HSC minimum standard

About the statistics

In 2024, a total of 70,582 students had an eligible pattern of study for the HSC.

The HSC minimum standard is set at Level 3 of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). Students meet the standard by sitting online tests in the domains of reading, writing and numeracy.

After completing their first HSC course, students have up to 5 years to meet the minimum standard.

From 2020, only students who meet a minimum standard in literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy will receive an HSC credential. Some students with disability studying Life Skills courses are exempt from meeting the standard.

This data is taken from 20 January 2025.

Meeting the standard

Use the graph to view the number of HSC eligible students who met and did not meet the HSC minimum standard.

Overview

In 2024, there were:

• 70,012 students who met the standard
• 570 students who did not meet the standard.

Students who have yet to meet one or more test domains

Use the graph to view the number and proportion of students who didn't meet the standard, and how many test domains of the standard they did not, or are yet to meet.

Data is based on the 570 students who did not meet the standard.

Overview

In 2024, there were:

• 424 students not meeting the standard in 1 domain
• 106 students not meeting the standard in 2 domains
• 40 students not meeting the standard in all 3 domains (22 of these students have not attempted any of the tests).

Not met the standard by test domain

Use the graph to view the number of students not meeting the standard for the 3 testing domains of reading, writing and numeracy.

Data is based on the 570 students who did not meet the standard.

Overview

In 2024, there were:

• 485 students not meeting the standard in writing
• 205 students not meeting the standard in numeracy
• 66 students not meeting the standard in reading.