What about USyd? Same? [I recall you did ESL?]
What's the difference between ESL and Standard?
For Usyd combined med, the only assumed knowledge is that of the degree that medicine is combined with.
I.e. If I do advanced science-medicine (which I will), MX1 or 2u maths is assumed due to the adv sci degree.
They don't care what level of English applicants did for the HSC.
And the differences between ESL and standard are:
1. ESL is regarded as an easier subject than standard.
2. Paper 1 for ESL is different from that of standard and advanced. (more reading section, no creative writing section (although there usually is an 8 marker in the reading section that is slightly creative), essay with higher marks (and 2 core texts, 1 related text))
3. There are only 2 modules for ESL, whereas both standard and advanced have 3. One of the modules do not require essay writing, but rather a bit of creative writing and various text-types learning.
4. There is an additional listening paper for ESL (which I think is the reason why there are only 2 modules). The listening paper focusses on both comprehension and speech/literacy technique analysis.