By Jordan Baker
Universities and HSC bosses are at odds over the timing of HSC results, with the authority in charge of exams pushing for them to be released at the end of January while universities say they cannot stretch their deadline for ATARs beyond the middle of the month.
The Higher School Certificate exams, which have run every year since 1967, have been delayed until November 9 on health advice, but increasingly stressed students are still waiting on the timetable and a decision on whether all subjects will be examined.
The NSW Education Standards Authority’s COVID-19 response committee this week recommended to the government that all written HSC examinations be held this year, multiple sources confirmed to the Herald on the condition of anonymity.
Universities and HSC authorities are at odds over when results should be released.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell also supports a full HSC, and Premier Gladys Berejiklian has prioritised written HSC exams throughout the pandemic. Crisis cabinet is expected to consider the timetable and timing of results on Wednesday.
“Students should have the opportunity to sit all their exams,” Ms Mitchell said. “NESA is currently working through the process of balancing the operational requirements of the HSC and those of the universities.
“I want clarity and certainty for HSC students as soon as possible, and they should feel assured that they will not be disadvantaged when applying to university.”
If all exams go ahead, NESA wants a January 28 results date, the sources said, as marking, which usually takes about nine weeks, will be complicated by the Christmas period and a big increase in misadventure and special consideration applications due to students hit hard by lockdowns, remote learning struggles and illness.
Some on NESA’s COVID-19 committee argue that four or five days could be shaved off the January 28 timeframe with one-off changes, such as holding some examinations on Saturday. Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks would also be released at the same time as HSC results.
However, universities argue they need the results by Monday, January 17, to allow enough time to offer places to students before the academic year begins in 2022, the sources said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of discussions.
“The original plan was mid-January,” said one, referring to the proposal put to universities when the exams were postponed until November 9.
To calculate results by the universities’ preferred deadline, examining authorities may need to hold fewer exams. The results of English and maths exams alone would produce reliable ATARs. Some argue lower candidature subjects could be cut, but others say cutting any exams would be unfair.
The University of NSW, which now has a trimester system, begins its academic year on February 14 (O-Week begins on the 8th). Most other universities, including Sydney, which has traditionally been most reliant upon the ATAR to offer places to students, begin their 2022 teaching year on February 21.
While early offers are becoming more common, about half of university offers to year 12 students are still based partially or wholly on ATARs, University Admissions Centre data shows.
About 10 per cent of the state’s students also apply to interstate universities — high-demand courses such as medicine are particularly popular — and would be relying on those institutions to hold places open for NSW students.
School sector sources said universities had discretion over their academic timetable and should delay first year courses by a week.
Higher education sources argued the school sector did not appreciate the complexity of university courses and timetables and should reduce the length of the HSC exam and marking period by cancelling some examinations.
Kim Paino, general manager of marketing and engagement at the Universities Admissions Centre, which is owned by the NSW universities and processes offers, said there were usually three to four rounds of offers after HSC results were released.
“You need to give kids time to lock in their preferences [after results are released], you don’t want to rush them too much,” she said. “They need some time to consider because their ATAR is often not what they are expecting.
“For this particular cohort both UAC and universities will be wanting to give them the best possible advice, and you need time to do that.”
A spokeswoman for NESA said the authority was working with the NSW Vice Chancellors Committee and UAC to “align the timing of HSC results and university offers.
“Working together is in the best interests of HSC students, who we know are already dealing with significant challenges and are very clearly telling us they need certainty about the exams.”
NESA was considering options for a fair, equitable and safe HSC.
“There are no simple decisions,” she said.
“All options include contingencies appropriate for mitigating a range of risks associated with running a large, complex logistical operation such as the HSC at the same time as the state is managing an outbreak of COVID-19.
“No options currently under consideration involve markers working on public holidays.”
An exam timetable will be released shortly.
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2021-09-07 19:00:00Z
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