New HSC English Studies syllabus from 2027: what's changed

HSC English Studies has a new syllabus, the English Studies 11-12 Syllabus (2024). The 2027 HSC is the first exam on it, and the 2026 HSC is the last on the 2017 syllabus. Everything here is based on NESA's published pages and notices (HSC examinations page last checked 7 October 2026), summarised in our own words.

Timeline

What changed compared with the 2017 course

Year 11 (120 indicative hours)

Reading to write: Transition to English Studies (30 to 40 hours) comes first, followed by two or three elective focus areas (20 to 40 hours each). There are no prescribed texts in Year 11.

Year 12 (120 indicative hours)

Narrative and human experiences (35 hours), Writing for purpose (35 hours) and two elective focus areas (50 hours). The 2017 Common Module (Texts and Human Experiences) became Narrative and human experiences, and the 2017 Writing Skills section became Writing for purpose.

Eleven elective focus areas

NESA lists A Voices of Australia, B Media and influence, C On the road, D Playing the game, E Lyrical voices, F Everyday heroes, G Part of a family, H Uncovering the truth, I The big screen, J Representing the past and K Achieving through English (English in education, work and community). Your school decides which ones it offers. NESA does not prescribe texts for the electives.

The 2027 to 2030 prescribed texts

You study ONE text from NESA's list for Narrative and human experiences:

For Writing for purpose you study at least FOUR of six short prescribed texts: Evelyn Araluen, Finding Ways Home; Ray Bradbury, The Pedestrian; Helen Garner, Dear Mrs Dunkley; Luka Lesson, May Your Pen Grace the Page; George Saunders, Failures of Kindness; and Tim Winton, My Father's Axe.

The exam and assessment

HSC exam. The English Studies exam is optional and counts towards an ATAR only if you sit it. It is one written paper worth 60 marks in 2 hours plus 10 minutes reading time, in three sections. Section I (Narrative and human experiences, 15 marks) has 4 or 5 short-answer questions. Section II (Narrative and human experiences, 15 marks) is one extended response on your prescribed text. Section III (Writing for purpose, 30 marks) has 2 or 3 items, one worth at least 15 marks, asking for informative, analytical, imaginative or persuasive writing. The 2017 paper was worth 70 marks in 2 hours 30 minutes plus 10 minutes reading time.

Under the 2017 syllabus, English Studies shared at least two Section I items with English Standard and the Section II extended response with Standard and Advanced. NESA's sample exam materials say the new English Studies exam includes no items common with other English HSC exams.

The elective is not examined in the 2027 paper

Section III of the 2017 paper (Elective modules, 15 marks) has gone, so half the new paper is Writing for purpose. NESA publishes annotated sample exam materials, which we link rather than copy.

School-based assessment

The two components are weighted equally: knowledge and understanding of course content (50%) and skills in comprehending texts, communicating ideas and using language accurately, appropriately and effectively (50%). NESA's guidance is that individual tasks carry between 10% and 40%.

Take-home limit

From Term 4 2026 each HSC course may have at most one take-home task worth at most 15% of the school-based mark. English Studies is not on NESA's exempt list. Marks must reflect your own work, not generative AI.

What to do now

If you sit the 2026 HSC. Nothing changes. Use the 2017 course and the 2026 exam format.

If you sit the 2027 HSC.

1. Ask your teacher which text you will study for Narrative and human experiences, which short texts you will study for Writing for purpose, and which two elective focus areas your school offers.
2. Decide early whether you will sit the exam, since it only affects an ATAR if you do.
3. Practise writing for a clear purpose and audience, and planning a full response in less time, since the paper is shorter.
4. Expect more supervised assessment because of the take-home limit.

See also English Advanced: what's changed and English Standard: what's changed.

Official sources

Use the NSW Curriculum overview, school-based assessment and HSC examinations pages under sources, plus NESA notice 31/24. NESA says some dates are indicative and subject to change.