For year 12 students across NSW, the culmination of 13 years of schooling began with the first higher school certificate exams on Tuesday.
Queanbeyan High School principal Jennifer Green said this year's cohort was particularly dedicated, having dealt with two years of disruption to their schooling caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"They've had two extraordinary years of lockdown, reintegration back into school, lockdown again. They've dealt with all of those and this group has been able to pivot from from one set of conditions to another and they've done it very, very well," she said.
"But I think they're really glad that all of that has come to a point where it's finally near its end. And for the exams to get started, I think was a really good milestone for our students to hit."
The final exams were delayed because of that disruption but 69,000 students were able to start the English paper 1 on Tuesday while abiding by strict COVID safety protocols.
All students are required to check in using a QR code and complete a health screening on arrival and to be kept segregated from other year groups.
They also have to wear a mask through all written exams.
The 35 students at Queanbeyan High School were able to spread out in the large hall and in smaller rooms for those with extra exam support.
"Everyone was in a location where we had maximised the distance between students and their desks and everything was safe. Also we had additional air purifiers with all of the best filters in them operating in all of the spaces as well," Ms Green said.
The stress of the HSC exams was alleviated by the fact that all students at the school who wanted to go to university next year had already secured an early offer.
Ms Green said this cohort had learned about agility and flexibility through their HSC journey.
"I think the great skills to take into a workplace but also into adult life. You know, because life is never a smooth journey. There's always rapid turns along the way and this group is ready like no other, I believe."
The school is looking for a venue to host a graduation ceremony that can accommodate students and their parents after their original venue pulled out.
"We've got an outstanding group of young men and women who are graduating, and we're incredibly proud of each and every one of them. We want to be there to celebrate our staff wants to be there to celebrate with the parents to achievement of our young people."
The HSC written exams will end on December 3 and students will receive their ATAR on January 20 followed by their HSC results on January 24.
