More than 4500 HSC Drama students from more than 450 schools across NSW will be performing their group pieces for examiners from next Monday 17 August.

Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW(BOSTES) President Tom Alegounarias said that through the HSC Drama course students acquire skills in interpretation, communication, performance, critical analysis and technical processes for heightening dramatic presentation.

“With the hard work done, including many hours of rehearsals, I wish Drama students around the state the very best for upcoming visits by HSC examiners,” Mr Alegounarias said.

The 2015 HSC Drama exam includes three components:

• a group performance worth 30 marks
• an individual project worth 30 marks
• a written paper worth 40 marks on Tuesday 3 November.

Mr Alegounarias said that for the group performance, three to six students work together to select one of eight topics from which they prepare an original, eight to 12 minute piece of theatre to be performed for examiners.

“For the individual project students undertake a project from one of the following areas: Critical Analysis, Design, Performance, Scriptwriting and Video Drama.

“Studying an HSC subject with a performance dimension offers students the opportunity to further develop individual talents, as well as self-confidence and self-esteem so important to success in all areas of life.

“Around 10,800 (14%) HSC students will do performance exams in Drama, Dance or Music before the HSC written exams start in October,” Mr Alegounarias said.

Exemplary HSC Drama and Dance students are selected to perform in the BOSTES OnSTAGE and CALLBACK showcases held annually in February.

View the HSC Drama syllabus.

View HSC key dates and exam timetables.

2015 HSC Fact sheet: 24 June 2015

• More than 75,000 students are enrolled in one or more HSC courses
• Around 10,000 students are studying less than 10 units and may not be eligible for the HSC credential this year
• HSC Music, Dance and Drama practical exams are scheduled for August and September
• 51 HSC oral language exams are scheduled from 30 July to 5 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
• The HSC Rules and Procedures underpin the integrity of the world–class HSC. BOSTES treats breaches very seriously. Students found to have cheated may not be awarded an HSC.