HSC Maths Reference Sheet Advanced, Ext 1 & Ext 2
One official NESA reference sheet is shared by all three courses — here’s what applies to yours, and how to use it well.
NESA provides a single official reference sheet, shared across Mathematics Advanced, Extension 1 and Extension 2 — get it directly from NESA using the link above. It’s the same document regardless of which of the three courses you’re sitting, and it doesn’t label which section belongs to which course, so it’s easy to waste exam time scanning sections that aren’t relevant to you (Extension 2 content is still on Advanced students’ sheet, for example). This page explains what actually applies to each course, organised around real HSC content rather than the sheet’s own layout.
Official NESA Mathematics Advanced / Extension 1 / Extension 2 reference sheet (PDF) →
Reference Guide: Mathematics Standard uses its own separate NESA reference sheet — this page is for Advanced, Extension 1 and Extension 2, which share one document. Everything on the shared sheet is relevant to Advanced students except the Extension-only sections (combinatorics, vectors, complex numbers, mechanics). Extension 1 students additionally need combinatorics and vectors; Extension 2 students need all of it, including complex numbers and mechanics. Knowing which sections are actually yours saves real time flipping through the sheet in the exam.
Topics Covered
Common to all three courses (via Mathematics Advanced)
- Functions, trigonometric functions and identities
- Differential and integral calculus, including standard derivatives/integrals
- Exponential and logarithmic functions
- Statistical analysis (including the normal distribution) and financial mathematics
Extension 1 content (on the shared sheet, not needed by Advanced-only students)
- Combinatorics: permutations, combinations and the binomial theorem
- Vectors in two dimensions
- Further trigonometric identities used in Extension 1 proof and calculus questions
Extension 2 content (on the shared sheet, not needed by Advanced or Extension 1 students)
- Complex numbers, including polar/exponential form and De Moivre’s theorem
- Vectors in three dimensions
- Mechanics, including simple harmonic motion
Question Types
Section I: Multiple Choice
Practice 20-mark MCQ sections organised around NESA syllabus outcomes.
Section II: Short Answer
Build technique with 3–6 mark structured questions.
Section III: Extended Response
Practice 8–20 mark essays and structured responses.
Source Analysis
Interpret primary/secondary sources, data tables and stimulus material.
How Revizi Helps
NESA Syllabus Alignment
Questions are organised around NESA syllabus outcomes and content points.
Active Recall Revision
Flashcards test your knowledge using active recall — more effective than re-reading notes.
Performance Insights
Track accuracy across modules and question types to focus your remaining study time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Wasting exam time scanning Extension-only sections of the sheet when you’re only sitting Advanced
- Reaching for the wrong standard integral or derivative because two entries look similar in form
- Not distinguishing which trigonometric identity a question needs — compound-angle vs product-to-sum forms are both on the sheet
- Missing that Extension 2 students still need the Advanced and Extension 1 sections too — the sheet doesn’t separate them out by course
Study Tips
- Before your first past paper, go through the real reference sheet (linked above) once and mark which sections are actually relevant to your course — you’ll move faster in the real exam.
- Practise recognising which section a question is drawing from before you start solving — that’s the actual skill, since the sheet gives you the formula either way.
- Work through official NESA past papers using the real reference sheet under timed conditions so exam day isn’t the first time you’ve navigated it under pressure.
Related Practice Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one reference sheet for all HSC Maths courses?
Mathematics Advanced, Extension 1 and Extension 2 share one official NESA reference sheet (linked above). Mathematics Standard has its own separate reference sheet.
Does the sheet show which sections are for which course?
No — NESA’s sheet doesn’t label sections by course. Advanced students technically receive the same sheet as Extension 2 students, including sections they’ll never need (combinatorics, vectors, complex numbers, mechanics). See the breakdown above for what actually applies to your course.
Does Revizi host or reproduce NESA’s reference sheet?
No. Get the official sheet from NESA using the link on this page. Revizi’s content here is original — a course-by-course guide to which sections apply to you — not a copy of NESA’s document.
What’s the best way to practise using the reference sheet?
Work through official NESA past papers using the real reference sheet under timed conditions, focusing on the sections relevant to your course. Use Revizi’s topic practice to drill whichever area you’re weakest on.
Last updated: March 2026