HSC cheating jumps 27 per cent on pre-pandemic times, data shows

New data has revealed a spike in New South Wales HSC student malpractice with more than 850 offences reported last year.

NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) data shows 734 students were caught 'breaking HSC rules' across 216 schools in 2021.

While this is a 27 per cent jump from pre-pandemic 2019 (671 offences), it reflects a minor 1.4 per cent rise on 2020 figures (842 offences).

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Of the ten different offences - including use of an electronic device and use of an unauthorised note - plagiarism ranked the highest form of malpractice with 519 cases identified.

English came in as the most cheated subject, with 88 offences impacting Advanced English and 86 offences for Standard English.

Music saw the least amount of cheating offences, with 11 cases identified across the state.

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Society and culture saw the highest rate of malpractice per 1000 students at 5.5, compared to Standard Math which saw the lowest rate of cheating per 1000 students at 0.5.

Last year 41 cases of 'potential' malpractice were referred to the Examination Rules Committee (ERC), a rise on the 28 potential student cases in 2020.

NESA reminded people that the relatively small number of cases noted in their data must be considered in the context of over 70,000 students who attempt over 500,000 exams during the HSC period.