HSC Minimum Standard Numeracy study guide
HSC Minimum Standard Numeracy · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The HSC minimum standard is a literacy and numeracy requirement attached to the Higher School Certificate in New South Wales. The source page states that all students need to reach a minimum standard of functional literacy and numeracy to receive the HSC, and that students in NSW are supported to meet this standard. It is therefore aimed at students working towards the HSC, not at the general public or at university applicants. The requirement is assessed through short online tests in three domains: numeracy, reading and writing. The HSC Minimum Standard Numeracy study guide has 3 sections and about 1,083 words.
01Numeracy: Numbers in Everyday Contexts
The numeracy test checks whether you can use mathematics in ordinary life rather than whether you can recall formulas. The core concepts are: the four operations with whole numbers, decimals and simple fractions; percentages and their link to fractions and decimals; ratio and proportion; measurement of length, mass, capacity and time; perimeter, area and volume of simple shapes; reading tables, timetables and graphs; averages (mean, median, mode and range); and money calculations, including change and discounts.
366 words, about 2 min02Reading: Finding and Using Information
The reading test asks you to locate information, understand what a text says, and draw simple conclusions. The key concepts are: main idea and purpose, supporting detail, sequence of events, cause and effect, vocabulary in context, and the difference between statements of fact and statements of opinion.
361 words, about 2 min03Writing: Clear Sentences for Everyday Purposes
The writing test asks you to produce short, clear texts for practical purposes such as an email, a message, a note or a brief explanation. The concepts you need are: identifying your purpose and audience; organising ideas into a beginning, middle and end; writing complete sentences with subject and verb; joining ideas with appropriate connectives; choosing plain, precise words; and checking punctuation, spelling and capital letters.
356 words, about 2 min