Maths Standard 2 exam trends & analysis (2019–2025)
Across 2019–2025, Year 12: Measurement is examined most (71 questions), ahead of Year 12: Financial Mathematics (55 questions) and Year 12: Statistical Analysis (49 questions). By topic, Ratios, scale drawings and the trapezoidal rule for HSC Maths Standard 2, Annuities, future value and superannuation for HSC Maths Standard 2 and Rates, unit conversions and the unitary method for HSC Maths Standard 2 come up most, with Quadratic models for HSC Maths Standard 2 and The least-squares regression line for HSC Maths Standard 2 also recurring.
Based on 256 questions across 7 official NESA exam papers, their marking guidelines and marking feedback.
Work in progress
These exam-trend insights are an early release. The frequencies, mark ranges and figures are still being verified against the official NESA past papers and may change. Treat them as a study guide, not a guarantee of what will be examined.
Most-examined dot points
By module
Every dot point, by exam frequency
Click any dot point for the full verbatim syllabus wording, worked answers and past questions.
Showing 30 of 30 dot points
| Dot point | Times | Marks | Years | Most common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratios, scale drawings and the trapezoidal rule for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-measurement Writing ratios in wrong order; leaving decimals or fractions in simplified ratios. | 19× | 1–3 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 | Writing ratios in wrong order; leaving decimals or fractions in simplified ratios. |
| Annuities, future value and superannuation for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-financial-mathematics Confusing annuity with compound interest; finding values from annuity table. | 17× | 1–4 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Confusing annuity with compound interest; finding values from annuity table. |
| Rates, unit conversions and the unitary method for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-measurement Finding the percentage of an amount. | 17× | 1–3 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Finding the percentage of an amount. |
| Quadratic models for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-algebra Failed to identify largest x; set x,y to zero; confused linear and non-linear | 16× | 1–3 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Failed to identify largest x; set x,y to zero; confused linear and non-linear |
| The least-squares regression line for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-statistical-analysis Using calculator not graph; few clear points for gradient; missing subject; swapping A and B | 15× | 1–5 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Using calculator not graph; few clear points for gradient; missing subject; swapping A and B |
| z-scores, standardisation and comparing normal distributions for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-statistical-analysis Wrong values or denominator in formula; treating 95% as standard deviation; confusing z-score with SD. | 15× | 1–4 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Wrong values or denominator in formula; treating 95% as standard deviation; confusing z-score with SD. |
| Critical path analysis: precedence tables and minimum project duration for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-networks Confusing minimum completion time with minimum-length path. | 11× | 1–3 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Confusing minimum completion time with minimum-length path. |
| Radial surveys and bearings for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-measurement Ignoring 'Not to Scale'; struggling with non-right triangle area; misreading diagram for bearing. | 11× | 1–3 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Ignoring 'Not to Scale'; struggling with non-right triangle area; misreading diagram for bearing. |
| Compound interest and investments for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-financial-mathematics Not adjusting time and rate to months; writing 6% as 0.06. | 10× | 1–3 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not adjusting time and rate to months; writing 6% as 0.06. |
| Minimum spanning trees and Prim's algorithm for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-networks Weak grasp of minimum spanning tree concept; unclear, mislabelled diagrams | 9× | 1–3 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Weak grasp of minimum spanning tree concept; unclear, mislabelled diagrams |
| Straight-line and declining-balance depreciation for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-financial-mathematics Not solving for rate after substitution; misusing table values; confusing initial and salvage values. | 9× | 1–4 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Not solving for rate after substitution; misusing table values; confusing initial and salvage values. |
| The sine rule for HSC Maths Standard 2 (including the ambiguous case)year-12-measurement Used complex methods instead of basic trig; not checking solution against diagram | 9× | 1–4 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 | Used complex methods instead of basic trig; not checking solution against diagram |
| Exponential models for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-algebra Adding extra zeros to 4000; misreading 'initially' as A | 8× | 1–3 | 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025 | Adding extra zeros to 4000; misreading 'initially' as A |
| Reducing-balance loans, amortisation tables and total interest for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-financial-mathematics Not converting to monthly rate; doing compound interest when factor given. | 8× | 1–3 | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not converting to monthly rate; doing compound interest when factor given. |
| The cosine rule for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-measurement Rounding to wrong significant figures; substituting incorrectly; not checking reasonableness against diagram. | 8× | 1–4 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Rounding to wrong significant figures; substituting incorrectly; not checking reasonableness against diagram. |
| The normal distribution and the empirical rule for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-statistical-analysis Misusing z-score formula and corresponding empirical-rule percentages | 8× | 1–3 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 | Misusing z-score formula and corresponding empirical-rule percentages |
| Area of a triangle using two sides and the included angle for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-measurement Confusing triangles with sectors; wrong sides/angle in A=half ab sinC | 7× | 2–4 | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Confusing triangles with sectors; wrong sides/angle in A=half ab sinC |
| Break-even analysis and linear cost or revenue models for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-algebra Plotting points and drawing the linear relationship accurately with a ruler. | 7× | 1–3 | 2019, 2023, 2024 | Plotting points and drawing the linear relationship accurately with a ruler. |
| Forward and backward scanning and activity float for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-networks Ignoring float times; not writing final answer in space; weak forward/backward scanning | 6× | 1–2 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025 | Ignoring float times; not writing final answer in space; weak forward/backward scanning |
| Network terminology and graph representations for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-networks Confusing spanning tree with minimum spanning tree; not labelling weightings. | 6× | 1–2 | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Confusing spanning tree with minimum spanning tree; not labelling weightings. |
| Pearson's correlation coefficient $r$ for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-statistical-analysis Inaccurately entering graph data into the calculator. | 6× | 1–4 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 | Inaccurately entering graph data into the calculator. |
| Reciprocal models and inverse variation for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-algebra Plotting too few points; not realising several points are needed to sketch a curve. | 6× | 1–3 | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 | Plotting too few points; not realising several points are needed to sketch a curve. |
| Shortest path problems in networks for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-networks Missing vertices when stating path; omitting start/end points; assuming diagram to scale | 6× | 1–2 | 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 | Missing vertices when stating path; omitting start/end points; assuming diagram to scale |
| Credit card interest, daily compounding and the cost of revolving debt for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-financial-mathematics Not counting end days inclusively; misunderstanding 'minimum payment' and stopping early. | 5× | 2–3 | 2019, 2020, 2023, 2025 | Not counting end days inclusively; misunderstanding 'minimum payment' and stopping early. |
| Shares, dividends and yield for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-financial-mathematics Forgetting the dividend yield formula; not expressing dividend as a percentage. | 5× | 1–3 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025 | Forgetting the dividend yield formula; not expressing dividend as a percentage. |
| Simultaneous linear equations for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-algebra Graphing linear equation without given y-intercept; solving algebraically | 5× | 1–4 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025 | Graphing linear equation without given y-intercept; solving algebraically |
| Scatterplots and bivariate data for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-statistical-analysis Reading points incorrectly from the table. | 3× | 2–3 | 2022, 2024, 2025 | Reading points incorrectly from the table. |
| Interpolation and extrapolation with a regression line for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-statistical-analysis Not relating answer to context; inaccurate explanation about the regression line. | 2× | 1 | 2023, 2025 | Not relating answer to context; inaccurate explanation about the regression line. |
| Choosing between linear and non-linear models for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-algebra | 1× | 1 | 2025 | — |
| Inflation, CPI and real value for HSC Maths Standard 2year-12-financial-mathematics New price not equivalent to 100%; didn't use unitary method; rounding errors | 1× | 2 | 2020 | New price not equivalent to 100%; didn't use unitary method; rounding errors |