The 2015 HSC Study Guide, produced by the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) and the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES), is available in today’s SMH and online.

BOSTES President Tom Alegounarias said the SMH 2015 HSC Study Guide covers 45 HSC subjects, has practical information about the HSC and timely advice for students on how to succeed in the HSC exams.

“For the first time, the Guide’s online version features experienced NSW teachers and 2014 HSC high achieving students in a comprehensive set of 18 videos on a range of popular subjects.

“More than 75,000 students are enrolled in an HSC course this year and BOSTES wants every one of these students to have the opportunity to do their best.

“The guide is for parents as well, with great information about how they can support their own HSC student.

“Students benefit when parents are positively engaged in their education and work together with teachers to support their HSC study.

“The guide is a great supplement to information and resources schools already provide to parents about the HSC.

“I know in many households and classrooms the SMH HSC 2015 Study Guide will prompt useful conversations between students and their parents and teachers.

“Collaborating with the SMH to produce the SMH HSC 2015 Study Guide provides BOSTES with an opportunity to promote the internationally regarded HSC, and deliver valuable information to students, teachers and parents in the lead up to the HSC exams,” Mr Alegounarias said.

The 2015 HSC written exams will start on Monday 12 October with English and finish on Wednesday 4 November with Visual Arts.

Students can access their HSC results from 6.00am on Wednesday 16 December.

2015 HSC FACT SHEET: 25 May 2015

• More than 75,000 students are enrolled in one or more HSC courses
• Around 10,000 students, studying less than 10 units, are not eligible for the HSC credential this year
• 51 HSC oral language exams are scheduled from 30 July to 5 September
• HSC Music, Dance and Drama practical exams are scheduled for August and September
• 118 HSC written examinations totalling around 300 hours are scheduled for 12 October to 4 November
• HSC exams will be held in over 750 exam centres staffed by over 7,500 supervisors and presiding officers
• Plans are in place for 318 students to sit their HSC exams at Australian schools overseas
• 85 exam committees and 300 committee members are involved in developing the written examinations
• Each exam will be reviewed at least six times before more than 700,000 exam papers are printed
• More than 5,500 markers will mark HSC exams from 10 marking centres and home across NSW
• Around 45% of HSC markers will mark online with 64 courses (an increase of 13%) to be fully or partially marked online
• Each student will have their English exams marked by at least 11 markers, and their Mathematics exam by at least six markers
• Students can access their HSC results from 6.00am on Wednesday 16 December
• To be awarded the internationally recognised HSC students must complete at least 12 units of preliminary courses and 10 units of HSC courses. English is compulsory. Most students complete preliminary courses in Year 11, HSC courses in Year 12 and are awarded an HSC at the end of Year 12
• HSC exams were first held in 1967