THE state’s 70,000 HSC students will have to achieve a pass mark in numeracy and literacy to be awarded the world class credential under the biggest overhaul of the end-of-school exam in 17 years.

Education Minister Adrian Piccoli today announced sweeping changes requiring Year 12 students to demonstrate they need minimum standards in the core subjects before they can receive the HSC.

School leavers in 2020 will be the first group that will have to reach the standards.

Students will be given a number of opportunities from Year 9 to Year 12 to demonstrate they meet the new standard _ at least Band 8 on a scale of 1 to 10.

media_camera NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli

Mr Piccoli said Year 9 students next year would be the first to be measured for the standard when they sit the National Assessment Program _ Literacy and numeracy tests.

Students at risk of not making the grade will be directed into English and mathematics courses containing units specifically designed to focus on essential literacy and numeracy.

Those who have not reached the numeracy standard by the end of Year 10 will be required to take a prescribed mathematics course or topics in specific English units until they achieve a pass.

Students who fall short of the standard by the end of Year 12 will not receive the HSC. Instead, they will be awarded the Record of School Achievement (RoSA) and have five years after leaving school to pass an online literacy and numeracy test set by the Board of Studies to receive an HSC.

The tough new rules follow plummeting performance by Australian teenagers in critical subjects such as reading, mathematics and science.

Mr Piccoli, announcing the overhaul at Cherrybrook Technology High School in Sydney’s northwest, said the changes would improve the learning experience for students and boost the standard of NSW school graduates.

“Evidence shows us that students perform better when schools focus on improving essential literacy and numeracy skills for all students,” he said.

The HSC reforms also include:

■ A new assessment system aimed at reducing excessive student stress

■ A science extension course and measures to encourage more students to study maths at the highest possible level

■ Updated syllabuses in English, Maths, Science and History, and

■ Changes to exam questions to encourage deeper analysis.

Mr Piccoli said the reforms responded to feedback from parents, educators, business and the community about preparing students for 21st century careers.

“These changes will strengthen the integrity and international standing of the HSC and better prepare our students for work, training, university and for life after school,” he said.

media_camera NSW Board of Studies President Tom Alegounarias.

OTHER NEWS: SONIA DARES TO SPEAK, SPARKING CRAZED ABUSE

The changes have been developed by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW (BOSTES).

President Tom Alegounarias said there were no new requirements for this year’s HSC students and BOSTES would work with schools and teachers to prepare students for the future changes.

“The HSC hasn’t been updated in 17 years. It has a proud record and these changes will ensure the certificate remains modern, to meet the needs of all students,” Mr Alegounarias said.

A major report by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) released earlier this year found the declining achievement level was so serious it could affect the nation’s ability to compete globally for the next 50 years.

The ACER study revealed 40,000 15-year-olds across Australia lacked the reading skills required for the workplace, while 57,000 were not up to scratch in maths.

It also said there had been a “long-term decline in the ability of 15-year-olds to apply what they are learning to everyday problems”. ACER said the performance of Australian students had been going backwards since the Sydney 2000 Olympics, while other countries had made substantial gains.

In maths, the top 10 per cent of Australian students now perform at the same level as the top 40 to 50 per cent of students in Singapore, South Korea and Chinese Taipei, the report says.

Between 2000 and 2012 Australian students’ reading literacy declined by 16 points and mathematical literacy by 29 points, while Germany increased its literacy level by 24 points.

Report author and ACER chief executive Professor Geoff Masters said: “It has been a steady decline and in maths it has been dramatic.

“We were one of the top countries in the world and now we are just average.

“The problem is not that Australia is standing still relative to other countries — we are actually going backwards. We ignore these warning signs at our peril.”