Whether your child plans to become an architect or psychologist, enter a trade such as plumbing or hairdressing or pursue work as a sales assistant, maths skills will enhance their career success.

The mathematical skills your teen will learn in their senior years will help them make sense of the world and to flourish in their future life.

Years 11 and 12

The maths syllabus in Years 11 and 12 (stage 6) helps develop 21st century knowledge and abilities by offering your child opportunities to:

• Question, reason, reflect and communicate.
• Build further knowledge, skills and understanding.
• Communicate mathematical knowledge precisely and concisely
• Make maths connections, think creatively and critically.
• Embrace problem solving and challenges, including applying maths to different situations.
• Use mathematical modelling to solve problems related to future and present needs.
• Understand the importance of maths in life and the world beyond school.
• Use appropriate technology to support their maths-based activities.
• Develop an understanding of skills in maths for further HSC study pathways.
• Increase mathematical knowledge to help enter the workforce or undertake workplace training or further study.

Flexible learning

Across all subjects, teachers have the flexibility to make decisions about the sequence and emphasis given to content to suit the school’s resources and the individual needs, interests and abilities of the students.

HSC subject strands

In Years 11 and 12, your child may be able to choose from six courses of study which are counted towards their HSC:

1. Mathematics Standard 1
2. Mathematics Standard 2
3. Mathematics Advanced
4. Mathematics Extension 1
5. Mathematics Extension 2
6. Mathematics Life Skills.

HSC maths subjects

The subject choices your child makes in year 11 can allow them to study maths as a stand alone subject or set up pathways that enable them to qualify for advanced and extension elective maths courses. Here's an overview of the HSC maths options, their content and how they contribute to HSC maths pathways:

Mathematics Standard 1 and 2

These two subjects offer your child the chance to further develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in maths. Through solving problems related to present and future needs your child improves their ability to clearly communicate about maths applications and strategies.

In year 11: All students can study the Mathematics standard course.

In year 12: As part of their HSC pathway, your child can elect to study several maths strands:

• Mathematics Standard 1: (Category B)
  This offers an optional HSC exam.
  Units: 2
• Mathematics Standard 2: (Category A)
  This includes an HSC exam.
  Units: 2

Content: Mathematics Standard 1 and 2

• Algebra
• Measurement
• Financial mathematics
• Statistical analysis
• Networks (Year 12 only).

Mathematics Advanced

Mathematics Advanced offers your child the chance to further develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in maths. With a focus on calculus, your child will learn how to apply maths to expand their view of the world and investigate order, patterns, generality and uncertainty.

This subject consists of two strands that are pathways to HSC Extension Maths:

• Mathematics Advanced Year 11
  Units: 2
• Mathematics Advanced Year 12
  Units: 2

Content – Mathematics Advanced

• Calculus
• Functions
• Statistical analysis
• Trigonometric functions
• Exponential and logarithmic functions (Year 11 only)
• Financial mathematics (Year 12 only).

Meeting every child’s needs

The high school syllabus takes an inclusive approach to ensure the learning needs of every student are addressed, including children with:

• A physical or intellectual disability
• Other special needs
• Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (CALD), where English is the child’s second language
• No special needs.