the use of an estimate, based on appropriate evidence, or determine that the student’s relative assessment rank be maintained. This will be calculated at the end of the entire assessment period. This calculated mark would then replace the ‘zero’.

The student will be advised in writing within seven days of submitting the application if the application has been upheld and, if so, which of 1-3 above will apply.

In all cases, students may apply to the Principal in writing to reconsider the Assessment Review Committee’s decision. This appeal must be made within two days of receiving the decision.

SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

Note:

As all assessment tasks are marked to a strict criteria, there are no grounds for an appeal in regards to the mark awarded to a completed assessment task. Further feedback can be requested.

If a candidate becomes ill during the course of an examination, an Illness/Misadventure Appeal must be lodged as per process and procedures outlined.

Malpractice

Work submitted for assessment tasks must be the student’s own work, as outlined in the HSC: All My Own Work training completed by all students.

Malpractice in the Year 11 & 12 HSC Course will disqualify students from an award in that subject; similarly, malpractice within the school context of the Year 11 & 12 HSC Course, will render a task a ‘zero’ score and the malpractice incident will be recorded on NESA for further review.

A teacher responsible for a task who suspects malpractice may have occurred will bring the matter to the attention of the Head Teacher.  If both teachers are in agreement, then the student will be awarded a zero for the task and be subject to possible penalties in the school’s code of conduct. Students may appeal any such decision using the school’s existing appeals procedures.

Malpractice is any attempt to gain an unfair advantage over other students. Malpractice in any form including plagiarism, collusion, misrepresentation, and breach of assessment conditions is unacceptable. Students who knowingly assist other students to engage in malpractice will be considered complicit in the malpractice.

Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation is when a student misleads or deceives others by presenting untrue information through the fabrication, alteration, or omission of information.

• Misrepresentation can include but is not limited to:

1. making up journal entries for a project, and/or
2. submitting falsified or altered documents, and/or
3. referencing incorrect or non-existent sources, and/or
4. contriving false explanations to explain work not handed in by the due date.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is when a student pretends to have written, created or developed work that has originated from another source. When using work that has originated from another source, students must acknowledge the source material in accordance with course specific requirements.

Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:

• copying someone else’s work in part or in whole, and presenting it as their own, and/or
• using material directly from books, journals, the internet, or any other offline/online resources, without appropriate acknowledgement of the authors and/or source, and/or
• building on the ideas or words of another person without appropriate acknowledgement, and/or
• using ideas, designs or the workmanship of others in practical and performance tasks without appropriate acknowledgement.

Collusion

Collusion is when a student inappropriately collaborates with another student, group of students, person, organisation, or entity to produce work that was meant for individual assessment.

Collusion includes but is not limited to:

• sharing answers to an assessment with other students, and/or
• submitting work that has been substantially contributed to by another person, such as a student, parent, coach or subject expert, and/or
• contract cheating by outsourcing work to a third party, and/or
• unauthorised use of artificial intelligence technologies.

Breach of assessment conditions

All students undertaking an HSC assessment, examination or HSC minimum standard test must comply with the assessment conditions set by NESA.

When assembling for, undertaking, and leaving the exam or test session, students are subject to the direction and supervision of the invigilator. At all other times, students must adhere to the rules prescribed by the school or alternate venue conducting the assessment.

A breach of assessment conditions includes any breach of:

• HSC exam rules and procedures, and
• HSC minimum standard test rules and procedures.
• Malpractice occurs when a student breaches the conditions set for assessment in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage.