Exam timetables -

HSC exam timetable 2026

Official NESA dates: written HSC exams run Tue 13 Oct–Thu 5 Nov 2026. Find subject dates and times, personalised timetable, results and ATAR details.

By The Polarbear Team10 min read

HSC exam timetable 2026

The 2026 HSC written exams run from Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 5 November. NESA lists 123 written exams across 18 exam days, beginning with English Paper 1 and finishing with Physics.

This timetable covers written exams only. Languages oral exams, performances, practical exams and submitted works happen separately and appear in the student's personalised Students Online timetable.

Official source and scope

Source-checked against NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)

Scope
2026 HSC written examinations only; personalised timetables in Students Online remain authoritative
Last checked
Source version
NESA timetable extracted 2026-05-01
Rows in this planner
123

Polarbear is not affiliated with NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). If this planning copy and an official or personalised timetable differ, follow the official timetable and contact the school.

Open the controlling official timetable (opens in a new tab)

Find every 2026 HSC written exam

Search all 123 NESA timetable rows by course or paper. Add the student's exact entries to build a printable family schedule and calendar file.

Build a family exam schedule

Search for each course or paper, then add every exam your student is sitting. Selection stays in this browser tab and is not saved or sent to Polarbear.

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This is a planning copy. The official personalised timetable always wins.

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Dates and times scroll horizontally; the schedule action stays pinned.

2026 HSC written examinations only; personalised timetables in Students Online remain authoritative. Source checked Sun, 23 Aug 2026.
Course or paperDateTimeSchedule
English Advanced (Paper 1 - Texts and Human Experiences)Tue, 13 Oct 20269:50 am – 11:30 am
English EAL/D (Paper 1 - Module A and Focus on Writing)Tue, 13 Oct 20269:50 am – 11:30 am
English Standard (Paper 1 - Texts and Human Experiences)Tue, 13 Oct 20269:50 am – 11:30 am
English StudiesTue, 13 Oct 20269:50 am – 12:30 pm
Classical Greek ExtensionTue, 13 Oct 20262:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Classical Hebrew ExtensionTue, 13 Oct 20262:00 pm – 4:00 pm
German ContinuersTue, 13 Oct 20262:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Indonesian ExtensionTue, 13 Oct 20262:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Japanese BeginnersTue, 13 Oct 20262:00 pm – 4:40 pm
Japanese ContinuersTue, 13 Oct 20262:00 pm – 5:00 pm
English Advanced (Paper 2 - Modules)Wed, 14 Oct 20269:25 am – 11:30 am
English EAL/D (Paper 2 - Module B and Module C)Wed, 14 Oct 20269:25 am – 10:30 am
English Standard (Paper 2 - Modules)Wed, 14 Oct 20269:25 am – 11:30 am
English EAL/D (Paper 2 - Listening Paper)Finishing time is approximateWed, 14 Oct 202610:40 am – 11:10 am
Music 1 (Aural Skills)Finishing time is approximateWed, 14 Oct 20261:55 pm – 3:00 pm
Music 2 (Musicology and Aural Skills)Finishing time is approximateWed, 14 Oct 20263:25 pm – 5:00 pm
Indonesian BeginnersThu, 15 Oct 20269:20 am – 12:00 pm
Classical Hebrew ContinuersThu, 15 Oct 20269:25 am – 12:30 pm
Earth and Environmental ScienceThu, 15 Oct 20269:25 am – 12:30 pm
Tourism, Travel and Events (VET)Thu, 15 Oct 20269:25 am – 11:30 am
Indonesian ContinuersThu, 15 Oct 20269:30 am – 12:30 pm
AgricultureThu, 15 Oct 20261:55 pm – 5:00 pm
Arabic ContinuersThu, 15 Oct 20262:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Armenian ContinuersThu, 15 Oct 20262:00 pm – 4:10 pm
Chinese in ContextThu, 15 Oct 20262:00 pm – 4:40 pm

HSC 2026 key dates

HSC 2026 exam, results and ATAR key dates
Written exam periodTuesday 13 October – Thursday 5 November 2026
HSC resultsWednesday 16 December 2026, from 6am
NSW ATARWednesday 16 December 2026, from 9am via UAC

The written-exam window does not include oral, practical, performance or submitted-work dates. Those components must be checked separately in Students Online.

A 12/8/4/1-week family revision plan

12 weeks out

Sit one timed diagnostic paper, list syllabus gaps and agree on a weekly plan that leaves room for school assessments and rest.

8 weeks out

Rotate subjects, complete the first fully marked paper and focus the next fortnight on the largest recurring gaps.

4 weeks out

Move to full exam-condition practice. Confirm every entry, centre, provision and course-specific equipment in Students Online.

1 week out

Consolidate known material, protect sleep, reduce last-minute content switching and finalise transport and equipment.

The parent's role is to help make the plan visible, protect the conditions needed to follow it and notice when the student needs their teacher or school—not to become another examiner at home.

Parent and carer checklist

  • Compare every course, paper, date, reading-time start and exam centre with the student's personalised Students Online timetable.
  • Check Languages oral, performance, practical and submitted-work dates separately; they are not part of the written timetable below.
  • Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early for the first English exam and for Science Extension, Enterprise Computing and Software Engineering; arrive at least 10 minutes early for other written exams, unless the school directs otherwise.
  • Confirm approved calculators and course-specific equipment before exam week.
  • Keep phones, smartwatches and wireless earphones outside the exam room, following the current HSC Rules and Procedures guide.
  • If illness or misadventure occurs, notify the principal or presiding officer immediately and obtain independent evidence as soon as possible.
  • Make sure the student can access their NESA student number and Students Online PIN, and keep the separate UAC PIN ready for ATAR release.

Official checks and next steps

NESA written exam timetable (opens in a new tab)
Students Online (opens in a new tab)
HSC practical exam dates (opens in a new tab)
HSC Languages oral timetable (opens in a new tab)
2026 HSC Rules and Procedures (opens in a new tab)

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