This Fact-Checking Policy describes how HSC Result official verifies claims before publication and how we handle uncertainty. We treat every HSC date, pass percentage, fee, official link and procedure as needing evidence — because readers make real decisions based on them.
Verification Checklist
- Identify the responsible authority and the examination cycle (HSC + year).
- Prefer the current primary notice or the stable official homepage over a saved deep link.
- Check whether a number covers regular, repeater, private, division or district candidates.
- Keep expected information separate from confirmed information, and label the expected item clearly.
- Remove a claim when its source cannot be established.
Primary vs Secondary Sources
Primary sources include MSBSHSE press releases and result-portal instructions, government gazette notifications, and formal school or junior-college communications. Secondary sources include news reports and educator commentary. We use secondary sources for context; a factual claim must ultimately be traceable to a primary source.
Handling Uncertainty
When a date, statistic or portal is uncertain, we say so on the page — using words like “expected”, “to be confirmed” or “pending official announcement”. We do not turn an unconfirmed number into a bold headline.
Numbers and Statistics
Percentages are labelled with the cohort they describe. Absolute numbers are reported with the source. A division figure is not converted into a district figure; a state figure is not extrapolated to a school. When historical data is used, the year is stated.
Links and Portal URLs
Official portals occasionally move or retire. We link to stable homepages where possible and add the current deep link only when it is confirmed live. Retired URLs are removed rather than left as a broken but authoritative-looking link.
AI-Assisted Writing
Some articles are drafted with AI assistance and edited by a human before publication. AI drafts are subject to the same fact-checking process as any other content. Where the topic is time-sensitive, we prefer human research over AI extrapolation.
Reporting an Error
If you spot an inaccuracy, please send the page URL and a primary source through the Contact page. See our Correction Policy for how errors are documented and updated.