HSC exam timetable 2026
5 min read ยท updated 2026-10-13
The 2026 HSC written exams run from Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 5 November, and results are released on Wednesday 16 December. These are the dates for the most-taken subjects; always confirm your own timetable in NESA Students Online.
English and mathematics
Start times include reading time.
- โ English Paper 1 (Standard and Advanced): Tuesday 13 October, 9:50am-11:30am
- โ English Standard and English Advanced Paper 2: Wednesday 14 October, 9:25am-11:30am
- โ Mathematics Standard 1, Standard 2 and Advanced: Monday 19 October, from 9:20am
- โ Mathematics Extension 2: Monday 19 October, 1:50pm-5:00pm
- โ Mathematics Extension 1: Friday 23 October, 1:50pm-4:00pm
Sciences, humanities and business
- โ Modern History: Friday 16 October, 9:25am-12:30pm
- โ Biology: Wednesday 21 October, 9:25am-12:30pm
- โ Business Studies: Monday 26 October, 9:25am-12:30pm
- โ Software Engineering: Tuesday 27 October, 9:50am-12:20pm
- โ Economics: Tuesday 27 October, 1:55pm-5:00pm
- โ Chemistry: Friday 30 October, 9:25am-12:30pm
- โ Legal Studies: Monday 2 November, 9:25am-12:30pm
- โ Physics: Thursday 5 November, 9:25am-12:30pm (the last day of written exams)
Using the gaps well
The gaps between papers are uneven: maths students have four days between Advanced and Extension 1, while Physics students wait until the final day. Plan revision paper by paper, with full timed past papers in the two or three days before each exam and lighter review in between.
FAQs
When do the 2026 HSC exams start and finish?๏ผ
Written exams run from Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 5 November 2026.
When are 2026 HSC results released?๏ผ
Wednesday 16 December 2026, the same day ATARs are released by UAC.
Where do I find my personal timetable?๏ผ
In NESA Students Online, which lists your exams, times and rooms.
When is HSC English Paper 1 in 2026?๏ผ
Tuesday 13 October 2026 at 9:50am, for both English Standard and English Advanced. Paper 2 is the next day.
When is HSC Maths Advanced in 2026?๏ผ
Monday 19 October 2026, with Mathematics Standard 1 and 2 on the same morning. Extension 1 is on Friday 23 October.
When are the HSC science exams in 2026?๏ผ
Biology on Wednesday 21 October, Chemistry on Friday 30 October and Physics on Thursday 5 November 2026.
When does the HSC end in 2026?๏ผ
Thursday 5 November 2026, with Physics as the last written exam.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources on 2026-10-13.
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