Head of Secondary Message, Term 2, Week 8 2026

For the last twenty years, AISHK has proudly offered both the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) and International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) as our two senior pathways. The optionality of this dual curriculum model is regularly cited by families as one of AISHK’s most attractive features, allowing students to choose the senior program that is the best fit for them. While the HSC and IBDP consistently lead our graduates to placement in some of the best universities and colleges around the world, it is essential to understand the unique features and differences of each program.

With half-yearly exams behind them, that is exactly what Year 10 students have been focused on this week, with subject selection events and activities organised around Tuesday’s well-attended parent information evening. These include Experience a Day, where Year 10 students attend senior HSC and IBDP “taster” classes, and Subject Speed Dating, where the Year 10s meet with Year 12s to hear their perspectives on the ups and downs of senior studies. Our goal is always to give students and families as much varied information as possible to guide their decision about which senior pathway to pursue.

In the spirit of the TV show MythBusters, there are some persistent myths about the HSC and IBDP that I hear year after year, so let me take this opportunity to address the five most common ones:

Myth 1 - “The IBDP is only for students who want to go to university overseas.”

While the IBDP is internationally recognised and held in the highest regard by the world’s best universities, it is also very popular in Australia and converts automatically to an ATAR for Australian university applications. The majority of AISHK graduates (over 70%) who do the IBDP go to Australia for university. The reality is that both the IBDP and HSC consistently lead our graduates to placement in excellent universities in Australia and all over the world.

Myth 2 - “I’m choosing the HSC because I want to go to uni in Australia.”

While the HSC gives students an ATAR which is used for Australian university applications, it is also recognised globally as an outstanding secondary school diploma. Over the years, AISHK has seen HSC graduates be accepted into universities in Hong Kong, Europe, North America and other parts of Asia, as well as Australia.

Myth 3 - “I can’t choose the IBDP because I’m not good at languages."

While the IBDP does require students to take a language additional to English (the HSC does not), there are different levels offered (standard v higher) meaning you don’t have to be a master linguist to excel. Furthermore, there are “ab initio” or beginner courses offered in the IBDP which are intended for students with no prior learning of the language. The additional language is just one subject out of six in the IBDP and for most students shouldn’t be a “deal breaker”.

Myth 4 - “I can’t take certain HSC or IBDP courses because I didn’t do the right electives in Years 9 and 10."

There are no pre-requisites for studying HSC or IBDP courses. While many students choose to continue with electives they are passionate about in the senior years (e.g. Music, Visual Arts), you can also pick up new subjects in Years 11 and 12 without prior learning. In fact, there are many subjects – e.g. Psychology, Economics, Legal Studies – that are only offered in Years 11 and 12.

Myth 5 - “One program is harder than the other."

This one frustrates me the most, as there is no objective “easiness” or “hardness” about either program. They are both robust and highly rewarding programs and to achieve success in either requires lots of hard work and diligent effort. Both offer a wide range of choices and challenges for students – including Extension and Higher Level courses – but they are very different in their demands. Year 10 is a time for students to reflect on their strengths and unique attributes as learners and select the program that is the right match for them. As a school, we are committed to working in partnership with our families to ensure that this significant decision is made with as many facts on the table as possible.

Year 10 families have received detailed information from Ms Bennett this week about all senior courses and will now indicate their initial preferences by next week. Final decisions will be made early next term. For parents in other year levels who are interested in learning more about the HSC or IBDP, please reach out – it’s never too early to ask!