Educational trends emerge in Australia as HSC exams begin and homeschooling rises

Year 12 students in New South Wales have commenced the Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations, beginning with the English Paper 1. Student reactions to the initial exam were mixed; some found the essay questions regarding the human spirit to be manageable and relatable to prescribed texts, while others described the paper as difficult.

In Tasmania, there is a significant increase in homeschooling, with registrations rising by more than 50 per cent since 2018. As of March 2026, 1,606 children across 1,012 families were registered for home education in the state. Parents cited flexibility and local school availability as factors influencing the decision to pursue home-based learning.