Choosing+an+HSC+Mathematics+Course

What courses are on offer?
Five HSC courses are offered:
 * Applied Mathematics,
 * General Mathematics,
 * Mathematics (previously called 2 Unit),
 * Mathematics Extension 1 - (previously called 3 Unit) this includes all the content in the Mathematics course,
 * Mathematics Extension 2 - (previously called 4 Unit) this includes all the content in the Mathematics and Mathematics Extension 1 courses.

What is the difference between the courses?

 * **Applied Mathematics** is a course designed to develop practical mathematics skills used in everyday life. The course includes project work and is assessed based on work done during the HSC year. There is no end of year exam for Applied Mathematics.
 * **General Mathematics** develops skills working with Financial Mathematics, Measurement, Data Analysis, Algebraic Modelling and Probability. The majority of students studying mathematics at HSC level in NSW are doing the General Mathematics course (around 30,000 in 2011).
 * **Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1** and **Mathematics Extension 2** introduce students to advanced mathematics concepts, making it a suitable course for students seeking to continue tertiary study of subjects requiring mathematics. The extension courses add more, and increasingly harder material to the course.

Which course is right for me?
Consider the following when deciding which course is most appropriate: <span style="background-color: #ffffdd; border-bottom-color: #9999aa; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: #9999aa; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: #9999aa; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: #9999aa; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; width: 90%;">The [Mathematics] course has general educational merit and is also useful for concurrent studies in science and commerce. It is a sufficient basis for further studies in mathematics as a minor discipline at tertiary level in support of courses such as the life sciences or commerce. Students who require substantial mathematics at a tertiary level supporting the physical sciences, computer science or engineering should undertake the 3 or 4 Unit courses.
 * **Your interest and commitment to mastering mathematics**. All these courses are intellectually demanding and require significant consistent effort. You will need to be self motivated to do the work, whatever level of mathematics you are studying.
 * **Your current achievement level in mathematics.** If you select a course that assumes knowledge you don't already have, you will find the course extremely challenging - creating a major additional workload for you.
 * **General Mathematics** assumes you have mastered most of the Year 9 and 10 Stage 5.2 course. While General Mathematics does not include calculus, it still requires a high level of mathematical proficiency.
 * **Mathematics and Mathematics Extension 1 courses** assume mastery of the Year 9 & 10 Stage 5.3 course. You should be able to work effectively and confidently with algebraic expressions, fractions and fractional indices.
 * Here is a list of the key concepts and skills you should have mastered by the end of Year 10 : [[file:Prerequisites.pdf]]
 * If you have not reached near full mastery of these prerequisites, you will find Mathematics and Mathematics Extension 1 extremely challenging and are advised not to select these courses.
 * Mathematics Extension 1 students performing at high levels of achievement in the Year 11 may apply to do the **Extension 2 course in Year 12**. Be aware this is an extremely challenging course.
 * **Your future study and employment after you leave high school**.
 * __Applied Mathematics does not contribute to an ATAR__ and thus will not help towards entry into a university. If you don't have the mathematics foundation required for General Mathematics and wish to pursue future tertiary education, it would be wiser to consider taking a different subject that will contribute to your ATAR.
 * If you are planning to do further studies at university, please consider the following statement from the Board of Studies in the 2 Unit/3 Unit syllabus document :

The [Mathematics Extension 1] course has general educational merit and is also useful for concurrent studies of science, industrial arts and commerce. It is a recommended minimum basis for further studies in mathematics as a major discipline at a tertiary level, and for the study of mathematics in support of the physical and engineering sciences. Although the 3 Unit course is sufficient for these purposes, it is recommended that students of outstanding mathematical ability should consider undertaking the [Mathematics Extension 2] course.
 * **Do not** choose a more challenging course because you believe it will scale better for the HSC/ATAR - this strategy doesn't work.
 * **Do not** choose a course because you want to be with your friends.
 * **Do** discuss your choices with the school careers officer, your parents and your teachers.