Curriculum and Learning
Year 12 Trial HSC Examinations
Year 12 begin their dress rehearsal for the HSC written examinations next week on Monday 4 August and will conclude two weeks later, on Monday 18 August with this day also being an examination “catch up” day for those students, for whatever medically valid reason, missed a scheduled examination.
The Trial HSC timetable was issued to Year 12 last term and is available on CANVAS, as are a set of examination rules and expectations. Students are reminded to thoroughly familiarise themselves with this documentation, as well as the College’s Assessment Policy, which is also available in CANVAS.
Parents/carers and students of Year 12 are reminded, that in the event of absenteeism due to illness or misadventure during the Trial HSC Examination period, a telephone call to the Year Coordinator, Mrs Fisicaro, must be made on the morning of the examination. Where possible, the missed examination or a substitute will be arranged within the Trial period. On the student’s return to school, a completed illness/misadventure form, with the related medical certificate or other official supporting evidence attached, must be personally given to Mrs Fisicaro and the relevant Head of Department.
If illness or misadventure prevents a student from attending or submitting an examination or affects their performance in an examination, it is the student’s responsibility to complete and submit an illness/misadventure application, not a parent/carer or relative, unless the student is physically unable to do so.
It is important to note that illness/misadventure applications are for cases where an illness or misadventure:
occurred immediately before or during an examination
was unexpected
was beyond the student’s control and prevented them from attending or diminished their performance in the examination.
In line with NESA regulations, the College will not consider illness or misadventure applications for:
difficulty preparing or lost preparation time
alleged deficiencies in teaching
misreading the Trial HSC Examination timetable
misreading examination instructions
attempting the wrong examination
long-term illness (e.g., glandular fever, asthma, diabetes or epilepsy), unless the student has suffered a “flare-up” of the condition during the examination
conditions for which the student has been granted disability provisions, unless they have further unexpected difficulties
conditions for which a student should have applied for disability provisions
other commitments such as participation in work, sporting events, holidays, or attendance at tests conducted by other organisations.
Illness/misadventure applications must include advice or evidence from a relevant independent expert, not a parent/carer or relative, on the same day, either immediately before or after each examination for the student. The medical certificate must be written by a practising medical doctor who is not a parent/carer or relative.
The student must provide documentation that is current, specific to the date and time of the examination, and submitted with the illness/misadventure form. A medical certificate that merely states “illness” and/or “unfit for work/study” is unacceptable, and the College will not consider an illness/misadventure application without sufficient evidence supporting a genuine reason.
Reminder: Subject Selection for Years 9-2026 and 11-2026
Students of Years 8 and 10 are reminded to make their elective choices for 2026 online via the WebChoice facility. Instructions with a link and log-in code for WebChoice were emailed to the students last week.
The deadline to submit elective choices online is 9:00 AM Monday 4 August 2025 for both Year 8 and Year 10. Students are reminded to retain a printed copy of their parent-signed choice form.
Parents/carers and students of Year 10 are to note that application forms to appeal College subject recommendations are available on the TASS Parent Lounge and on CANVAS. Appeals regarding class placement in a subject for Year 11-2026 are due via email, to Mr Cutrupi and the relevant Head of Department by no later than Tuesday 5 August.
Michael Cutrupi
Director of Curriculum
Sophos Alumni Mentoring Evening – A Key to Academic Success
Many researchers support the notion that mentors have an increased effect size on student success. They often play a vital role in supporting students to navigate academic pressure, important decisions, and emotional challenges. A mentor can offer guidance, encouragement, and practical advice drawn from their own experiences. They can help a student stay focused, manage stress, and make informed choices about their future.
This potential impact of mentors and role models for Senior Students in their final stage of school, prompted the establishment of the Sophos Alumni Mentoring Program, an extension of the current Sophos Peer Mentoring Program. Some of our recent high achieving alumni from the Class of 2024 were invited to participate in the program as mentors to our current Year 12 students.
At the end of Term 2, the Learning Enrichment Team hosted the first Sophos Alumni Mentoring Evening. Over 35 current Year 12 students expressed interest in the program and were matched with suitable mentors. The alumni answered pressing questions about Trial HSC examination preparation and encouraged the Year 12 mentees to maintain their physical and emotional wellbeing. They were also a source of motivation to the Year 12 participants ahead of the holiday period, offering suggestions on best ways to approach study and revision.
Some of the feedback received from the participating Year 12 students included:
“I really enjoyed hearing my mentor's experiences with economics and business studies as we had the same teachers, as well as his insights on how to effectively approach each exam and what he prioritised in order to achieve his high ATAR.”
“I engaged extremely effectively with my mentor; he answered all my questions, and I feel this will assist me greatly in my studies.”
“I found the evening very effective. Our mentor was very helpful in providing his experiences with specific subjects that we had in common.”
We hope that the Sophos Alumni Mentoring Program can continue to build our Year 12 students’ confidence and resilience, contribute to their personal growth and make a meaningful difference in their academic journey at the College.
Katherine Sinadinos
Learning Enrichment Coordinator