Staying organised and starting early is essential for success in the HSC. With over 100,000 students sitting HSC exams each year in New South Wales, preparation makes all the difference. This blog outlines the full 2025 written HSC exam timetable and shares practical study advice from our expert tutors to help you stay focused, reduce stress, and maximise marks.
HSC Exam Timetable 2025
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has released the official timetable for 2025 HSC written exams. Exams will run from Thursday, 16 October to Friday, 7 November 2025.
Below is a selection of major HSC exam dates. For a full list of exams, including language, performance, and VET subjects, check your personalised timetable via Students Online.
The exam time listed includes reading time. Students should arrive well before the starting time. Your personalised timetable, including performance/oral exams, is available via Students Onlin
Essential Tips for HSC Exam Success
We spoke to our 500 tutors, who have an average ATAR of 99.00, and asked them what their best advice is for students preparing for the HSC. Here is what they said:
- Work backwards from the exam date: Use the timetable to plan when to revise each subject.
- Practice like it’s the real thing: Complete questions in exam-like conditions and mark yourself honestly.
- Focus on syllabus points: The NESA syllabus tells you exactly what can be tested—use it as a checklist.
- Avoid burnout: Don’t study in long blocks. Use techniques like the Pomodoro method and take screen-free breaks.
- Reach out for support: If a concept isn’t making sense, ask your teacher, join a study group, or get a tutor.
💡Read on for tips to succeed in HSC Maths Extension 2 here!
Maximising the Benefits of Past Papers
Practising with past papers is one of the most effective ways to prepare for HSC exams. Here’s how to use them properly:
- Do them under timed conditions: Build speed and accuracy under pressure.
- Mark with the marking guidelines: Understand what gets rewarded, and learn how to structure top-scoring responses.
- Track your mistakes: Create an error log to monitor common gaps in your knowledge.
- Revisit your weak topics: Use past paper mistakes to guide your revision.
- Familiarise yourself with wording: NESA papers often repeat phrases and question styles—get used to them.
💡Check out this blog post that offers a detailed overview with essential topics, study advice, and resource recommendations in HSC Chemistry!
