Schools will be limited to one take-home HSC assessment task from Term 4, as NSW moves to strengthen assessment integrity in response to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.
NSW schools will face new limits on take-home HSC assessments from Term 4, with the changes applying to students beginning their HSC studies as part of the Class of 2027.
Under new advice from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), schools will be limited to a maximum of one take-home assessment task worth no more than 15 per cent of the school-based assessment mark – equivalent to 7.5 per cent of a student’s total HSC mark.
The change comes after Acting NSW Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car asked NESA to examine measures to protect student learning amid the rapid rise in the use of AI in schools.
Under the current rules, schools determine how much of the 50 per cent of a student’s HSC result based on school-based assessment is assessed through take-home tasks and how much is completed in class.
From Term 4, that flexibility will be restricted by the new limit.
What does it mean for schools?
Schools and teachers will need to take the new limit into account as they finalise assessment programs for students beginning their HSC studies in Term 4.
The changes do not prevent schools from using different assessment approaches. NESA said schools will continue to be able to use assessment types appropriate to individual courses, including examinations, oral tasks and process diaries.
HSC major works are excluded from the restriction, although schools will still be required to authenticate students’ work.
Some courses with assessment tasks linked to the development of major works will also be exempt, including courses across the creative arts, technologies and English Extension 2.
The new limit will also apply to students beginning Year 11 in Term 1, 2027.
NESA said the decision gives schools flexibility to choose assessment types appropriate to the nature of each course while putting safeguards in place.
The NESA Board, which includes representatives from the public, Catholic and independent school sectors, as well as high school principals and education unions, strongly supported the need to protect student learning and the integrity of the HSC.
Protecting assessment integrity
The NSW Government said the changes are intended to ensure HSC marks reflect a student’s own knowledge, skills and thinking without reliance on generative AI tools.
“School communities are concerned about the tide of AI technology impacting our classrooms, which is undermining learning, thinking, creativity, and hard work,” Ms Car said.
“NSW is leading the nation in our response to AI in schools, and mitigating risks to the HSC is a critical first step to deal with the rapid intrusion of AI into our learning and brain development.”
NESA CEO Paul Martin said the changes were an “important starting point” while the authority considers additional ways to support schools in protecting student learning.
“Generative AI may offer students a short-cut to complex school work, but it bypasses the opportunity to build knowledge and learning,” Mr Martin said.
He said NESA had a responsibility to protect “the learning process, the integrity of assessments, and to maintain confidence in the HSC credential.”
NESA’s Board will now consider additional subject-specific advice and guidance for teachers, which is due to be released to schools from next year for the 2028 HSC and beyond.
The immediate changes provide schools with certainty as they finalise assessment programs for the Class of 2027.