Navigating the Updated HSC Maths Syllabuses: A Guide for Parents & Students
Big changes are coming to the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) Mathematics curriculum. Starting from 2026, students in Year 11 will begin learning from a brand-new set of syllabuses, with the first HSC exams for this new curriculum taking place in 2027.
If you're a student heading into your senior years, or a parent supporting them, you might be wondering what this all means. The good news is that these changes are designed to create a clearer, more connected, and more effective learning path for everyone.
This guide will walk you through the key changes, from the big-picture philosophy to a subject-by-subject breakdown, so you know exactly what to expect.
The old syllabus is referred to as 2017 and the new syllabus is referred to as 2024 (their publication years). Be advised that the 2017 Syllabus is still taught in year 12 for students sitting their HSC in 2026, while the new 2024 syallbus will be taught from Year 11 for students sitting their HSC in 2027.
📒 The Big Picture: What Are the Main Goals?
1. A Focus on "Working Mathematically"
One of the most significant shifts is the new emphasis on "Working Mathematically." Think of this as the "how" and "why" of maths, not just the "what." Instead of just learning formulas and procedures, students will be encouraged to:
- Explore and connect different mathematical ideas.
- Choose the right tools to solve problems.
- Communicate their thinking and reasoning clearly.
This single "Working Mathematically" outcome is now at the heart of every maths course, ensuring that students develop genuine problem-solving skills, not just rote knowledge.
2. A Clearer, More Connected Structure
The old syllabuses were often broken into disconnected "Topics." The new curriculum organises content into broader "Areas of Study" and more specific "Focus Areas."
For example, instead of learning different bits of Calculus in separate topics across Year 11 and 12, all Calculus content now sits under one "Calculus" Area of Study. This helps students see the bigger picture and understand how concepts build on each other over time.
3. A Digital-First Syllabus
The new syllabuses are designed for online use. This digital format is more interactive, making it easier for teachers and students to see the connections between different content areas and learning outcomes.
This will significantly help us be able to navigate better and teach directly (aligning with the Australian curriculum as well)
🏫 At a Glance: Summary of Changes for Each Course
TLDR Standard and Advanced have had the most changes, no major new content, just moving things around. Total removal of Bivariate data from Advanced. No more shared questions between Standard and Advanced anymore. Overall Standard has been simplified, Advanced has had some new content (moved from Extension 1), Extension 1 and 2 are largely unchanged.
So, what does this mean for the specific maths subject you or your child will be taking? Here’s a quick summary.
Mathematics (Standard)
The Standard course has been reorganised to provide much clearer pathways for students.
- Clearer Pathways: The distinction between the Standard 1 and Standard 2 courses in Year 12 is now more defined, allowing for more focused learning.
- No More Overlap with Advanced: The HSC exams for Standard and Advanced Maths will no longer share common questions. This allows the Standard course to focus on the practical, real-world skills most relevant to its students.
- Smarter Topic Order: Some topics have been moved to create a more logical learning sequence. For example, basic probability concepts are now taught in Year 12, closer to the HSC, while an introduction to Networks has been moved into Year 11.
The bottom line
The Standard courses are now more streamlined and better tailored to build practical numeracy skills for life after school.
Mathematics (Advanced)
This course has undergone the most significant upgrade, making it a more rigorous and challenging pathway for students pursuing university studies in STEM, commerce, or economics.
- A Big Step Up: The Advanced course has been significantly strengthened by absorbing a large amount of content that was previously only in the Extension 1 syllabus.
- Harder Content, Earlier: Topics like graph transformations and 3D trigonometry, which used to be in Year 12 or Extension 1, are now part of the Year 11 Advanced course. This creates a much stronger foundation for Year 12.
- New Focus Areas: The course is now structured around seven clear Areas of Study, including a more formal treatment of Sequences and Series.
The bottom line
Mathematics Advanced is now a more formidable, calculus-based course that will better prepare students for the demands of university.
Mathematics (Extension 1)
With some of its foundational content moving into the Advanced course, Extension 1 has become a more focused and specialised subject.
- Sharper Focus: By offloading some introductory topics, the course can now go deeper into more complex concepts.
- A Stronger Bridge to Extension 2: The course is now better structured to prepare students for the rigours of Extension 2. Topics like Proof by Mathematical Induction and Vectors are given more prominence in Year 12, creating a clear pathway to the related topics in the top-level course.
- Topic Re-shuffling: Some topics have been moved between years. For example, Inverse Trigonometric Functions is now a Year 12 topic, while the basics of exponential growth and decay are now covered in the Advanced course.
The bottom line
Extension 1 is now less of a broad survey and more of a targeted preparatory course for students aiming for the highest levels of mathematics.
Mathematics (Extension 2)
The previous (2017) syllabus reform introduced the most significant changes to Extension 2, with topics such as Conics and Volumes being removed. The new syllabus builds on this by refining the course and cementing its focus on deep conceptual understanding.
- Stability and Refinement: The course structure remains focused on the five core pillars of advanced mathematics: Proof, Vectors, Complex Numbers, Calculus, and Mechanics.
- Minor Adjustments for Clarity: The changes in the syllabus are minor, aimed at enhancing clarity and strengthening connections between concepts, rather than overhauling the content.
- Focus on Mathematical Maturity: The course continues to prioritise depth over breadth. The goal is to develop students who can think abstractly, construct logical arguments, and solve complex, unstructured problems—the key skills needed for university-level mathematics, physics, and engineering.
The bottom line
Extension 2 remains the pinnacle of HSC mathematics, designed to cultivate true mathematical maturity and prepare students for tertiary studies.
📝 How Intuition is Preparing You for the New Syllabus
While these changes might seem far away, preparation is key. At Intuition, we are already ahead of the curve, ensuring our students have a seamless and confident transition to the new curriculum.
Updated Year 11 Courses: Ready for 2026
Our commitment to staying aligned with the NSW curriculum means our Year 11 Preliminary courses have already been updated to reflect the 2024 syllabus. Students enrolling with us will learn new content in a new structure from the start of their senior year.
Junior Courses: Building the Right Foundations
The new senior syllabuses are built upon the foundations of the new K-10 curriculum, which places a greater emphasis on "Working Mathematically" and making connections between concepts.
Our junior Maths courses for Years 7-10 have been updated to align with this new approach. By focusing on these core skills early, we ensure that our junior students are not only learning content but also developing the mathematical thinking and problem-solving abilities that will be essential for success in the new, more rigorous senior courses. This long-term preparation is key to building confident and capable senior students.
With over 20 years of experience, a data-driven approach to exam preparation, and a commitment to aligning with the latest curriculum, Intuition provides the expert guidance and updated resources needed to excel in this new HSC landscape.
🕵️ Deep Dive: A Detailed Analysis
For those who want to explore the specific content changes in greater detail, the following sections provide a comprehensive, comparison based on the official syllabus documents.
The old syllabus is referred to as 2017 and the new syllabus is referred to as 2024.
You can access the new syllabus at the following location:
Mathematics Standard Syllabus Changes
The Mathematics Standard syllabus has undergone significant reorganisation to enhance clarity and better define the pathways for Standard 1 and Standard 2 students.
The course is now structured around five key Areas of Study: Algebra, Financial Mathematics, Measurement, Networks, and Statistics. A notable change at the assessment level is the removal of common questions between the Mathematics Standard and Mathematics Advanced HSC examinations. This move allows the Standard course to establish a more distinct identity and focus on content most relevant to its student cohort.
The internal structure of the topics has also been refined. For instance, the Year 11 Financial Mathematics content, previously consolidated under 'Money Matters', is now logically separated into 'Earning money' and 'Managing money', providing a more precise pedagogical sequence. Similarly, the Year 12 pathways now feature more distinct financial topics, with Standard 1 focusing on 'Investment' and 'Depreciation and loans', while Standard 2 addresses the more complex areas of 'Investment and loans' and 'Annuities'.
Table 1: Year 11 Mathematics Standard Content Comparison (2017 (old) vs. 2024 (new) )
| 2017 Topic / Subtopic | 2024 Area of Study / Focus Area | Analysis of Change |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra / MS-A1: Formulae and Equations | Algebra / Formulas and equations | Largely Unchanged. Content such as substitution, solving equations, and using formulas for BAC and medication remains central. The new structure provides a more direct name for the focus area. |
| Algebra / MS-A2: Linear Relationships | Algebra / Linear relationships | Unchanged. Content covering linear models, direct variation, and graphing remains a core component of the curriculum. |
| Financial Mathematics / MS-F1: Money Matters (F1.1, F1.2) | Financial Mathematics / Earning money | Split & Refocused. The content related to pay rates, leave loading, tax, and government allowances from the old 'Earning and managing money' section is now grouped into its own focus area. |
| Financial Mathematics / MS-F1: Money Matters (F1.3) | Financial Mathematics / Managing money | Split & Refocused. The content related to household bills, budgeting, and car expenses is now a separate focus area, distinct from earning income. |
| Financial Mathematics / MS-F1: Money Matters (F1.1) | Financial Mathematics / Moved to Year 12 | Moved. Simple and compound interest, previously in Year 11, are now foundational concepts for the Year 12 Financial Mathematics focus areas. |
| Measurement / MS-M1: Applications of Measurement | Measurement / Applications of measurement | Largely Unchanged. Content, including measurement errors, perimeter, area, volume, and units of energy and mas, is retained. |
| Measurement / MS-M2: Working with Time | Measurement / Time and location | Largely Unchanged. Content on latitude, longitude, time zones, and timetables is retained. |
| Statistical Analysis / MS-S1: Data Analysis | Statistics / Data analysis | Largely Unchanged. Content on data classification, representation (including dot plots and histograms), summary statistics (such as mean, median, and standard deviation), and comparing distributions is retained. |
| Statistical Analysis / MS-S2: Relative Frequency and Probability | Statistics / Moved to Year 12 | Moved. This entire subtopic, covering theoretical probability, tree diagrams, and relative frequency, has been moved to the Year 12 course for both Standard 1 and Standard 2. |
| N/A (New Topic) | Networks / Networks, paths and trees | New to Year 11. Basic network terminology (vertices, edges), paths, and spanning trees, previously introduced in Year 12, now form a foundational Year 11 topic. |
Table 2: Year 12 Mathematics Standard 2 Content Comparison (2017 (old) vs. 2024 (new) )
| 2017 Topic / Subtopic | 2024 Area of Study / Focus Area | Analysis of Change |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra / MS-A4: Types of Relationships | Algebra / Algebraic relationships | Largely Unchanged. Content on simultaneous equations, break-even analysis, and non-linear models (exponential, quadratic, reciprocal) is retained. |
| Measurement / MS-M6: Non-right-angled Trigonometry | Measurement / Trigonometry | Largely Unchanged. The sine and cosine rules, area of a triangle, and applications in navigation and surveying are retained. |
| Measurement / MS-M7: Rates and Ratios | Measurement / Ratios and rates | Largely Unchanged. Content on rates (energy, fuel consumption) and ratios (scale drawings, capture-recapture) is retained. |
| Financial Mathematics / MS-F4: Investments and Loans | Financial Mathematics / Investment and loans | Largely Unchanged. Content on compound interest, shares, depreciation, and credit cards is retained. |
| Financial Mathematics / MS-F5: Annuities | Financial Mathematics / Annuities | Largely Unchanged. The use of technology and tables to model and solve annuity problems remains a key feature. |
| Statistical Analysis / MS-S4: Bivariate Data Analysis | Statistics / Bivariate data analysis | Largely Unchanged. Content on scatterplots, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and least-squares regression is retained. |
| Statistical Analysis / MS-S5: The Normal Distribution | Statistics / The normal distribution | Largely Unchanged. The properties of the normal distribution, z-scores, and the empirical rule are retained. |
| N/A (Moved from Year 11) | Statistics / Relative frequency and probability | New to Year 12. The entire 'Relative Frequency and Probability' subtopic (MS-S2) has been moved from the 2017 Year 11 course into Year 12. |
| Networks / MS-N2: Network Concepts | N/A (Replaced) | Replaced & Expanded. This content is now part of the Year 11 'Networks, paths and trees' focus area. |
| Networks / MS-N3: Critical Path Analysis | Networks / Critical path analysis | Largely Unchanged. Content related to forward/backward scanning, as well as float times, is retained. |
| N/A (New Topic) | Networks / Network flow | New. A new focus area on network flow problems, including the maximum-flow minimum-cut theorem, has been added, significantly increasing the complexity of this topic. |
Mathematics Advanced Syllabus Changes
The 2024 Mathematics Advanced syllabus represents the most significant strengthening of the course in recent history.
It has been substantially elevated through the integration of a large volume of content previously exclusive to the Mathematics Extension 1 syllabus. This "cascading" of content repositions the Advanced course as a more rigorous, calculus-based pathway.
The syllabus is now organised into seven Areas of Study: Functions, Trigonometric Functions, Sequences and Series, Calculus, Exponential and Logarithmic Functions, Statistical Analysis, and Financial Mathematics.
This restructuring, combined with the influx of more complex topics, signals a clear intention to raise the academic standard of the course and better prepare students for tertiary studies in STEM and commerce.
Table 3: Year 11 Mathematics Advanced Content Comparison (2017 (old) vs. 2024 (new) )
| 2017 Topic / Subtopic | 2024 Area of Study / Focus Area | Analysis of Change |
|---|---|---|
| Functions / MA-F1: Working with Functions | Functions / Working with functions | Expanded. The core content is retained but expanded to include concepts like piecewise functions and the discriminant to classify roots, which were previously part of the Extension 1 domain. |
| Functions / MA-F2: Graphing Techniques (Year 12) | Functions / Graph transformations | Moved from Year 12. The entire topic on transformations of functions has been moved from the start of Year 12 into Year 11, requiring students to master these concepts earlier. |
| N/A (from Extension 1) | Functions / Working with functions | Updates (from Extension 1). Concepts including sums and differences of functions, and applications of functions have been moved from the 2017 Extension 1 syllabus. |
| Trigonometric Functions / MA-T1: Trigonometry and Measure of Angles | Trigonometric functions / Trigonometry and measure of angles | Largely Unchanged. Core applications and techniques are retained. |
| Trigonometric Functions / MA-T2: Trigonometric Functions and Identities | Trigonometric functions / Trigonometric identities and equations | Largely Unchanged. Core identities and equation-solving techniques are retained. |
| Calculus / MA-C1: Introduction to Differentiation | Calculus / Introduction to differentiation | Largely Unchanged. The foundational concepts of limits, first principles, and basic differentiation rules are retained. The 'difference quotient' is formally removed as an explicit term. |
| Exponential and Logarithmic Functions / MA-E1: Logarithms and Exponentials | Exponential and logarithmic functions / Exponential and logarithmic functions | Largely Unchanged. The laws of logarithms and exponentials, along with their graphs, remain central. |
| Statistical Analysis / MA-S1: Probability and Discrete Probability Distributions | Statistical analysis / Probability and data | Altered. The focus is now on general probability and data analysis. The specific topic of 'Discrete Probability Distributions' has been moved to the Year 12 course. |
Table 4: Year 12 Mathematics Advanced Content Comparison (2017 (old) vs. 2024 (new) )
| 2017 Topic / Subtopic | 2024 Area of Study / Focus Area | Analysis of Change |
|---|---|---|
| Functions / MA-F2: Graphing Techniques | N/A (Moved to Year 11) | Moved. This topic is now part of the Year 11 course. |
| N/A (New Focus Area) | Functions / Further graph transformations and modelling | New. This new focus area builds on the Year 11 work, applying transformations to a wider range of functions for modelling purposes. |
| Trigonometric Functions / MA-T3: Trigonometric Functions and Graphs | N/A (Replaced) | Removed/Integrated. The content is now integrated into the broader 'Further graph transformations and modelling' focus area. |
| Calculus / MA-C2, C3, C4 | Calculus / Differential calculus, Integral calculus, Applications of calculus | Largely Unchanged. The core calculus sequence is retained. 'Acceleration' has been moved from Year 11 to this section. |
| Financial Mathematics / MA-M1: Modelling Financial Situations | Financial mathematics / Financial mathematics | Altered. The topic now focuses on applications of sequences and series. The use of annuity tables and recurrence relations has been removed. |
| N/A (New Focus Area) | Sequences and series / Sequences and series | New. This is a new, formalised Area of Study, introducing sigma notation and providing a more rigorous treatment of the topic than was present in the 2017 Financial Mathematics topic. |
| Statistical Analysis / MA-S2: Descriptive Statistics and Bivariate Data Analysis | N/A (Removed) | Removed. The content on correlation and regression has been removed from the Advanced course. |
| Statistical Analysis / MA-S3: Random Variables | Statistical analysis / Random variables | Expanded. This area now includes 'Discrete probability distributions' (moved from Year 11) and introduces the 'expected value and variance of continuous random variables' for the first time. |
Mathematics Extension 1 Syllabus Changes
The Mathematics Extension 1 syllabus has undergone significant changes, primarily due to the transfer of some of its foundational content to the enhanced Mathematics Advanced course.
This has enabled the Extension 1 course to sharpen its focus on more advanced concepts, serving as a direct bridge to Extension 2 and tertiary-level mathematics.
The course is now organised into seven Areas of Study, with a notable structural emphasis on 'Proof' and 'Vectors' at the Year 12 level, formalising their role as capstone topics.
Table 5: Year 12 Mathematics Extension 1 Content Comparison (2017 (old) vs. 2024 (new) )
| 2017 Topic / Subtopic | 2024 Area of Study / Focus Area | Analysis of Change |
|---|---|---|
| Functions / ME-F1: Further Work with Functions | Functions / Further work with functions | Altered. Core content, such as inequalities and parametric form, is retained. However, content on graphical relationships (e.g., sums/differences of functions) has moved to Advanced. Quadratic inequalities have been moved from Advanced to Extension 1. |
| Functions / ME-F2: Polynomials | Functions / Polynomials | Largely Unchanged. The core of the topic (remainder/factor theorems, sums/products of roots) remains. |
| Trigonometric Functions / ME-T1: Inverse Trigonometric Functions | N/A (Moved to Year 12) | Moved. This entire topic has been moved to the Year 12 course. |
| Trigonometric Functions / ME-T2: Further Trigonometric Identities | Trigonometric functions / Further trigonometry | Largely Unchanged. The focus on compound angle, double angle, and t-formulae identities is retained. 3D Trigonometry has been removed from this course, and it is now offered in Advanced. |
| Calculus / ME-C1: Rates of Change | N/A (Removed/Integrated) | Removed. This topic has been removed as a standalone unit. Its core concepts, like exponential growth and decay, are now covered in the Advanced course or moved to Year 12. |
| Combinatorics / ME-A1: Working with Combinatorics | Combinatorics / Permutations and combinations, The binomial theorem | Largely Unchanged. The content on permutations, combinations, and the binomial expansion (previously a single subtopic) is now split into two distinct focus areas for clarity. |
Table 6: Year 12 Mathematics Extension 1 Content Comparison (2017 (old) vs. 2024 (new) )
| 2017 Topic / Subtopic | 2024 Area of Study / Focus Area | Analysis of Change |
|---|---|---|
| Proof / ME-P1: Proof by Mathematical Induction | Proof / Proof by mathematical induction | Largely Unchanged. This remains a core topic, though its placement as a standalone Area of Study gives it greater prominence. |
| Vectors / ME-V1: Introduction to Vectors | Vectors / Introduction to vectors | Largely Unchanged. The introduction to 2D vectors, the dot product, and projectile motion is retained. The 2024 syllabus now explicitly mentions 3D vectors in its outcomes. |
| Trigonometric Functions / ME-T3: Trigonometric Equations | N/A (Integrated) | Integrated. The content on solving complex trigonometric equations is retained but is now integrated within the broader area of trigonometric functions, likely within the Year 11 focus area. |
| N/A (Moved from Year 11) | Trigonometric functions / Inverse trigonometric functions | New to Year 12. The entire topic on inverse trigonometric functions has been moved from the 2017 Year 11 course. |
| Calculus / ME-C2: Further Calculus Skills & ME-C3: Applications of Calculus | Calculus / Further calculus skills, Further applications of calculus | Altered. The core content remains, but some applications have been shifted. Some parts of exponential growth/decay has been removed from Extension 1 (now covered in the Advanced course), while volumes of solids of revolution remain a key component. Differential equations also remain a key component. |
| Statistical Analysis / ME-S1: The Binomial Distribution | Statistical analysis / The binomial distribution and the sampling distribution of the mean | Expanded. The topic has been expanded to include the 'sampling distribution of the mean', a new and statistically significant concept for this level. |
Mathematics Extension 2 Syllabus Changes
The 2024 reform of the Mathematics Extension 2 syllabus is one of refinement and consolidation, building upon the significant structural changes introduced in 2017.
The previous reform had already streamlined the course by removing topics such as Conics and Volumes to focus on five core pillars of advanced mathematics. The 2024 syllabus retains this focused structure, with the course content organised under the same five Areas of Study: Proof, Vectors, Complex Numbers, Calculus, and Mechanics.
The changes within the new syllabus are minor, aimed at increasing the clarity of content and strengthening the connections between concepts, rather than making substantive additions or removals.
This approach solidifies the course's identity as a rigorous, conceptually focused preparation for tertiary mathematics.
Table 7: Year 12 Mathematics Extension 2 Content Comparison (2017 (old) vs. 2024 (new) )
| 2017 Topic / Subtopic | 2024 Area of Study / Focus Area | Analysis of Change |
|---|---|---|
| Proof / MEX-P1: The Nature of Proof & MEX-P2: Further Proof by Mathematical Induction | Proof / The nature of proof | Consolidated & Retained. The core principles of direct proof, contradiction, and induction are retained. The 2024 syllabus consolidates these into a single, prominent focus area. |
| Vectors / MEX-V1: Further Work with Vectors | Vectors / Further work with vectors | Largely Unchanged. The extension of vectors to three dimensions and the vector equations of lines remains a central component. |
| Complex Numbers / MEX-N1: Introduction to Complex Numbers & MEX-N2: Using Complex Numbers | Complex numbers / Introduction to complex numbers | Consolidated & Retained. The arithmetic, geometric, and algebraic properties of complex numbers, including De Moivre's theorem and the roots of unity, are consolidated into a single focus area. |
| Calculus / MEX-C1: Further Integration | Calculus / Further integration | Largely Unchanged. Advanced integration techniques such as substitution, partial fractions, and integration by parts remain. |
| Mechanics / MEX-M1: Applications of Calculus to Mechanics | Mechanics / Applications of calculus to mechanics | Largely Unchanged. The study of simple harmonic motion, resisted motion, and projectiles remains a core application of calculus. |