The NSW government has announced minimum numeracy and literacy standards for the Higher School Certificate from 2020 onwards.
The State Government has unveiled the first major changes to the HSC in almost 20 years.
Currently students need to complete the curriculum, submit assignments and sit exams to be awarded the HSC.
NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said setting a compulsory benchmark was based on the model used in Western Australia.
"We want the HSC to be a standard," he said.
"So when you walk into a training provider or a university or an employer and you give them your HSC, they know that you've met a minimum literacy and numeracy standard."
Students will first be able to meet the Government's standard when they are in year 9.
Children who achieve at least a band 8 in the year 9 NAPLAN reading, writing and numeracy tests will automatically be eligible for the HSC.
For students who do not, they will need to pass an online literacy and numeracy test in subsequent years to meet the requirements.
Those students who reach year 12 and still have not passed the test for the minimum standards will receive a Record of School Achievement, but still have five years to reach the benchmark and get their HSC.
The first cohort of students subject to the changes are those starting year 9 next year.
