Are you thinking of dropping one of your HSC Subjects? Before you make that big decision, make sure you have all the up-to-date stats and facts! Lucky for you, we have done all the hard work for you! We have gone through the UAC scaling data and the NSW public school course enrolment figures to create the ultimate fact sheets for the top 10 most dropped subjects in the NSW HSC (of the subjects with the highest enrolment figures).
Keep reading to find out the drop rates, percentage of Band 6 achievers, the highest ATAR you can score and much much more!
What should you consider when dropping a subject?
What are the most dropped subjects in the HSC?
#1: Mathematics Advanced
#2: Chemistry
#3: Legal Studies
#4: Business Studies
#5: Biology
#6: Mathematics Standard
#7: PDHPE
#8: Advanced English
What should you consider when dropping a subject?
Before we take a look at the numbers, there are a few key things you should consider before dropping a subject.
- Will dropping a subject actually give you more time to focus on other subjects?
- Is your subject a prerequisite for a university course you want to study?
To help you answer these questions, we’ve written an article on what you need to consider when dropping a subject. We’ve also created a tool that goes into all the different things you need to think about for subjects you’re choosing to drop or keep. Check out our HSC Subject Decision Tree Tool!
Or check out our video below!
What are the most dropped subjects in the HSC?
Let’s check out the most dropped HSC Subjects (with the highest enrolment figures) over the last few years. Are you considering dropping any of these subjects?
As you can see Mathematics Advanced is the MOST dropped subject in the HSC with an average of 35.17% of every cohort dropping the subject.
Now keep scrolling to discover even more about these most commonly dropped subjects in the HSC!
#1: Should You Drop HSC Mathematics Advanced?
Thinking about dropping HSC Mathematics Advanced with the other 35.17% of your cohort? Or maybe you’re considering dropping Mathematics completely!? Here is a brief rundown on what you should know!
What’s the average mark for people who take HSC Advanced Maths compared to HSC Standard Maths?
The question that everyone is asking is: Does taking Advanced Maths really mean you will get a better mark than Standard Maths?
We have found that the average mark for students who’ve taken Advanced Maths across the past five years is 80.2. Just scraping into the Band 5 range! The average mark hasn’t changed too much over the past few years. In fact, the average mark for Advanced Maths has been between 79 and 81 since 2016!
And what about Standard Maths? Well, the average mark is 70.6, or a Band 4 – almost an entire band difference compared to Advanced Maths! The average mark for Standard Maths has only fluctuated a little bit the past five years, having been 71 in 2016 and 69 in 2020.
How likely is it that You’ll get a Band 6 in HSC Advanced Maths?
Across the past five years, typically 24.4% of Advanced Maths students achieve a Band 6 on average. Which is nearly 1 in 4 people!
In Standard Maths, only 5.8% of students achieve a Band 6! So bear that in mind when you’re thinking of dropping to Standard Maths!
What about the other Bands in Mathematics Advanced?
The majority of Advanced Maths students receive a Band 5 in the subject, with 28.6% of students doing so! The next largest group is Band 4, with 25.8% followed by Band 6 with 24.4%.
You can view the rest of the Bands breakdown below!
We have more statistics and information about Advanced Maths in this article!
#2: Should You Drop HSC Chemistry?
So, Chemistry is the second most dropped subject in the HSC, with an average of 32.93% of the cohort dropping the subject every year ! Are you thinking about dropping it? Read some of the most important statistics you should know…
What’s the average mark for people who take HSC Chemistry vs Biology and Physics?
Now what exactly is the average mark for HSC Chemistry students…and what about the other sciences? Keep reading to find out!
The average mark for students who’ve taken Chemistry across the past five years is 77.2 (Band 4). This actually hasn’t changed too much over the last few years! In fact, the average mark for Chemistry has been between 77 and 78 since 2016!
But what about Biology and Physics? Interestingly, the average mark for Biology is 74.8 and the average mark for Physics is 75! Meaning the average mark for Chemistry, Biology and Physics all lie within the Band 4 range.
How likely is it that You’ll get a Band 6 in HSC Chemistry?
We’ve looked into it and found that over the past five years, typically 11.6% of students who take Chemistry get a Band 6. This is a little over 1 in 10 people!
But, what about the other Bands?
Despite the average mark being a Band 4, the majority of people actually receive a Band 5 in HSC Chemistry! Around 31.4% of people who take Chemistry get a Band 5, a large chunk of the cohort! The next largest group is Band 4 with 27%, followed by Band 3 with 20.2%. Check out the band distribution below!
Find even more facts and stats on HSC Chemistry!
#3: Should You Drop HSC Legal Studies?
With 29.09% of the cohort dropping the subject Legal Studies is the third most dropped subject in the HSC! Check out some other important statistics!
What’s the average mark for people who take HSC Legal Studies?
The average mark for students who’ve taken HSC Legal Studies across the past five years is 77, or a high Band 4!
Wondering what some of the other Social Sciences look like? Well, looking at data from 2016, the average HSC mark for Business Studies is slightly lower at 74.4 and the Economics is 79, nearly scraping a Band 5 average!
How likely is it that I’ll get a Band 6 in HSC Legal Studies?
So the average Legal Studies mark is a high Band 4, but what are your chances of scoring a Band 6 (or 90+)? Well, 13.2% of students who take Legal Studies achieve that Band 6! That is around 2 in 15 students achieving that Band 6!
What about the other Bands?
Interestingly, most people will achieve a Band 5 in HSC Legal Studies! Even though the average mark is in the Band 4 range, a whopping 29.4% of Legal Studies students get a Band 5. The next largest band group is Band 4 with exactly 28% of the cohort in that 70-79 range!
You can view the entire Legal Studies’ Band breakdown below!
Find even more facts and stats on HSC Legal Studies!
#4: Should You Drop HSC Business Studies?
Coming in at number 4 with 27.03% of the cohort dropping the subject, we have Business Studies! Are you thinking of dropping this HSC Subject? Make sure you know your stats…
What’s the average mark for people who take HSC Business Studies?
From data from the past five years, we’ve found that the average mark for HSC Business Studies is 74.4, or a Band 4!
And what about the other social sciences? (Also seen above!)
As we looked at earlier, the average HSC mark for Legal Studies is 77, slightly higher than Business Studies. Economics, however, has an average mark of 79! So close to a Band 5!
How likely is it that you’ll get a Band 6 in HSC Business Studies?
So if you keep HSC Business Studies…what are your chances of getting a Band 6? So, 8.6% of students who take Business Studies get that Band 6! Which is around 1 in 12 Business students.
What about the other Bands?
Most of the HSC Business Studies cohort students finish the HSC with a Band 4, with 28.4% of Business Students in that 70-89 range. The next largest Band group is Band 5, with 26.6% of students getting a Band 5.
You can view the entire Business Studies’ Band breakdown below!
Find even more facts and stats on HSC Business Studies!
#5: Should you drop HSC Biology?
Coming in as the 5th most dropped subject in the HSC with an average of 27.03% of the cohort dropping every year we have Biology! Many people’s favourite subjects! We spoke about HSC Biology briefly above but let’s dive into some more stats and facts!
What is the average mark for people who take HSC Biology?
The average mark Biology students get is 74.8, or a Band 4, from data from over the last five years. Between 2016 and 2020, the average mark for Biology has fluctuated between 73 and 76.
But how does it compare to the other popular HSC Sciences?
So we have spoken about Chemistry above, and we know that the average mark for Chemistry students is 77.2 (Band 4). The average mark for Physics is 75, also Band 4. Meaning the average mark for Chemistry, Biology and Physics lies within the Band 4 range.
How likely is it that You’ll get a Band 6 in HSC Biology?
So now that we know that the average mark for Biology students is in the Band 4 range at 74.8, what is the likelihood that you will reach that Band 6? Well, across the past five years, 8.80% of students who take HSC Biology achieve a Band 6. That is around 1 in 12 people!
What about the other Bands?
Most of the people receive a Band 4 in HSC Biology! In fact just over 30% of people who take HSC Biology get a Band 4! Not bad! The next largest Band group is Band 5, with 26% of the cohort. The next largest group is Band 3, with 22% of the cohort.
You can view the rest of the Bands breakdown below!
Find even more facts and stats on HSC Biology!
#6: Should you drop HSC Mathematics Standard?
On average 23.75% of each Standard Mathematics cohort drops it, making this subject the 6th most dropped subject in the HSC!
What’s the average mark for people who take HSC Standard Maths compared to Advanced Maths?
Remember there is usually no way you can go back to Advanced Maths once you have moved to Standard Maths! But, let’s look at the average marks and compare!
Over the past five years, the average mark for students who studied Standard Maths is a low Band 4 at 70.6. This is just an average. Between 2016 and 2020, the average mark has fluctuated between 70 and 72.
And Advanced Maths? The average mark for students who have taken Advanced Maths is nearly a whole Band higher at 80.2, as discussed earlier!
How likely is it that I’ll get a Band 6 in HSC Standard Maths?
Well, across the past five years, only 5.80% of students who take HSC Standard Maths reach that Band 6. That is around 1 in 15 people!
What about the other Bands?
Most Standard Maths students receive a Band 4, at 27%. The second highest Band group is Band 3 with 25.40% of students in the 60-69 HSC mark range!
Find the full article on HSC Standard Maths!
#7: Should you drop HSC PDHPE?
With 22.51% of the cohort dropping the subject every year, PDHPE is the 7th most dropped subject in the HSC!
What’s the average mark for people who take HSC PDHPE?
Over the past five years, the average mark for students who studied PDHPE is 73.6, or a low Band 4. Between 2016 and 2020, the average mark has fluctuated between 73 and 74. Again, PDHPE shows a great level of consistency in data!
How likely is it that I’ll get a Band 6 in HSC PDHPE?
Well, across the past five years an average of 8.40% of students who take HSC PDHPE students claim a Band 6. That is around 2 in 25 people!
What about the other Bands?
Most PDHPE Students get a Band 4 at 28.60%. This is followed by Band 5 with 24.60% of students achieving it, and then Band 3 with 23.6%. Check out the distribution below!
#8: Should you drop Advanced English?
It is unsurprising to see Advanced English on the list of the most dropped subjects in the HSC, with an average of 18.03% of students dropping the subject every year!
What’s the average mark for people who take HSC Advanced English compared to HSC Standard English?
Sooooo… does taking Advanced English really guarantee a better mark than Standard English? Let’s compare!
The average mark for students who’ve taken Advanced English across the past five years is 82 (Band 5) — not bad! In fact, the average mark for Advanced hasn’t changed at all — it has consistently been 82 since 2016. Wow!
And what about Standard? The average mark is 70, or a Band 4 – over a whole one band difference! The average mark for Standard has only fluctuated a little bit the past five years, having been 69 in 2016 and 71 in 2020.
How likely is it that I’ll get a Band 6 in HSC Advanced English?
Okay, so we know the average mark is 82, but what’s your likelihood of scoring that Band 6? On average across the past five years, typically 14% of students who take Advanced English achieve a Band 6. That’s about 3 in 20 people!
What about the other Bands?
The majority of Advanced English students receive a Band 5 in the subject, in fact almost 50% of people who take Advanced get a Band 5! That is crazy big! The next largest group is Band 4, with 29% or 3 in 10 people.
You can view the rest of the Bands breakdown below!
Not sure what the difference is between the Bands for HSC English? Make sure you check out this article!
So what is the top ATAR I can get with these subjects?
This is really a trick question. The top ATAR you can score with any subject will be 99.95 since that’s the highest ATAR you can achieve.
For example, in HSC Advanced English, the highest ATAR achieved for a student taking the subject has always been 99.95. Every. Year.
BUT…
a 99.95 ATAR hasn’t always been achieved in every subject! For example, if we take a look at some other subjects, the highest average ATAR for people who take English Studies is 82.
Typically among the languages we see that it’s difficult to achieve a 99.95 ATAR, for example the average ATAR for students who take Armenian has been 96.40, or 82 for Portuguese. It can really vary!
And that’s it!
That’s a brief look into some of the most dropped subjects in the HSC! Good luck with your decision and your HSC!
Curious about the drop rates for other subjects?
Check out the stats and figures we’ve compiled for the following subjects:
- Advanced English
- Advanced Maths
- Biology
- Business Studies
- Chemistry
- Legal Studies
- PDHPE
- Standard Maths
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