Thirteen years of learning reaches its peak today for the Class of 2025 when 84,000 students sit their first HSC exam.

Whether you’re in a large high school or a tiny remote school, the HSC is a world-class credential and the door to open opportunities, whether that’s going on to further study at university or TAFE, or to an apprenticeship or the world of work. 

Success in the HSC isn’t just about exam results and ATARs; it’s about resilience, balance, personal growth and wellbeing.

Completing Year 12 is a major achievement and this HSC is a celebration of your success and development across 13 years of schooling.

As you head into your first English exam today, trust in yourself that you have done the hard work – the hours of study and revision and memorising all those quotes and facts on sticky notes.

As you sit each paper, take pride in how far you’ve come.

Aim high and remember your teachers, families, friends and communities are behind you every step of the way until your very last exam.

The HSC is quite a juggernaut. Over the next 17 days there will be 123 exams at 780 exam centres, with 5,500 markers with pens poised to evaluate the papers before results are released on December 18.

In 1967 when the HSC started, there were just 18,000 students who sat the exams. This year there’s 84,000 students across all school sectors studying at least one HSC course. 

Our dedicated teachers have gone above and beyond to support our students from their first days of school to their last.

Our Year 12 teachers and year advisors have put in a phenomenal effort, including coming back to the classroom in the holidays for that final study push. The support is year-round – working after hours, marking practice questions, giving feedback – and most importantly, believing in their students and being in their corner.

Thank you, teachers, for lighting the spark of learning and helping students realise what they can achieve. Your role in preparing the next generation of leaders, creators and citizens is invaluable.

To the class of 2025- You’ve got this!

Take care of yourself over coming weeks and imagine your future after the HSC.

Your world-class education will give you an incredible foundation for success.