HSC English 2023 Paper 2
Walkthrough of the 2023 HSC English Paper 2 (Modules A, B and C). Section structure, time allocation per essay, and the moves the NESA marking notes rewarded across the three modules.
- Marks
- 45
- Time
- 120 min
- Authority
- NESA
- Updated
What this paper assessed
Paper 2 examines three modules across three sections of 15 marks each. Section 1 (Module A: Textual Conversations) is comparative. Section 2 (Module B: Critical Study) is a single-text essay. Section 3 (Module C: The Craft of Writing) is creative or discursive writing, with a stimulus.
Section strategy
Allocate 40 minutes per section. In Module A, 2023 markers rewarded essays that named the specific resonance or dissonance between the paired texts and that returned to that comparison in every paragraph.
In Module B, markers wanted candidates to take an informed position on the text's value and to evidence it through distinctive textual features. Vague claims about timelessness did not score.
In Module C, the 2023 stimulus invited a precise craft response. Markers flagged generic pieces that ignored the stimulus or that misused form.
Common errors to avoid
Two parallel essays in Module A. Critic-name-dropping without a position in Module B. Pre-written stories shoehorned into Module C without responding to the stimulus.
What to do with this paper
Sit one section under timed conditions and mark against the NESA notes from marking centre. Build to the full 120 minutes across three sittings.
Use this paper well
- Sit the paper under exam conditions (120 minutes, 45 marks).
- Mark yourself against the official NESA marking notes.
- Compare against the English hub to find the syllabus dot points this paper tested.