HSC English EAL/D

Students educated overseas, or in Australian schools where English was the language of instruction, for five years or less before commencing Year 11. The principal determines the main language of instruction at previous schools, and an eligibility declaration is completed by the school and student. For substantially interrupted education, approval may be sought to extend the period to six years.

Four modules. Module A: Texts and Human Experiences is completed first. Modules B (Language, Identity, Culture) and C (Close Study of Text) follow over the year. Focus on Writing is studied concurrently with Modules A, B and C throughout the year. Each module includes speaking and listening components.

Three types of prescribed texts, one drawn from each category: prose fiction; poetry or drama; and film, media or nonfiction. Text selections for Focus on Writing do not count towards this pattern. You must also study ONE related text in Module A: Texts and Human Experiences.

No. Year 11 has no prescribed texts. You study one substantial literary text, such as film, prose fiction, drama or a poetry text, which may be a selection of poems by one poet, plus a range of text types including prose fiction, drama, poetry, nonfiction, film, media and digital texts, supported by your own wide reading.

Both the Year 11 and Year 12 courses require 120 indicative hours. The Year 11 course is a prerequisite for Year 12. In Year 11 the modules are prescribed with flexible hours, giving teachers scope to design an optional fourth module for their students' particular needs, interests and abilities.

Through school-based assessment and the HSC external written examination. Assessment and reporting, performance band descriptions and HSC exam papers and standards materials are published by NESA. Sample assessment schedules and tasks are being updated to align with new ACE Rules, including a new limit on take-home assessment tasks from Term 4 2026.

No. English EAL/D is excluded with English Advanced, English Extension, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, English Standard, English Studies, English Studies (Exam) and English Life Skills. Check the exclusions carefully before confirming your pattern of study, because choosing EAL/D rules out those alternatives.

Follow the syllabus sequence: complete Module A first, then Modules B and C across the year, while running Focus on Writing concurrently throughout. Build regular wide reading, drafting and spoken practice into each module, since speaking and listening are integral to developing English language skills and appear in every module.

Studying too few text types, neglecting the related text for Module A, treating Focus on Writing as a separate end-of-year unit, and ignoring speaking and listening practice. Also confirm eligibility evidence early, because the onus is on students to provide evidence of previous schooling before entry to the course is approved.

It is being replaced. The final HSC exam for this syllabus is in 2026, schools must not teach it after Term 3, 2026, and the syllabus and support materials will be removed in December 2026. The new English EAL/D 11–12 Syllabus (2024) and HSC English prescriptions 2027–2030 are on the NSW Curriculum website.