The HSC Minimum Standard requirement has been simplified as students will now meet the minimum standard through short online tests. 

The online tests will be available for areas of reading, writing, and numeracy. 

Year 9 NAPLAN test results will no longer be linked to the minimum standard for the HSC. Instead, Year 10, 11 or 12 students can take the tests online in a process similar to obtaining a NSW Learner Drivers License. 

The changes have been made to ensure that NAPLAN doesn’t interfere with HSC, and remains to its original purpose. 

Education Minister Rob Stokes said that the new minimum standard for the HSC will ensure all students sitting for the HSC will have the literacy and numeracy skills for life after school. 

“These tests are available for students to take anytime their teachers think they are ready, removing the stress and protecting the value of the HSC,” Mr Stokes said. 

The students sitting for the new minimum standard will receive their HSC results in 2020. 

For current Year 10 students who have received Band 8 or above in one or more of the 2017 Year 9 NAPLAN reading, writing, or numeracy tests, they are already recognised as having met the HSC minimum standard. They will not need to sit in the short online tests. 

Students can decide with their teachers when they are ready to sit for each test. 
In Term 1, the tests dates are from 19 February to 23 March 2018. 

In Term 2, the dates are from 21 May to 22 June. 

In Term 3, the dates are from 13 August to 14 September and in Term 4, they are from 5 November to 7 December 2018.