Minimum Standard Exemptions

ACE 4061

Last Updated: 2 April 2019

Students undertaking Stage 6 Life Skills courses are eligible for an exemption from the HSC minimum standard under the following conditions:

• Students taking an English Life Skills course in Year 12 are exempt from demonstrating the HSC minimum literacy standard.
• Students taking a Mathematics Life Skills course in Year 12 are exempt from demonstrating the HSC minimum numeracy standard.
• Students who do not take a Mathematics Stage 6 course but who are enrolled in four or more Life Skills courses are exempt from demonstrating the HSC minimum numeracy standard.

To be exempt, students need to undertake Life Skills courses to the completion of Year 12.

Exceptional exemption from the HSC minimum standard

A principal may apply to NESA for an exemption from meeting the HSC minimum standard for a student based on exceptional circumstances. Applications should be forwarded to studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Credentialling exemptions

Students exempt from demonstrating the literacy and/or numeracy minimum standard will receive an HSC Record of Achievement with a footnote indicating that they were exempt.

Students exempt from demonstrating the HSC minimum standard may sit for the minimum standard online tests. Students who demonstrate the Level 3 or above in the minimum standard tests will not have their exemption included on their HSC Record of Achievement. Students who do not demonstrate Level 3 in the minimum standard tests will continue to be exempt.

Information about exemptions from the HSC minimum standard is available on the NESA website.