Please review the updated External Assessment Specifications and supporting documents in the Supporting Documents section on the relevant course pages (linked below). These updates apply to the 2026 external assessments and include clarifications and amendments made following course updates and feedback from external assessment processes.
If you have any questions or need further information, please contact TASC via Contact us – TASC.
General updates
In addition to the specific course updates listed below, some External Assessment Specifications and Information Sheets have undergone minor editorial updates. These may include general formatting improvements, updates to links to ensure they remain current, and for folio or practical courses, updates to references relating to due to TASC dates and submission processes through TRACS.
Course-specific updates
Australia in Asia and the Pacific (AAP315116)
Criterion names for all externally assessed criteria have been updated to reflect recent course updates.
Accounting (ACC315116)
The suggested working time previously provided for Question 1 and Question 2 in Section A – Financial Knowledge has been removed. The suggested time and mark allocation for the section remain unchanged, with the Setting Examiner determining the allocation for individual questions.
Agricultural Systems (AGR315117)
The recommendation to use the Harvard referencing style has been removed. The assessed elements in the Section A and Section B Work Requirements have also been clarified and amended.
Ancient History (ANH315117)
The option “Choice of ONE of FIVE civilisation specific questions” has been removed from the Nature of Questions section.
Art Studio Practice (ART315214)
Updated have been made to align the External Assessment Specifications with the 2026 course document and to clarify expectations for the exhibition component. Additional exhibition requirements have been included outlining when the exhibition must be fully installed, that the display must remain unchanged during the marking period, and that photographs of the exhibited artwork must be submitted to TASC via TRACS.
Biology (BIO315124)
Appendix 2: Content Mapping has been updated to specify that Lac Y is required but Lac A is not. A new Appendix 3: Command Terms has also been added.
Business Studies (BST315116)
Unit 4 (Financial Management) is no longer assessed in Section B.
Chemistry (CHM415115)
The Information Sheet has been updated to include the atomic numbers for rhodium and ruthenium.
Computer Science (ITC315118)
The EAS now specifies that the Computer Science Information Sheet will be provided to students during the exam.
Dance (DNC315124)
Students are now required to write their chosen essay question at the beginning of their essay. The requirement to use a specific referencing system has also been removed; students must now use a recognised referencing system.
Data Science and Digital Solutions (DSD315124)
Criterion 5 is no longer externally assessed and has been removed. Updates have also been made to the folio components under Advice to Students, and APA is no longer specified as the preferred referencing system; students must use a recognised referencing system.
Drama (SDD315120)
Updates have been made to reflect recent course changes. The cover page has also been updated to require students to specify their group performance theme.
Section C has been updated so that Criteria 3 and 4 are both assessed using alpha ratings instead of numerical marks, students will now respond to two of three questions in each part of Section C instead of one of two, and limits have been placed on the length of stimulus pieces.
Engineering Design (EDN315123)
The requirement to use a specific referencing system has been removed; students must now use a recognised referencing system.
English Inquiry (ENT315124)
Updates have been made throughout to align with recent course updates and clarify work requirements. It is now specified that the creative and persuasive pieces must be multimodal.
English Literature (ENL315114)
Updates have been made to the externally assessable elements to reflect recent course changes. Element 4 of Criterion 5 and Element 6 of Criterion 7 have been removed.
English Studio (ENS315124)
Updates have been made to clarify formatting requirements, anonymity requirements and the use of Artificial Intelligence. The contents page has also been updated for clarity.
First Nations Studies (TAS315126)
Updates have been made throughout the EAS to align with recent course updates.
General Mathematics (MTG315123)
The simple interest equation has been removed from the Information Sheet to align with the course document.
Housing and Design (HDS315118)
The requirement to use a specific referencing system has been removed; students must now use a recognised referencing system. The Information Sheet has also been updated to align with current Australian standards.
Health Studies (HLT315118)
Minor updates have been made to clarify the structure of the written exam. These changes refine the description of short-answer questions in Part 1 of each section so that the document more accurately reflects the exam structure.
Legal Studies (LST315117)
An additional instruction has been added to clarify that students must write the number of the question they have chosen on the front cover of their response booklet.
Mathematics Methods (MTM415117)
The Information Sheet has been updated with minor changes for mathematical clarity.
Music (MSM315120)
Clarification has been added to the performance program requirements specifying that the written score requirement does not apply to contemporary instrumentalists, world instrument performers and vocalists.
Psychology (BHP315116)
The Investigation Project topic rotation has been updated and additional clarifying information has been included throughout the document..
Sociology (BHS315116)
Updates have been made to the Investigative Project guidelines to clarify wording, ethical research guidance, and submission requirements. Appendix IV has been added to provide a standardised cover page template outlining the information students must include when submitting their Investigation Project. In Section B, each question will now only address one institution instead of the previous two.
Sport Science (SPT315126)
Updates have been made to align with recent course updates. Criterion 6 is no longer externally assessed and the exam duration has been reduced from three hours to two and a half hours. An exemplar exam paper has also been published to support teachers and students in understanding the revised exam structure.
Studies of Religion (REL315124)
The requirement for a stimulus item in Section A has been removed and is now optional.
Theatre Performance (SDP315120)
Clarification has been added regarding the information that must be included in the IRS uploaded to TRACS. Additional updates have been made to align with recent course changes.
Visual Art (ART315123)
Updates have been made to align the External Assessment Specifications with the 2026 course document and to clarify expectations for the exhibition component. Additional exhibition requirements outline when the exhibition must be fully installed, that the display must remain unchanged during the marking period, and that photographs of the exhibited artwork must be submitted to TASC via TRACS as part of the folio.