Now that the largest-ever cohort of New South Wales’ students completing their Higher School Certificate (HSC) have finished their formal schooling, many are spending school holidays locked into exam preparations as the countdown to the final days of high school is well and truly on.
The written HSC exams begin on 15 October with the first of two compulsory English papers (English Paper 1) and end with geography on 8 November.
The 2024 HSC enrolment snapshot released last week reveals a record 80,166 NSW students are completing at least one HSC course in 2024, with 76,221 of those students set to sit at least one HSC exam.
The snapshot was released by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), providing a breakdown of enrolments by course, location and gender. It also offers insights into which study areas students are interested in and how enrolments have changed, or remained steady, over time.
Continuing an 11-year trend, mathematics (61,963 students), business studies (20,008) and biology (19,444) saw the highest enrolments after English – with ancient history moving into 13th place for candidature size, its highest place in recent years.
Six per cent of students are enrolled in language courses this year, consistent with 2023, with Japanese, French and Chinese remaining the most popular – a trend unchanged over the past ten years.
Across the state’s Vocational Education and Training (VET), the highest enrolment numbers for 2024 are in hospitality (7,587 students), construction (3,529 students), business services (2,401 students), retail services (1,615 students) and entertainment Industry (1,243 students), with primary industries (1,054 students) continuing to grow and attract more female students than in previous years.
Marking a major milestone
For some students, completing HSC is a family affair, with around 1,647 siblings – including 798 sets of twins and 17 sets of triplets – enrolled in an HSC course.
“This point is a major milestone for HSC students, as they head out of the school gates and prepare to take on exams next month,” says NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car.
“I wish students all the best as they get ready to do their very best in exams. You have done the hard work – now is the time to stay focused, take care of yourself and follow a healthy study schedule.
“Thank you to the teachers of NSW who have prepared HSC students for this moment and to all teachers who have guided students through their 13 years of education.”
CEO of the NSW Education Standards Authority Paul Martin shared a message of congratulations for all the “76,221 students who are now finishing up their high school careers and preparing to sit exams in October”.
“Be proud of what you have already achieved to get here and go into this study period with a clear mind, feeling confident in all that you know and have learned,” he says.
“The NSW education system, delivered by the country’s top teachers, has prepared our latest set of high schoolers for success now and into the future.”
Education Secretary Murat Dizdar also congratulated all the 2024 year 12 students:
“It’s such a great achievement to graduate from year 12 and 13 years of education We’re proud of you for your effort and commitment – and to the wonderful teachers, support staff and leadership team and family in your support crew,” he says.
“Make sure you take time to relax and look after your well-being in the next few weeks, so you are clear-headed for your final exams.”
