Mathematics Advanced Stage 6 Syllabus (2017)

New syllabus implemented from 2026

The new Mathematics Advanced 11–12 Syllabus (2024) is to be implemented from 2026.

2025

Plan and prepare to teach Mathematics Advanced 11–12 Syllabus (2024)

2026, Term 1

Start teaching Mathematics Advanced 11–12 Syllabus (2024) for Year 11
Start implementing new Year 11 school-based assessment requirements
Continue to teach the Mathematics Advanced Stage 6 Syllabus (2017) for Year 12

2026, Term 4

Start teaching Mathematics Advanced 11–12 Syllabus (2024) for Year 12
Start implementing new Year 12 school-based assessment requirements

2027

First HSC exam for Mathematics Advanced 11–12 Syllabus (2024)

Detailed implementation information, including key features and resources, is available on the Mathematics syllabus development page.

About the course

Students have the opportunity to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in mathematics and working mathematically. They develop ways of thinking and use mathematics as a powerful way of viewing and modelling the world to investigate patterns, order, generality and uncertainty.

Course description

The Mathematics Advanced course is a calculus-based course focused on developing student awareness of mathematics as a unique and powerful way of viewing the world to investigate order, relation, pattern, uncertainty and generality. The course provides students with the opportunity to develop ways of thinking in which problems are explored through observation, reflection and reasoning.

The Mathematics Extension 1 Year 11 course includes the Mathematics Advanced Year 11 course. The Mathematics Extension 1 Year 12 course includes the Mathematics Advanced Year 12 course.

All students studying the Mathematics Advanced course will sit for an HSC examination.

What students learn

The study of Mathematics Advanced in Stage 6:

enables students to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in working mathematically and in communicating concisely and precisely
provides opportunities for students to consider various applications of mathematics in a broad range of contemporary contexts through the use of mathematical modelling and use these models to solve problems related to their present and future needs
provides opportunities for students to develop ways of thinking in which problems are explored through observation, reflection and reasoning
provides a basis for further studies in disciplines in which mathematics and the skills that constitute thinking mathematically have an important role
provides an appropriate mathematical background for students whose future pathways may involve mathematics and its applications in a range of disciplines at the tertiary level.

Year 11 course

The Mathematics Advanced Year 11 course content comprises five Topics, with the Topics divided into Subtopics.

Topic: Functions

Working with Functions

Topic: Trigonometric Functions

Trigonometry and Measure of Angles
Trigonometric Functions and Identities

Topic: Calculus

Introduction to Differentiation

Topic: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Logarithms and Exponentials

Topic: Statistical Analysis

Probability and Discrete Probability Distributions

Year 12 course

The Mathematics Advanced Year 12 course content includes four of the same Topics and the Topic ‘Financial Mathematics’ in place of ‘Exponential and Logarithmic Functions’.

Topic: Functions

Graphing Techniques

Topic: Trigonometric Functions

Trigonometric Functions and Graphs

Topic: Calculus

Differential Calculus
The Second Derivative
Integral Calculus

Topic: Financial Mathematics

Modelling Financial Situations

Topic: Statistical Analysis

Descriptive Statistics and Bivariate Data Analysis
Random Variables

Course numbers and exclusions

Board Developed Course

Course number(s):

11255 Mathematics Advanced (2 units – Year 11)
15255 Mathematics Advanced (2 units – Year 12)

Prerequisites: The Mathematics Advanced Year 11 course has been developed on the assumption that students have studied the content and achieved the outcomes of the Mathematics Years 7–10 Syllabus and in particular, the content and outcomes of all substrands of Stage 5.1 and Stage 5.2, and the following substrands of Stage 5.3: