New HSC Mathematics Standard 1 syllabus (from the 2027 HSC): what's changed

The Mathematics Standard 11-12 Syllabus (2024) replaces the 2017 Mathematics Standard syllabus. It is one syllabus: everyone studies the same Year 11 course, then Year 12 is either Mathematics Standard 1 or Mathematics Standard 2. The 2027 HSC is the first exam on it, so if you are starting Year 12 Standard 1 in Term 4 2026, this page describes your course.

The short version: Standard 1 keeps its practical focus. The big moves are networks and survey work into Year 11 and probability into Year 12, and the optional exam is now a self-contained paper. Everything below comes from NESA's own syllabus pages, read against the 2017 course. Where NESA's pages do not say something, this page says so. The facts were checked on 7 October 2026.

Timeline

The new course structure

NESA's Year 12 pages also list Mathematics Life Skills content for students on a Life Skills pathway; it is not part of Standard 1.

What moved or is new

• Networks has left Year 12 Standard 1. In the 2017 course, Year 12 Standard 1 included network terminology, minimum spanning trees and shortest paths (see our existing pages on networks and minimum spanning trees and shortest paths). Under the new syllabus, Networks, paths and trees is in Year 11 for everyone: constructing network diagrams, finding a minimum spanning tree "using any method", minimal connector problems, and shortest paths on networks with no more than 10 vertices. Year 11 is assumed knowledge for the Year 12 course and may be examined.
• Survey design and the statistical investigation process are now in Year 11. NESA's Year 11 Data analysis page covers posing a question, questionnaire design, privacy and bias, and sampling methods. In the 2017 course the investigation process and questionnaire design sat in Year 12 Standard 1, while sampling methods were already in Year 11 (see our page on the investigation process and surveys).
• The trapezoidal rule stays in Year 11 Applications of measurement, as it did in 2017; the 2024 wording limits it to up to four applications. Scale drawings and building plans stay in Year 12, under Ratios and rates.
• Relative frequency and probability is now a Year 12 focus area. In the 2017 course probability sat in the shared Year 11 course. The Year 12 Standard 1 version covers the sample space, $P(\text{event}) = \frac{\text{favourable}}{\text{total}}$, the complement, arrays and tree diagrams for two-stage events, relative frequency and the effect of more trials, and expected frequency $np$. We have written two new pages: sample spaces and two-stage events and relative frequency and expected frequency. NESA's Standard 1 page does not mention Venn diagrams (the Standard 2 page does).
• Algebraic relationships asks you to construct linear and exponential graphs. You build them from a table of values or a graphing application, make predictions, and judge the strengths and limitations of each model. Break-even problems are modelled with a spreadsheet. See our new page on linear and exponential models.
• Investment lists simple interest ($I = Prn$), compound interest ($FV = PV(1 + r)^n$, including finding present value or the rate), comparing the two numerically or from a graph, spreadsheets, and comparing savings accounts, term deposits and buying property as investment strategies.
• Depreciation and loans lists straight-line ($S = V_0 - Dn$) and declining balance ($S = V_0(1 - r)^n$) depreciation, loans treated as compound interest for up to three periods, the effect of repayment frequency and extra repayments (with spreadsheets), and interpreting a credit card statement including the minimum payment.
• Right-angled triangles lists Pythagoras' theorem, trigonometric ratios for sides and angles (degrees and minutes), true and compass bearings, and angles of elevation and depression.
• Bivariate data analysis lists independent and dependent variables, association versus causation, scatterplots, lines of best fit drawn by hand and with digital tools, and describing form, strength and direction.

What NESA has not spelled out

• Inflation is still listed: NESA's Investment page has compound interest "including inflation and appreciation". Shares and dividends were Standard 2 content in 2017 and are Standard 2 only in the 2024 syllabus, so they are not part of the new Standard 1 Investment page.
• Heart rate and blood pressure contexts in the 2017 Standard 1 rates content: NESA's new Ratios and rates wording does not mention them. The page does list unit rates, converting and comparing rates, and vehicle efficiency.
• Exact wording of examples inside several content points is not spelled out. Use NESA's own pages (linked at the top of this page) for the final word.

School-based assessment

NESA's Standard 1 page says:

• The components are "Knowledge and understanding of course content" (50%) and "Skills in Working mathematically" (50%).
• Schools decide the number, type and weighting of tasks, and NESA says schools should weight each task between 10% and 40%.
• One take-home task at most, and it can be worth no more than 15%.
• School-based assessment is reported as a grade from A to E. Students who sit the optional exam are also reported an HSC mark and performance band, and the school submits a confidential estimated exam mark.

The optional HSC exam

Mathematics Standard 1 is still an optional exam. NESA's new specification is one paper of 80 marks with 2 hours plus 10 minutes reading time, a reference sheet and a NESA-approved calculator:

At least two Section II items are worth 4 or 5 marks in both versions. The exam is based on the Year 12 Standard 1 course, with the Year 11 course assumed knowledge that may be examined. NESA's new Standard 1 specification no longer mentions items common with Standard 2, and NESA's Standard 2 sample exam says that exam does not include items common with other Mathematics HSC exams. See our Standard 1 exam page for the exam date and format.

What this means if you are starting Year 12 now

1. Networks and survey design are Year 11 knowledge you may be examined on, even though they will not be taught again in Year 12.
2. Probability is Year 12 work. Practise arrays, tree diagrams, relative frequency and $np$.
3. Past papers are still good practice for the topics that carried over: financial mathematics, right-angled triangles, rates, scatterplots and algebra. Expect no network-specific Year 12 topic.
4. Plan for in-class assessment, because at most one task (worth 15% or less) can be take-home.

Our existing Standard 1 dot-point pages were written to the 2017 syllabus. For how Standard 1 relates to Standard 2, see the Standard 1 subject page.