As of Term Four, 2026, NSW schools will be limited to a maximum of one take-home assessment task worth no more than 15 percent of the school-based assessment mark (or 7.5 percent of the total HSC mark) as part of a new reform designed to protect student learning.
The advice from the NSW Education Standards Authority follows a request made by Acting Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car, at the end of last month for NESA to examine measures to protect student learning amid the rapid rise in the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
“School communities are concerned about the tide of AI technology impacting our classrooms, which is undermining learning, thinking, creativity and hard work,” said Ms Carr.
“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 or AI into our learning and brain development.
“The message this sends to schools and communities more broadly is that we are committed to protecting the teaching and learning happening in schools.
“When students outsource their learning – whether that is to tutors, classmates or artificial intelligence – they are missing out on the rigorous, high-quality education they need to set themselves up for the future.”
Currently, half of a student’s HSC result is generated from school-based assessment. This means schools can determine how much of that 50 percent is assessed through take-home tasks, and how much is completed in class.
Under the new rules, schools will be limited to one take-home assessment worth no more than 15 percent of the school-based assessment component.
School will still have access to a range of assessment models that are appropriate to each course, including examinations, oral tasks and process diaries.
NSW Education Standards Authority CEO, Paul Martin, said the immediate measures will form a starting point for learning adjustments as they consider additional methods of supporting schools who have a shared objective of 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,” he said.
“It is not an overstatement to say the consequences of that could be severe over time.
“We have a moral obligation to the students and teachers of NSW to protect the learning process, the integrity of assessments, and to maintain confidence in the HSC credential.”
HSC major works will not be impacted by the new restrictions, however, schools will continue to be required to authenticate the students’ work. Some courses who have 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 advice comes before the Class of 2027 begins their HSC studies in Term Four this year, providing schools and teachers with certainty as they finalise their assessment programs.
The limit will also apply to students beginning Year 11 in Term 1, 2027.
The NESA Board will now consider additional subject-specific advice, as well as guidance for teachers, to be released to schools from next year for the 2028 HSC and beyond.
The NESA Board, which includes representatives of the public, Catholic and independent school sectors, as well as high school principals and education unions, strongly supported the need to protect students’ learning and the integrity of the HSC.
Based on current evidence, the decision gives schools the flexibility to choose assessment types that are appropriate to the nature of each course, while ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place.
The new limit provides a clear direction that HSC marks should reflect a student’s own knowledge, skills and thinking, without reliance on generative AI tools.
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