NESA Mathematics 11–12 (2024) · first examined 2027
The HSC Maths syllabus, course by course
Standard, Advanced, Extension 1 and Extension 2 in one working guide: every focus area in each course, which syllabus year applies to you — the changeover is happening right now — and a free lesson series for each focus area. Use it as a checklist to find the gaps before your exams do.
- Courses
- 4Standard · Advanced · Ext 1 · Ext 2
- Syllabus
- 2024first examined at the 2027 HSC
- Organised by
- Focus areasnot numbered modules
- Free lessons here
- 460+across the four courses
Which syllabus year applies to you?
NSW is changing maths syllabuses right now, and searching “HSC maths syllabus” returns both versions without telling you which one is yours. The rule:
- Sitting the HSC in 2026? You are the final cohort examined on the previous syllabus. Your course and exam are unchanged.
- Sitting the HSC in 2027 or later? You are on the NESA Mathematics 11–12 (2024) syllabuses described on this page. Year 11 has been taught on them since 2026, and Year 12 courses on the new syllabuses begin in Term 4 2026.
The lessons on this site are built against the 2024 syllabuses — the ones the 2027 HSC will examine.
The four courses at a glance
| Course | Who it suits | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics Standard | Maths for work, life and most non-STEM study | Common Year 11 course, then Standard 1 or Standard 2 in Year 12 |
| Mathematics Advanced | Calculus-based maths for STEM, commerce and science degrees | Year 11 and Year 12, focus areas from functions through calculus |
| Mathematics Extension 1 | Strong maths students; taken alongside Advanced | Extends Advanced in both years |
| Mathematics Extension 2 | The most demanding HSC maths course | Year 12 only, taken on top of Extension 1 |
Mathematics Standard
Eight focus areas, shared by everyone who will go on to Standard 1 or Standard 2:
Ten focus areas in the ATAR-standard course:
- Algebraic relationships
- Investment and loans
- Annuities
- Trigonometry
- Ratios and rates
- Network flow
- Critical path analysis
- Bivariate data analysis
- Relative frequency and probability
- The normal distribution
Standard 1 is the smaller Year 12 pathway: seven focus areas — algebraic relationships, investment, depreciation and loans, right-angled triangles, ratios and rates, bivariate data analysis, and relative frequency and probability — sharing most of their content with Standard 2, so the Standard 2 lessons above cover much of the shared ground.
Mathematics Advanced
Mathematics Extension 1
Mathematics Extension 2
Taken on top of Extension 1, and the deepest maths offered in the HSC. Five focus areas:
- The nature of proof
- Further work with vectors
- Introduction to complex numbers
- Further integration
- Applications of calculus to mechanics
How to actually use this page
- Confirm your syllabus year first. If you sit the HSC in 2026, revise from your school’s materials for the outgoing course; everything below the changeover box applies to the 2027 HSC onwards. Choosing revision material from the wrong syllabus year is the most expensive mistake available this year.
- Work focus area by focus area. Each link above opens a lesson series with worked examples and practice built in — tick a focus area off only when you can do its questions unprompted, not when its notes feel familiar.
- Then move to papers. The practice papers hub has exam-style maths questions organised so you can drill one focus area at a time.
Common questions
Which HSC Maths syllabus applies to me?
It depends on when you sit the HSC. The 2026 HSC is the last examined on the previous syllabuses. The NESA Mathematics 11–12 (2024) syllabuses are first examined at the 2027 HSC: Year 11 has been taught on them since 2026, and Year 12 courses on the new syllabuses begin in Term 4 2026. This page, and the lessons on this site, follow the 2024 syllabuses.
What is the difference between Standard 1 and Standard 2?
Both share the common Year 11 Standard course. In Year 12, Standard 2 is the ATAR-standard course with ten focus areas including annuities, networks and the normal distribution, while Standard 1 is a smaller seven-focus-area course that shares most of its content with Standard 2. Most students aiming for an ATAR take Standard 2.
Do I need Advanced to do Extension 1?
Yes. Mathematics Extension 1 is studied alongside Mathematics Advanced, extending it with topics like polynomials, further trigonometry, vectors and the binomial distribution. Extension 2 is a Year 12 course taken on top of Extension 1.
When is the new syllabus first examined?
The NESA Mathematics 11–12 (2024) syllabuses are first examined at the 2027 HSC. Students sitting the HSC in 2026 are examined on the previous syllabus, so check which cohort you are in before choosing revision material.
Is HSC Maths organised into modules like the sciences?
No. The 2024 Mathematics syllabuses are organised into focus areas — for example, Financial mathematics or Differential calculus — rather than numbered modules. Each course lists its own focus areas for Year 11 and Year 12, and this page links a free lesson series for each one.
Where to next
Working through a focus area and something still is not landing? One-on-one HSC Maths tutoring is available online across NSW.