Yesterday morning, 65,000 students across the state entered school halls lined with rows of desks to complete their first HSC exam. 

While November usually sees the annual Year 12 final examinations come to a close, the Delta outbreak saw a state-wide delay of the exams. 

Along with the delay, students are subject to a new set of COVIDsafe protocols, most notably the compulsory wearing of masks throughout the exams.

Students must also check in and complete a health screening before entering exam rooms, while school and exam staff must be fully vaccinated. 

Year 12 student Jimmy Bunner, who hails from Baradine and attends boarding school in Tamworth, says that the new protocols weren’t his biggest concern for the exams.

“After wearing masks for majority of the year they have become less of an issue…there are bigger issues at play,” said Mr Bunner.

This year’s lockdowns and online learning scenarios have undeniably dealt Year 12 students an overwhelming set of challenges that the classes before them haven’t seen before. 

While Stay-At-Home orders across the state saw all Year 12 students learning from home from August and earlier for Greater Sydney students, their return to campus wasn’t until October. The exceptions of study bubbles and an allowance of 2 hours on campus for students needing contact with teachers were made in August. 

“Learning from home definitely changed how prepared everyone was, especially in rural areas with the lack of internet access. Not to mention the change of date and postponement of exams which made things more dysfunctional,” Mr Bunner said. 

Coonamble High Student Leah Wiatkowski had a similar experience.

"I think (the postponement) was good in theory, but in reality it's been a pretty big thing to ask of the whole cohort - to perform at the same level we had been at for six months, but without school. I'm glad it's finally come around though, and we can finally get it finished and move on to better things than the HSC," Miss Wiatkowski said.

While the support from teachers has been invaluable she said, learning outside of the usual classroom environment has presented many challenges, such as not having real-time and on the spot answers from teachers.

"I'm lucky enough to have access at home to all the study materials and equipment I need but it's been a big push to get myself to study," she said.

CEO of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Paul Martin said giving students the opportunity to sit their exams in a safe environment and show what they know has been a priority. 

“For the written exams, we have implemented a special consideration program to support equity and fairness for students whose personal circumstances during lockdown have made preparing for their HSC enormously challenging,” Mr Martin said. 

The first exam kicked off with the English Paper 1, with the exam period continuing until December 3. 

Students are set to receive their ATAR on January 20 with their results to follow on January 24.