The module required students to interpret texts including Ang Lee's film Life of Pi or Shakespeare's The Tempest through the lens of one of these concepts, which would also guide students through their creative writing responses. The Area of Study has been the focus of English exams for more than a decade. Credit:Wolter Peeters For more than a decade teachers moulded texts to suit the area of study, dominating the teaching of English throughout the HSC year. It is understood that consistently negative feedback on the module from parents, students and teachers has forced the hand of the board. "The problem with the current structure is that teachers have to try and pack too much into a very short time. You might be getting breadth but you're not getting depth," English Teachers Association of NSW president Karen Yager said.

"You have teachers racing through modules," said Ms Yager, who is also a year 12 English teacher at Knox Grammar. "The change should mean students get a richer depth of understanding." As the only mandatory subject in the HSC, English has historically been the least well-liked of the state's more than 100 examinable courses, particularly for those who feel they have been forced to do the subject. Under the proposal, students would instead be able to focus on a specific person, idea or event through texts or how language is used to portray the natural environment and landscapes. Fairfax Media understands that the curriculum will shift students away from focusing on generic themes towards a closer reading of the texts themselves. If the change occurred by 2018, it would mean that the current curriculum would end two years before it was due to be completed in 2020. The current area of study, "discovery", was due for review in 2019. A spokesman for the Board of Studies said it was too early to say if or when the changes would be implemented.

The shift is part of a number of drastic proposals to modernise the curriculum from the Board of Studies. On Tuesday, Fairfax Media revealed that 3-unit chemistry and physics could be introduced for the first time in 2017. General Mathematics 1 could also be upgraded to a full board-delivered course with an optional HSC exam, while the final two questions of the maths exam could in future be different depending on whether the student is a 2-unit or an extension student. Board of Studies president Tom Alegounarias said on Monday the proposed changes to the maths and science subjects were the first stage of a multifaceted consultation process. "The idea is to encourage more students to apply themselves to the highest level that is possible," he said.

The briefs will be open for feedback until November 29.