HSC English Advanced Past Papers 2026
Where to find official HSC English Advanced past papers, exactly what Paper 1 and Paper 2 test, and how to mark your own attempt against NESA’s criteria.
NESA publishes official past HSC English Advanced exam papers, marking guidelines and examiner feedback for free on the NESA website. English Advanced is examined across two separate papers — Paper 1 (the Common Module, shared with English Standard and English Studies) and Paper 2 (Modules A, B and C, which are NOT the same modules as Standard). Past papers are most useful once you know NESA’s actual marking criteria for each section, since English marks come down to how well a response meets specific assessed criteria, not just writing quality in general. This page explains exactly what each paper and module tests, then links to the official papers.
Official NESA HSC English Advanced past papers →
Past Paper: The HSC English Advanced exam is 100 marks across two papers. Paper 1 (10 minutes reading, 1 hour 30 minutes working, 40 marks) covers the Common Module, Texts and Human Experiences: Section I is 5 questions on unseen texts (20 marks), Section II is one extended response essay on your prescribed text (20 marks). Paper 2 (5 minutes reading, 2 hours working, 60 marks) has three 20-mark sections: Module A (Textual Conversations), Module B (Critical Study of Literature), and Module C (The Craft of Writing). NESA’s marking guidelines spell out the exact criteria assessed in each section — review these against your own attempt, not just the sample answer.
Topics Covered
Paper 1 — Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences
- Section I: unseen text analysis (5 questions)
- Section II: extended response essay on your prescribed text
- This module is shared with English Standard and English Studies
Paper 2 — Module A: Textual Conversations
- Comparative study of a paired text and a related text
- Choice of one question from several prescribed-text options
- Not the same module as Standard’s Module A (Language, Identity and Culture)
Paper 2 — Module B: Critical Study of Literature
- In-depth critical analysis of a single prescribed text
- Forming and defending a critical judgement about the text
- Not the same as Standard’s Module B (Close Study of Literature)
Paper 2 — Module C: The Craft of Writing
- Original writing responding to a stimulus
- Reflection on technique drawn from your prescribed Module C text
- Same module name and general task shape as Standard
Question Types
Section I: Multiple Choice
Practice 20-mark MCQ sections organised around NESA syllabus outcomes.
Section II: Short Answer
Build technique with 3–6 mark structured questions.
Section III: Extended Response
Practice 8–20 mark essays and structured responses.
Source Analysis
Interpret primary/secondary sources, data tables and stimulus material.
How Revizi Helps
NESA Syllabus Alignment
Questions are organised around NESA syllabus outcomes and content points.
Active Recall Revision
Flashcards test your knowledge using active recall — more effective than re-reading notes.
Performance Insights
Track accuracy across modules and question types to focus your remaining study time.
Related Practice Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find official HSC English Advanced past papers?
NESA publishes official past HSC English Advanced exam papers (both Paper 1 and Paper 2), marking guidelines and examiner feedback for free on its website under HSC exam papers.
Does Revizi host official NESA past papers?
No. NESA’s past papers are copyrighted and hosted on the NESA website — download them there. Revizi provides original, syllabus-mapped practice questions for English Advanced — use both resources together: NESA papers for realistic full-paper practice, Revizi for targeted revision.
Is HSC English Advanced the same as English Standard?
No. They share the Paper 1 common module (Texts and Human Experiences) and Module C (The Craft of Writing) in name, but Advanced’s Module A (Textual Conversations) and Module B (Critical Study of Literature) are different modules, with different prescribed texts, to Standard’s Module A (Language, Identity and Culture) and Module B (Close Study of Literature). Don’t study from Standard-focused material for these two modules.
What is the format of the HSC English Advanced exam?
Two papers, 100 marks total. Paper 1 (1 hour 30 minutes, 40 marks) is the Common Module. Paper 2 (2 hours, 60 marks) covers Modules A, B and C, 20 marks each.
Last updated: March 2026