Premier Nathan Rees said today this week’s HSC exams will provide students with world class qualifications from courses recognised internationally.

The Premier, Minister for Education and Training Verity Firth and HSC students visited a display of visual arts pieces being marked at Homebush.

“We are proud of the quality of our education system and that is backed up by schools in other countries adopting the HSC standard for their own students,” said Mr Rees.

“Schools in countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong are just some of the votes of confidence in NSW’s higher school certificate.

“Almost 70,000 students will sit more than 110 exams at more than 700 locationsacross the state and even overseas.

“I congratulate teachers, markers and other staff who make this massive operation possible each year.

“Students will read from 13 million printed pages of questions and submit answers in 1.75 million booklets, which will be assessed by a 7000-strong team of markers.

“A simple message for everyone is be prepared and do your best.

“Expectations are high that the Class of ’09 improve on the outstanding results from last year and maintain NSW’s high standards.

“2008 saw record high achievers with almost 1,200 students achieving a mark of 90 or more in at least 10 units and almost 16,000 students gaining 90 or above in at least one subject.

“Good luck over the next four weeks and use every bit of your 13 years of excellent schooling,” Mr Rees said.

Minister Firth also wished students well and said while it was natural to be nervous, it was important to keep the exams in perspective.

“Students have already completed their school assessments so half of their HSC marks are already done, and there are many avenues you can take to fulfil your goals,” Ms Firth said.

Ms Firth encouraged students to make good use of revision material offered by the Board of Studies.

“Be prepared and practise from any of the past HSC exam papers, the full HSC syllabuses, the ‘Test Yourself’ online multiple choice quizzes.

“The Board’s website also contains the useful ‘Notes from the Marking Centre’ for every subject from the last several years,” Ms Firth said.

“These notes are straight from the senior markers and give students an excellent summary of what was expected for each question in each HSC exam paper.”

Students were encouraged to use the HSC advice line - 13 11 12 – for the cost of a local call, students can check their preparation with an experienced HSC teacher.

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