Revised HSC examination specifications and internal assessment requirements for the Stage 6 mathematics courses were advised in May 2011 (BOS 17/11) and commenced from Term 4, 2011 for Year 12 students sitting the 2012 HSC examinations.

The revised examination specifications and internal assessment requirements include:

• Objective response sections for the Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1 and Mathematics Extension 2 HSC examination papers
• A reduction in total mark value for these examinations while retaining the current time allocation for each examination
• A minor amendment to the mark values of the two sections of the General Mathematics examination paper
• Revised assessment components and weightings.

It is required that the assessment tasks used to determine students’ HSC internal assessment marks for submission to the Board comply with the components and weightings specified. These components and weightings for each of the Stage 6 mathematics courses are:

• Concepts, skills and techniques 50%
• Reasoning and communication 50%

The revised HSC examination specifications and internal assessment requirements are outlined in full in the documents: Assessment and Reporting in General Mathematics Stage 6 and Assessment and Reporting in Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1 and Mathematics Extension 2 Stage 6. These documents are available for download from the HSC Syllabuses page of the Board’s website and include advice on the assessment of Year 11 students in the respective preliminary courses, from Term 1, 2012.

Support materials for the revised HSC examination specifications and internal assessment requirements (including sample objective-response questions) are also available from the HSC Syllabuses page.

For more information:
Peter Osland
Inspector, Mathematics
(02) 9367 8103
peter.osland@bos.nsw.edu.au