At 14 years old, Josh Liew should be in year 8, nailing the basics and figuring out how to stay on top of the crumpled assignments in the bottom of his school bag. Instead, Josh is in year 11 and doing his HSC.
If he continues at his current rate (and this young teen is not slowing down), he will graduate from high school and enrol in university before the kids he started kindergarten with choose their year 9 and 10 electives.
And by the time these students get their ATAR, Josh could well be working a full-time, uni-qualified job.
Siblings Tammie, Rebecca and Josh Liew are all studying for their HSC this year.Credit: Wolter Peeters
“You get to save time and find a job earlier in life,” he said.
It’s a strange world when you are one of the youngest people in the state doing the HSC. Thankfully, he isn’t alone.
His two older sisters, Tammie and Rebecca, aged 17 and 16, are also doing an accelerated version of the HSC right now. Three siblings, all doing the HSC at the same time.
It’s most parent’s worst nightmare, but their mother, Loretta Liew, considers it a blessing.
“They are all quite independent, and they just study on their own,” she said. “They are still managing to do all their chores and keep up with part-time jobs and helping out with various community things.
“It’s pretty chill,” she says, laughing.
Accelerated studies: Tammie (left), with Rebecca and Josh Liew, says that “we all go to the library and study together. Our desks at home are next to each other”. Credit: Wolter Peeters
Tammie attends Pacific Hills Christian School in Dural, and Rebecca and Josh are completing their work at home via distance education through Pacific Coast Online Christian School.
Josh is studying accelerated chemistry, physics and maths extension one and two. Next year, he will complete English and a second subject to meet all his required units.
His sisters are set to finish the HSC this year, after also enrolling in accelerated subjects.
This year, almost 80 young people have chosen to complete at least one HSC course before they are in year 12.
“The opportunity to accelerate into HSC courses in line with your readiness and ability is one of the great strengths of the HSC,” said a spokesperson for the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).
It comes with its perks, Josh said.
“I can just roll out of bed and go to school,” he said, adding that “it’s also good because I can hang out with my family more and do extracurricular stuff”.
There’s something to be said for doing the HSC at the same time as your siblings too. “If your siblings are also studying, then you are forced to study together,” he said.
The teens work together, sharing notes and coaching each other.
“We do chemistry, physics and maths sessions together. That’s a lot of fun,” said Tammie. “We all go to the library and study together. Our desks at home are next to each other.”
It’s all in a day’s work for Josh, who casually finished the Cambridge year 11 maths textbook by himself in year 6.
So, what is next for the kid who will finish the HSC years before his peers?
“I am not really sure, I don’t know what I am doing yet,” Josh said.
He is, after all, just 14.
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