HSC Mathematics Advanced: complete 2026 guide (2017 syllabus, with the 2027 changes)

HSC Mathematics Advanced is the standard university-track maths subject in NSW. It is the most-taken 2-unit Stage 6 maths subject and the single most important determinant of an ATAR for most students aiming at STEM or commerce degrees.

This page is the index. Below you will find a topic-by-topic breakdown, exam structure, scaling notes, and links to every deep guide we have for HSC Mathematics Advanced in 2026.

Critical 2026 note: two syllabuses are live

HSC Mathematics Advanced is currently in a syllabus transition.

If you are sitting the HSC in 2026: you follow the Mathematics Advanced Stage 6 Syllabus (2017), examined for the last time this year. Topics: Functions, Trigonometric Functions, Exponential and Logarithmic Functions, Calculus, Financial Mathematics, Statistical Analysis.

If you are starting Year 12 in Term 4 2026 (the 2027 HSC): you follow the new Mathematics Advanced 11-12 Syllabus (2024), which you also studied in Year 11. Most of the mathematics carries over, but some content moved between Year 11 and Year 12, trigonometry in three dimensions and area between two curves moved to Extension 1, bivariate data and most descriptive statistics left the course, a few topics are new (for example $\frac{dQ}{dt} = kQ$, derivatives of $\sec x$, $\operatorname{cosec} x$ and $\cot x$, and areas against the $y$-axis), and the exam no longer shares questions with Standard 2. There are no vectors in Mathematics Advanced. Read what's changed in the new syllabus.

Our topic guides and dot-point pages were written to the 2017 syllabus; where the mathematics is unchanged they apply to both.

The Mathematics Advanced topics (2026 cohort, 2017 syllabus)

Functions

Linear, quadratic, cubic, polynomial, reciprocal and absolute value functions, circles, composite functions, and graph transformations (Year 12).

Trigonometric functions

Definitions, exact values, identities, equations, graphs, applications, radian measure, periodic functions.

Calculus (differentiation)

First principles, rules (product, quotient, chain), derivatives of exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions, stationary points and curve sketching, optimisation, rates of change and motion.

Calculus (integration)

Indefinite and definite integrals of polynomial, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions (including the reverse chain rule), the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, areas under and between curves, and the trapezoidal rule. Integration by substitution and volumes of revolution are Extension 1.

Financial mathematics

Simple and compound interest, annuities, future and present value, loan repayments. Geometric sequences and series.

Statistical analysis

Probability and discrete probability distributions (Year 11), descriptive statistics and bivariate data, continuous random variables and the normal distribution (Year 12).

The Mathematics Advanced topics (2024 syllabus, from the 2027 HSC)

Year 11: Working with functions; Graph transformations; Trigonometry and measure of angles; Trigonometric identities and equations; Exponential and logarithmic functions; Introduction to differentiation; Probability and data.

Year 12: Further graph transformations and modelling; Sequences and series; Differential calculus; Integral calculus; Applications of calculus; Random variables; Financial mathematics.

School-based assessment follows NESA's new sample programs and, from Term 4 2026, allows at most one take-home task worth up to 15%. The full comparison is in what's changed.

Exam structure

HSC Mathematics Advanced is sat as a single paper of 3 hours working time plus 10 minutes reading time.

• Section I: Multiple choice (~10 questions, worth 10 marks)
• Section II: Extended response (the remaining ~90 marks across questions of varying length)

The paper covers every topic in the syllabus. Multi-step extended-response questions in the last third of the paper test sustained problem-solving across multiple topics. Bring an approved scientific calculator (a graphics calculator is not required and not standard).

How Mathematics Advanced scales (2026)

In UAC's Report on the Scaling of the 2025 NSW HSC, Mathematics Advanced had a scaled mean of 31.9 per unit out of 50. For comparison, from the same report:

• Mathematics Extension 2: 43.4 per unit (the highest-scaling HSC course in 2025)
• Mathematics Extension 1: 39.7 per unit
• Mathematics Advanced: 31.9 per unit
• Mathematics Standard 2: 23.3 per unit

UAC warns that its tables are not a conversion from HSC marks to scaled marks, and scaling is recalculated every year; see how HSC subjects are scaled. Try our HSC ATAR calculator to estimate your ATAR from projected Mathematics Advanced marks.

Our 2026 deep guides

We have written in-depth guides for the major Mathematics Advanced topics:

• HSC Maths Advanced: calculus (differentiation and integration) at /hsc/math-advanced/guides/hsc-maths-advanced-calculus
• Vectors (Extension 1 content, not part of Mathematics Advanced) at /hsc/math-advanced/guides/hsc-maths-advanced-vectors
• The new syllabus from the 2027 HSC: what's changed at /hsc/math-advanced/guides/new-syllabus-2027-whats-changed
• HSC Maths Advanced: trigonometric functions at /hsc/math-advanced/guides/hsc-maths-advanced-trigonometric-functions
• HSC Maths Advanced: statistical analysis at /hsc/math-advanced/guides/hsc-maths-advanced-statistical-analysis
• HSC Maths Advanced practice questions at /hsc/math-advanced/guides/hsc-maths-advanced-practice-questions

Each guide includes worked examples, exam-style questions, and links to the relevant NESA syllabus dot points.

Calculator support

Try the HSC ATAR calculator to estimate your ATAR from Mathematics Advanced and your other subjects. The calculator models UAC scaling means and the best-10-units aggregate.

System context

HSC Mathematics Advanced sits inside the wider HSC system. Related explainers:

• How the HSC ATAR is calculated covers UAC's aggregate and scaling mechanics.
• How HSC subjects are scaled explains why Advanced scales higher than Standard.
• HSC bonus points and EAS covers subject-specific selection-rank bonuses (Mathematics Advanced earns subject-bonus points at many universities for engineering and science degrees).

How to use this hub

If you are a Year 12 student sitting HSC 2026: read the topic guides for the topics you struggle with most. Aim for 8-10 past papers under timed conditions in Term 4.

If you are starting Year 12 on the new 2024 syllabus: read what's changed first, then use the topic guides for the content that carries over. Map the new Year 12 focus areas to your school's assessment schedule.

For the official NESA syllabus, prescribed reference material, and past papers, refer to educationstandards.nsw.edu.au.