Major projects are due from today and performance exams start from next week for more than one third of HSC students.

Nine HSC major project deadlines or performance exams are scheduled over the next five weeks with more than 4500 Society and Culture Personal Interest Projects due to schools by 3pm today and Dance performance exams kicking off for nearly 1000 students from next Monday 8 August.

^{2016 HSC Dance students from Wyndham College in Quaker's Hill being photographed by the media.}

Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards President Tom Alegounarias said practical HSC courses offer students the chance to build high level critical and creative thinking and project management skills valued by employers.

“Each year we see projects and performances that demonstrate very sophisticated responses to the course syllabuses and would not be out of place in a professional setting.

“HSC major projects take a variety of forms, including written research reports for Society and Culture, compositions for English Extension 2 and the development of prototypes for Design and Technology and Industrial Technology.

“The HSC provides opportunities for students with a diverse range of interests, abilities, and after school goals to leave school with excellent outcomes and a credential respected by employers and universities around the world,” Mr Alegounarias said.

The exam mark for practical courses includes the assessment of a major project or performance with rigorous procedures followed to ensure HSC major projects are students’ own work. Exemplary projects and performances are exhibited at the annual BOSTES HSC showcases.

The HSC written exams start on Thursday 13 October with a compulsory English paper.

View HSC syllabuses: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/
View HSC key dates and exam timetables: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/key_dates/

FACT SHEET: HSC MAJOR PROJECTS AND PERFORMANCE EXAMS
38% of students (around 30,000) are studying at least one HSC course with a major project or performance component.

HSC courses involving the submission of a major project or a performance exam include:

• Dance
• Design and Technology
• Drama
• English Extension 2
• Industrial Technology
• Music
• Society and Culture
• Textiles and Design
• Visual Arts

BOSTES procedures for ensuring HSC major projects are students’ own work include:

• schools certify that each HSC project submitted has been completed or attributed by the student. Zero marks may be awarded where it cannot be established that the project represents a student’s own work
• students receive a copy of the HSC Rules and Procedures and must agree to abide by these when they sign their Confirmation of Entry form
• students must complete the All My Own Work program about the principles and practices of good scholarship and penalties for cheating.

MEDIA CONTACT: JENNIFER WARD 0455 076 754