How to use these notes
Four habits
Follow the syllabus
Each topic follows NESA dot points exactly. Use the sidebar table of contents to jump to any section in seconds.
Study the examples
Code samples, diagrams drawn to the NESA course specifications, and summary tables illustrate every concept.
Revise key terms
Definitions are highlighted in call-out boxes. Scan them quickly before exams or deep-dive for full understanding.
Check the source
The official NESA syllabus, course specifications and marking guidelines, gathered on one page. Certified Resources →
Year 11: Preliminary Course Preliminary
3 focus areas · 120 hrsSoftware development steps, designing algorithms with pseudocode and flowcharts, number systems and data types, data structures, testing and debugging.
Key features of OOP, comparing procedural code with OOP, modelling a system, the OOP design process, and writing, modifying and testing OOP programs.
Mechatronic hardware and software: sensors, actuators and microcontrollers, wiring and power, open and closed loop control, and building and testing a system.
Year 12: HSC Course HSC
4 focus areas · 120 hrsDesign and write secure code: security concepts, security and privacy by design, security testing, defensive coding, and the impact of secure development.
How data travels on the web, web protocols and security, designing web applications, front-end and back-end development, SQL, and progressive web apps.
Machine learning and automation: training models, decision trees and neural networks, regression in OOP, and the impact and bias of ML and AI.
Plan, build and evaluate your major project: defining requirements, Waterfall, Agile and WAgile, project management, implementation, testing and evaluation.
Resources Guides
5 pagesSymbols, syntax and tools: DFDs, flowcharts, pseudocode, SQL, class diagrams and test tables.
The development life cycle: Agile and WAgile, tools for each phase, and case studies.
A smart greenhouse controller that runs live in your browser and draws on every focus area.
Every syllabus keyword, defined, from A to Z.
Official NESA syllabus documents, specifications and marking guidelines in one place.
Course at a glance
18 outcomes · 240 hrs- Programming Fundamentals40 hrs
- Object-Oriented Paradigm40 hrs
- Programming Mechatronics40 hrs
Course outcomesSE-11-01 to SE-12-09
Year 11 · Preliminary
- SE-11-01
- Describes methods used to plan, develop and engineer software solutions
- SE-11-02
- Explains how structural elements are used to develop programming code
- SE-11-03
- Describes how current hardware, software and emerging technologies influence the development of software engineering solutions
- SE-11-04
- Applies safe and secure practices to collect, use and store data
- SE-11-05
- Describes the social, ethical and legal implications of software engineering on the individual, society and the environment
- SE-11-06
- Applies tools and resources to design, develop, manage and evaluate software
- SE-11-07
- Implements safe and secure programming solutions
- SE-11-08
- Applies language structures to refine code
- SE-11-09
- Manages and documents the development of a software project
Year 12 · HSC
- SE-12-01
- Justifies methods used to plan, develop and engineer software solutions
- SE-12-02
- Applies structural elements to develop programming code
- SE-12-03
- Analyses how current hardware, software and emerging technologies influence the development of software engineering solutions
- SE-12-04
- Evaluates practices to safely and securely collect, use and store data
- SE-12-05
- Explains the social, ethical and legal implications of software engineering on the individual, society and the environment
- SE-12-06
- Justifies the selection and use of tools and resources to design, develop, manage and evaluate software
- SE-12-07
- Designs, develops and implements safe and secure programming solutions
- SE-12-08
- Tests and evaluates language structures to refine code
- SE-12-09
- Applies methods to manage and document the development of a software project