The end of secondary schooling is one step closer for some 70,000 Year 12 students across NSW who have completed their first HSC exams.
The first of the 117 written exams to be held through to November 7 was English on Monday.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has told nervous students that exams aren't the be-all and end-all.
"Today is just the beginning, my advice always is, work out what you're passionate about it and work your hardest - irrespective of your results," Ms Berejiklian said in Sydney.
"There are so many amazing opportunities in the state and no matter the results you personally receive, there's so much opportunity for you in the future."
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Education Minister Rob Stokes stressed the HSC was just one pathway to success.
"Try your best, but remember at the end of the day, it's just an exam, it's just one of the pathways to success," he said.
Students from Balgowlah Boys on Sydney's northern beaches said Monday's English paper was a fair exam.
"It was pretty good .. it was a bit challenging but we were pretty prepared so by the time we got in there we were just confident that we could get it all out," Kody Brian told AAP on Monday.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first HSC exam.
