The New HSC Syllabus: What You Need to Know to Ace It!

BOSTES has been replaced by NESA. It’s out with the old and in with the new. This includes a brand new HSC syllabus for many HSC subjects.

But what does this new HSC Syllabus mean for you?

When will the new HSC Syllabus be implemented?

Most of the new HSC Syllabus will be rolled out in 2018-2020. This means that students who are in Year 11 in 2018, will be the first to be taught this new curriculum for certain subjects, and sit the new HSC syllabus in 2019.

Why have they implemented a new HSC syllabus?

There were a significant amount of complaints, from teachers, students and parents, about the previous stage 6 HSC syllabus. These issues ranged from assessment weighting, course structure and the time allowed to teach units.

According to NESA, the aims of this new HSC Syllabus are:

• To increase the number of students able to gain high marks in the HSC.
• To make the HSC more applicable to life in the real world.
• To encourage students to achieve the best possible results.
• To increase the focus on ‘acquisition of deep knowledge, understanding and skills for students’.

What are the big changes in the new HSC syllabus?

There are a few key changes to the HSC Syllabus that will have a big impact on the way Stage 6 is taught by teachers and experienced by students.

1. Assessments

NESA has released a paper which references evidence suggesting that high assessment loads can produce ‘fatigue’ in students, which is no surprise to us. In an effort to combat this NESA has restructured the assessment timetable for stage 6. They have put a limit on how many assessments a school can set for its year 11 and 12 students. That limit is now three per course in year 11 and four per course in year 12, including the trial exam.

2. HSC Questions

NESA really doesn’t like it when HSC students pre-prepare answers to HSC questions. So, to stop this happening they have announced a change in HSC questions. They warn us that, ‘HSC examination questions will be less predictable so students must apply their knowledge and skills in their answers’.

3. In-Depth Knowledge

Syllabuses have become shorter and certain topics have been cut, allowing for more in-depth learning within each course. This is a great change for students and teachers.

4. New Science Course

There is a new science subject which is being introduced which acts as an extension course. It’s called Investigating Science, and it essentially focusses on more advanced research and practice skills.

What has changed for English?

The basics of English will stay the same – texts and essays (sorry about that). But lots of other things will change.

The new HSC Syllabus for English will also give ‘opportunities to experience texts that give insight into a wide range of social, gender and cultural perspectives, including texts by and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’, Basically, NESA is catching up with the times, and that can’t be a bad thing.

HSC English Standard

• There will be a bigger focus on literacy skills. A new module will be introduced for both Advanced and Standard English called ‘The Craft of Writing’. That is a pretty practical module about essay and creative writing as well as things like sentence structure and grammar.
• There will now only be three prescribed texts, instead of four.
• The Area of Study is no more. Instead, they will be introducing a new module called ‘Texts and Human Experiences’ as a ‘Common Module’ across Standard and Advanced.
• Reading is going to be a big deal. Teachers will be given more time to teach each text and students will be expected to read their texts very thoroughly. There is also a sentence in the new syllabus which talks about ‘reading to write’. This basically means that writing skills will be taught by studying a wide variety of texts.

HSC English Advanced

• English Advanced students will still be expected to study texts which are ‘widely acknowledged as quality literature of past and contemporary societies’. This means Shakespeare is hanging around with Advanced students expected to study at least one Shakespearean play. Same deal for the Romantic Poets and Post Modern novelists.
• Texts and Human Experiences will replace the area of study for English Advanced too as a ‘Common Module’.
• There will be a Module A (Textual Conversations), and Module B (Critical Study), however there is a new Module C.
• ‘The Craft of Writing’ is the new Module C and it is studied in English Advanced, as well as Standard (although with different texts, so it’s not a ‘Common module’).
• There will still be four prescribed texts.

As you may have figured out, there are now two common modules for English Advanced and Standard. Both ‘The Craft of Writing’ and ‘Texts and Human Experiences’ will be studied across the board.

HSC English Extension 1 & 2

• The Extension One English HSC syllabus has remained pretty standard, with one big change. There is now a common module studied by all English Extension classes, ‘Literary Worlds’.
• This syllabus also says there will be more of a focus on research skills.
• The syllabus for English Extension Two has now put ‘requirements for monitoring the Major Work Journal’ in place. This doesn’t really tell us if the journal will now be marked or not, but it suggests that this could be a possibility.
• English Extension Two will now be marked according to composition, reflection and independent research outcomes as opposed to purely the merit of the major work. We think this is a great step forward in a highly subjective subject.

For a more in-depth review of the changes being made, check out our comprehensive guide to the NSW HSC English Curriculum changes here. 

What has changed for HSC Maths?

Since its release, the new Maths HSC syllabus has been an area of debate for teachers in NSW. In fact, the controversy it caused is the reason that NESA delayed its release date until 2019.

HSC General Maths

This will be rolled out in 2018 for students in Year 11, and will be sat in the 2019 HSC.

The first change is that the name has changed from ‘General’ to ‘Standard’ which is part of aligning it with the naming conventions for ‘Standard English’. Mathematics General has also been turned into two different courses: Mathematics Standard One and Mathematics Standard Two. Technically these courses existed before, but Mathematics Standard One was not a board developed course so it couldn’t be used to gain an ATAR – now it can!

Other than that, there are some more detailed changes too.

• A new module in Statistics has been added in for Standard Two. This sounds like it is going to be a bit tricky!
• There will be more of a focus on practical skills throughout the two Standard Mathematics courses. Things like measurement, finances and how to use certain digital tools will be taught.
• The course will build on algebra, geometry and statistics learnt in Stage 5.
• There are now six different skills which are explicitly taught in these courses: Understanding, Fluency, Communicating, Problem Solving, Reasoning and Justification.

HSC Advanced Mathematics

This is being rolled out for the first time for Year 11 students in 2019, who will be sitting the first HSC for Advanced Mathematics in 2020.

What are the main changes?

• There have been a number of topics removed from the Advanced Maths course including most of Basic Arithmetic, Algebra, Equations, Linear Function, Quadratic identities, Euclidean Geometry, Locus and Simpson’s Rule.
• Sums and Products of roots has been moved to Maths Ext 1
• The volume of solid of revolution has been moved to Maths Ext 1
• Exponential Growth and Decay in Applications of Calculus has been moved to Ext 1
• Sigma notation has been moved to Ext 2 Maths
• They have however added additional depth in Working with Functions and Measures of Angles in Trigonometry
• There is a stronger emphasis on the transformation of graphs in Trigonometric Functions and Graphs
• Series and Sequences are all now seen through a financial lens with new tables of interest factors from Maths Standard
• A bigger focus on Statistical Analysis, with new topics including Descriptive Statistics and Bivariate Data Analysis, Random Variables, and Descriptive Statistics
• They have added Matrix Operations and Applications, Probability and Probability Distributions
• Note they have moved Binomial Expansion (Probability) from Extension 1 course into Advanced Course.

HSC Extension 1 Mathematics

This is being rolled out for the first time for Year 11 students in 2019, who will be sitting the first HSC for Extension 1 Mathematics in 2020.

What are the main changes?

• Interval division formulae and angle between two lines/curves from Linear Functions has been removed
• Approximation of sin/tan near origin from Trigonometric Functions has been removed
• 3D Trig, Iterative Methods, and the majority of Binomial Theorem and Binomial identities have been removed
• In Functions, they have added Inequalities, quadratic inequalities, and absolute value inequalities from 2U course. Additionally much harder curve sketching from Extension 2 course while including Parametric Functions.
• In Polynomials, they have added Multiplicity of roots from 4U course
• In Vectors, they have introduced first-year university physics/algebra
• In Calculus, they have added all volumes of solids of revolution from 2U course as well as directional field and logistic curves
• Added a new topic called Binomial Distribution which includes first-year university, second-semester algebra

HSC Extension 2 Mathematics

This is being rolled out for the first time for Year 11 students in 2019, who will be sitting the first HSC for Extension 2 Mathematics in 2020.

What are the main changes?

• They have removed all Conics, including implicit differentiation, the entire Ext 2 polynomials topic (although some is retained in Ext 1 and some moved into Complex Numbers topics)
• They have also removed Volumes, Graphs and Curve Sketching (moving some elements to Ext 1) and Circular motion
• They have added a topic, ‘Further Work with Vectors’ which is new and draws upon 1st-year university maths/physics. This acts as an extension to 2U matrices
• Added Euler’s Formula to Complex Numbers topic
• Added a topic called Mechanics which includes Simple Harmonic Motion and Projectile Motion theory originally taught in Ext 1
• Added Proofs (The Nature of Proof, Deductive Proof, and Proof by Mathematical Induction), some of which was originally taught under Harder Ext 1

What has changed for HSC Science?

Science has probably had the biggest overhaul out of all the subjects, when it comes to content for the HSC syllabus. There is new content in most of the science courses. For example, new ‘inquiry questions’ have been added to the syllabus. These are supposed to encourage debate and in-depth thought. But the biggest change by far, is the introduction of an extension course for science called ‘Investigating Science’. Like most extension subjects this will focus on skills, methodology and the big philosophical questions surrounding science. Each course has its own specific changes.

HSC Biology

There are a bunch of new modules for HSC Biology including:

• Cells and chemical energy.
• Investigating extinction events.
• Paleontological and Geological investigations surrounding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
• Evidence of past changes in ecosystems.
• Single Nucleotide Polymorphism.
• Genetic drift.
• Disease as a disruption of homeostasis.
• Pharmaceuticals and the control of infectious diseases.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ protocols for medicines.

HSC Chemistry

The new Chemistry HSC syllabus includes more of a focus on applying mathematical principles to the study of Chemistry.

There are also new topics studied in HSC Chemistry covering things like:

• New types of notation.
• The Bohr and Schrodinger models.
• The Ideal Gas Law.
• Enthalpy and Hess’s Law.
• Entropy and Gibbs Free Energy.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ applications of chemical practices.
• Calculating the Equilibrium Constant.
• Analysis of organic compounds.

HSC Earth and Environmental Science

There are four new modules which have been added to Earth and Environmental Science.

• Geological mining.
• Issues of climate science.
• Mitigation strategies and increased focus on sustainability.

HSC Physics

Similarly to the new Chemistry HSC Syllabus, HSC Physics will have a bigger focus on Mathematical skills.

The new stuff studied in HSC Physics includes:

• Analysis of forces and motion in two dimensions using vectors.
• Standing waves.
• The Doppler effect.
• Elementary thermodynamics.
• Wave and quantum models of light.
• Study of the Standard Model of matter.

HSC Investigating Science

Investigating Science is that swanky new extension science subject we mentioned before. So far, this is what we know will be studied:

• Observing.
• A module called ‘Inferences and Generalisations’.
• Scientific Models.
• Theories and Laws.
• Scientific Investigations
• Technologies.
• Modules called ‘Fact or Fallacy’ and ‘Science and Society’ (Catchy, huh?).

For a more in-depth review of the changes being made, check out our comprehensive guide to the NSW Science Curriculum changes here. 

What has changed for HSC History?

For better or worse, the humanities seem to have escaped this syllabus make-over unchanged. That is of course, except History. Ancient History, Modern History and Extension History all have some pretty big changes in their structure and content.

HSC Ancient History

The core study, ‘Cities of Vesuvius – Pompeii and Herculaneum’, will remain the same. Other than that, a lot seems to have changed.

• The syllabus says that ‘historical concepts and skills are integrated’. There isn’t a lot of explicit content about historical skills in the current syllabus so it is a little hard to tell what this means. Our best guess is that things like analysing evidence and determining reliability will be more intertwined with each module.
• There will be more opportunities to study Asia-related topics as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories.
• Each topic will have a ‘Survey’ and a ‘Focus of Study’. These are pretty vague terms, but it sounds like the topics will be more structured.

HSC Modern History

Similarly to Ancient History, students of Modern History will still focus on National Studies and Peace and Conflict. However, there is a new core study ‘Power and Authority in the Modern World 1919-1946’.

• There will be a chance to study Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.
• A new requirement means that Modern History students must choose at least one non-Western or European topic.
• There is a greater focus on World War Two’s impact on the modern world.
• Just like Ancient History, this new syllabus will have a ‘Survey’ and a ‘Focus of Study’ for each topic.

HSC Extension History

Extension History is the most confusing subject offered for the HSC. The current syllabus is vague and too broad. However, it does offer a massive amount of creativity and independence. The new syllabus hopefully balances this while providing a little more structure.

• Key questions and case studies are now organised into sub-topics under Constructing History.
• There are more case studies available including some about ancient history and Asian studies.
• Within the case studies, there are now only three areas of debate, as opposed to five.
• The Source Book of Readings has been removed. Historiographical references will be more incorporated throughout the course.

The Bottom Line

As students, teachers and parents try to grapple with this new HSC syllabus, there are a couple of take-home points we want to share:

Lots of the aims of this overhaul are good. These include more in depth learning, more time for teachers, and more diverse subject matter. Keep these aims in mind when you’re feeling frustrated or confused.

 

The NSW hSC syllabus has changed many times over the years. There has been the good, the bad and the ugly. It is hard to tell what this new syllabus is going to look like, until it is fully implemented. But, you can rest assured that Art of Smart will be there for the ride.

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Brianna McClean studies Law and International Studies at the University of Sydney in between booking another ticket to a far off country. She’s a lover of all things literary – from Shakespeare to Plath. Occasionally she even indulges in some trashy TV (don’t tell anyone but she has seen every episode of Friends 11 times). While plane hopping and being a book-worm keep her pretty busy, she also loves helping high school students achieve great things.