NSW HSC Exam Timetable 2026
Quick answer: The 2026 HSC written exams run from Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 5 November 2026, starting with English (Paper 1) and finishing with Physics. There are 123 papers across four weeks. The start time NESA lists is when reading time begins, so arrive well before it.
Key points (checked 16 October 2026)
- The 2026 HSC written exams began on Tuesday 13 October and the last paper, Physics, is on Thursday 5 November 2026.
- NESA’s timetable has 123 papers spread over four weeks; Mathematics papers fall in Week 2, from Monday 19 October.
- Times on the timetable mark the start of reading time and are in NSW local time (AEDT).
- Check your personal timetable on NESA Students Online – if it differs from any other list, Students Online and your school are right.
Full 2026 HSC written exam timetable
Use the filter to find your courses, tick them, and download a calendar file – each paper gets a reminder the day before. Times are NSW local time (AEDT).
| Date | Time | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 13 Oct 2026 | 9:50 am – 11:30 am | English Advanced (Paper 1 – Texts and Human Experiences) |
| Tue 13 Oct 2026 | 9:50 am – 11:30 am | English EAL/D (Paper 1 – Module A and Focus on Writing) |
| Tue 13 Oct 2026 | 9:50 am – 11:30 am | English Standard (Paper 1 – Texts and Human Experiences) |
| Tue 13 Oct 2026 | 9:50 am – 12:30 pm | English Studies |
| Tue 13 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Classical Greek Extension |
| Tue 13 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Classical Hebrew Extension |
| Tue 13 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | German Continuers |
| Tue 13 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Indonesian Extension |
| Tue 13 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:40 pm | Japanese Beginners |
| Tue 13 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Japanese Continuers |
| Wed 14 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 11:30 am | English Advanced (Paper 2 – Modules) |
| Wed 14 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 10:30 am | English EAL/D (Paper 2 – Module B and Module C) |
| Wed 14 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 11:30 am | English Standard (Paper 2 – Modules) |
| Wed 14 Oct 2026 | 10:40 am – 11:10 am | English EAL/D (Paper 2 – Listening Paper) |
| Wed 14 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 3:00 pm | Music 1 (Aural Skills) |
| Wed 14 Oct 2026 | 3:25 pm – 5:00 pm | Music 2 (Musicology and Aural Skills) |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 9:20 am – 12:00 pm | Indonesian Beginners |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Classical Hebrew Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Earth and Environmental Science |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 11:30 am | Tourism, Travel and Events (VET) |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Indonesian Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 5:00 pm | Agriculture |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Arabic Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Armenian Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:40 pm | Chinese in Context |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Croatian Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Dutch Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Filipino Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Hindi Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Hungarian Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:40 pm | Japanese in Context |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Khmer Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:40 pm | Korean in Context |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Macedonian Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Modern Hebrew Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Persian Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Polish Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Portuguese Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Punjabi Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Russian Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Serbian Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:40 pm | Spanish Beginners |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Spanish Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Swedish Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Tamil Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Turkish Continuers |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Vietnamese Continuers |
| Fri 16 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Modern History |
| Fri 16 Oct 2026 | 9:30 am – 11:30 am | Japanese Extension |
| Fri 16 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 5:00 pm | Classical Greek Continuers |
| Fri 16 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 4:00 pm | Hospitality (VET) (Food and Beverage) |
| Fri 16 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 4:00 pm | Hospitality (VET) (Kitchen Operations and Cookery) |
| Fri 16 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | German Extension |
| Mon 19 Oct 2026 | 9:20 am – 12:30 pm | Mathematics Advanced |
| Mon 19 Oct 2026 | 9:20 am – 11:30 am | Mathematics Standard 1 |
| Mon 19 Oct 2026 | 9:20 am – 12:00 pm | Mathematics Standard 2 |
| Mon 19 Oct 2026 | 1:50 pm – 5:00 pm | Mathematics Extension 2 |
| Tue 20 Oct 2026 | 9:20 am – 12:00 pm | German Beginners |
| Tue 20 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Engineering Studies |
| Tue 20 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Latin Continuers |
| Tue 20 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 11:30 am | Primary Industries (VET) |
| Tue 20 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 11:00 am | Textiles and Design |
| Tue 20 Oct 2026 | 9:30 am – 11:30 am | Spanish Extension |
| Tue 20 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 4:00 pm | Automotive (VET) |
| Tue 20 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 4:00 pm | Society & Culture |
| Tue 20 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Arabic Extension |
| Tue 20 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Chinese Continuers |
| Wed 21 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Biology |
| Wed 21 Oct 2026 | 1:50 pm – 4:00 pm | History Extension |
| Wed 21 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 4:00 pm | Business Services (VET) |
| Wed 21 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Chinese and Literature |
| Thu 22 Oct 2026 | 9:20 am – 11:30 am | Latin Extension |
| Thu 22 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 11:00 am | Studies of Religion I |
| Thu 22 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Studies of Religion II |
| Thu 22 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 3:30 pm | Drama |
| Thu 22 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:40 pm | Chinese Beginners |
| Thu 22 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Chinese Extension |
| Fri 23 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Ancient History |
| Fri 23 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 11:30 am | Electrotechnology (VET) |
| Fri 23 Oct 2026 | 1:50 pm – 4:00 pm | Mathematics Extension 1 |
| Mon 26 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Business Studies |
| Mon 26 Oct 2026 | 1:50 pm – 4:00 pm | Science Extension |
| Mon 26 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 4:00 pm | Construction (VET) |
| Tue 27 Oct 2026 | 9:20 am – 12:00 pm | Modern Greek Beginners |
| Tue 27 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 11:30 am | Human Services (VET) |
| Tue 27 Oct 2026 | 9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Italian Continuers |
| Tue 27 Oct 2026 | 9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Korean Continuers |
| Tue 27 Oct 2026 | 9:30 am – 11:30 am | Modern Greek Extension |
| Tue 27 Oct 2026 | 9:50 am – 12:20 pm | Software Engineering |
| Tue 27 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 5:00 pm | Economics |
| Tue 27 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 4:00 pm | Entertainment Industry (VET) |
| Wed 28 Oct 2026 | 9:20 am – 12:30 pm | Health and Movement Science |
| Wed 28 Oct 2026 | 1:50 pm – 4:00 pm | English Extension 1 |
| Wed 28 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 4:00 pm | Information and Digital Technology (VET) |
| Wed 28 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 4:00 pm | Retail Services (VET) |
| Wed 28 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Korean and Literature |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | 9:20 am – 12:00 pm | Italian Beginners |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | 9:20 am – 12:00 pm | Korean Beginners |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 10:30 am | Dance Section I (Core Appreciation) |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | 9:30 am – 11:30 am | Italian Extension |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | 9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Modern Greek Continuers |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | 9:50 am – 12:20 pm | Enterprise Computing |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | 10:40 am – 12:00 pm | Dance Section II (Major Study Appreciation) |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 3:30 pm | Design and Technology |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:40 pm | French Beginners |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | French Extension |
| Fri 30 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Aboriginal Studies |
| Fri 30 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Chemistry |
| Fri 30 Oct 2026 | 9:25 am – 11:30 am | Financial Services (VET) |
| Fri 30 Oct 2026 | 1:55 pm – 3:30 pm | Visual Arts (Art Criticism and Art History) |
| Mon 2 Nov 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Legal Studies |
| Mon 2 Nov 2026 | 1:50 pm – 5:00 pm | Geography |
| Tue 3 Nov 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Community and Family Studies |
| Tue 3 Nov 2026 | 1:55 pm – 5:00 pm | Investigating Science |
| Tue 3 Nov 2026 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | French Continuers |
| Wed 4 Nov 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Food Technology |
| Wed 4 Nov 2026 | 1:55 pm – 3:30 pm | Industrial Technology (Automotive Technologies) |
| Wed 4 Nov 2026 | 1:55 pm – 3:30 pm | Industrial Technology (Electronics Technologies) |
| Wed 4 Nov 2026 | 1:55 pm – 3:30 pm | Industrial Technology (Graphics Technologies) |
| Wed 4 Nov 2026 | 1:55 pm – 3:30 pm | Industrial Technology (Metal and Engineering Technologies) |
| Wed 4 Nov 2026 | 1:55 pm – 3:30 pm | Industrial Technology (Multimedia Technologies) |
| Wed 4 Nov 2026 | 1:55 pm – 3:30 pm | Industrial Technology (Timber and Furniture Technologies) |
| Thu 5 Nov 2026 | 9:25 am – 12:30 pm | Physics |
Transcribed from the NESA timetable page. Your personal timetable is on Students Online – if anything differs, Students Online and your school are right.
Exam weeks at a glance
| Week 1 | Tuesday 13 – Friday 16 October | English papers, Music aural, many Continuers languages, Modern History |
| Week 2 | Monday 19 – Friday 23 October | Mathematics (all levels), Biology, Studies of Religion, Ancient History |
| Week 3 | Monday 26 – Friday 30 October | Business Studies, Economics, Chemistry, English Extension 1 |
| Week 4 | Monday 2 – Thursday 5 November | Legal Studies, Geography, Food Technology, Physics (last paper) |
Tips for exam days
- Bring your NESA student number and approved equipment (check the HSC rules for calculators).
- Back-to-back days are common in Week 1 for language students – plan lighter revision the night before.
- Use our study planner to spread revision across the gaps between your papers.
Frequently asked questions
When do the 2026 HSC exams start and finish?
The written exams start on Tuesday 13 October 2026 and finish on Thursday 5 November 2026.
What is the first HSC exam in 2026?
English Advanced, English Standard and English EAL/D Paper 1, plus English Studies, on Tuesday 13 October from 9:50 am.
What is the last HSC exam in 2026?
Physics, on Thursday 5 November 2026 from 9:25 am to 12:30 pm.
Does the start time include reading time?
Yes. NESA says the exam start time is when reading time begins, so arrive early.
Where can I see my personal HSC timetable?
On NESA Students Online. Your school can also see cohort timetables on Schools Online.
Where can I find the official 2026 HSC exam timetable?
NESA publishes the full HSC written exam timetable on its key dates page at nsw.gov.au, and each student’s own timetable is on Students Online (studentsonline.nesa.nsw.edu.au).
How many HSC written exams are there in 2026?
The 2026 NESA timetable lists 123 papers, held over four weeks from Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 5 November 2026.
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