SUBDUED relief was the dominant feeling among Tweed River High School students who filed out of their first Higher School Certificate (HSC) exam just after 1.30pm on Monday.

The students were among 75,000 across the state sitting the first exam of this year's HSC for English.

They had to write an essay that linked the theme of belonging to their prescribed text.

Some students felt that the first exam had been easier than the HSC trial and that teachers may have exaggerated how hard it would be to encourage them to study harder.

Aspiring primary school teacher Lauren McMillan from Tweed Heads South said her feeling going into the exam was "that I should have studied a lot more than I did".

The 18-year-old, who will sit six exams in total, felt she did alright in English part one but admits that her part-time retail job and social life interrupted her studies.

Anthony Williams, who wants to be a flight attendant, also says his preparation was a bit light on.

"I don't really need any marks but it's good to have them," the 18-year-old said.

Students are bracing themselves for part two of the English exam today which is expected to be much harder with three essays required.

The exams run for the next couple of weeks and students will receive their results before the end of the year.

State Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli said while it was an important day for students they should keep it in perspective.

"There are 117 different exam papers that students will sit for those 75,000 students," Mr Piccoli said.

"It's going to be a stressful four-week period, but they should know the HSC is one of many paths to success.

"If you don't do as well as you thought, then of course there are other avenues open to you."