Many students find it difficult to determine which year 11 mathematics course is best for them, Maths Extension 1 being one of the most contemplated units. Since this is the first time you may be asked to make a decision based on your skill level, it is important to make the right call. Is it too hard? Will I be able to do well in it? Does it scale well? Will I enjoy it? These were some of the questions that were playing around in my mind while I was deciding which subjects to pick. 

Hopefully this article will clarify some things about Maths Extension 1 and help you pick the right mathematics course. Let’s start by introducing some of the course information.

MATHS EXTENSION 1







How many units is this course?

3 units:

  • 2 units of Maths Advanced must be taken alongside Extension 1 and students must sit the HSC for advanced as well as extension 1.

  • 1 unit for Maths Extension 1

  • Another 1 unit course such as Studies of Religion 1 unit or Sports, Lifestyle and Recreation for e.g. must be taken to balance the uneven number of units. You can drop this unit. 

  • Maths Extension 2, which is the highest stage 6 mathematics course, can only be taken in year 12 if Maths Extension 1 is taken.

  • If you pick up Maths Extension 2 in year 12, you no longer have to sit the HSC for Maths Advanced, and now your total maths units are 4 units instead of 3.

Year 11 Maths Extension 1 topics (remember you also have to do Maths Advanced so those topics are separate from the extension 1 course; these topics can be subject to syllabus change)

  • Further Functions

  • Trigonometric Functions

  • Calculus

  • Combinatorics

Year 12 Maths Extension 1 topics (remember you also have to do Maths Advanced/can do Extension 2 so those topics are separate from the extension 1 course; these topics can be subject to syllabus change)

  • Proof - Mathematical Induction

  • Further Calculus

  • Trigonometric Functions

  • Statistical Analysis

  • Vectors

Check out this free article for more detail on the topics: https://atarnotes.com/articles/2021/02/04/new-maths-ext-1-syllabus

Is Maths Extension 1 helpful in university?

Many university degrees such as finance, computer science, engineering, physics, or other sciences require Maths Advanced or Maths Extension 1/2 as prerequisites. This means that doing Maths Extension 1 will make certain introductory courses in uni much easier since you will already be introduced and used to some topics from beforehand. 

Year 9/10 Maths

Even though the topics in Maths Extension 1 are separate and totally different from stage 5 maths, it is important that you did well in stage 5 mathematics. Extension 1 is a course ideal for students who did Maths Advanced in years 9 and 10, and were able to cope well with that.

Scaling

Maths Extension 1 definitely scales higher than all other year 11 maths courses and so many other subjects in general. It is obvious that the harder the subject, the better it scales. But this does not mean you select your subjects based solely on the scaling. Subject selection is more based on your individual capability. Will you be able to keep up with the pace and difficulty level? I personally picked high-scaling subjects and was able to keep up with the difficulty, however, I did fall behind. Today I wish I had picked some easier subjects and performed super well in those rather than pick all the tough things and do okay okay in it. 

Difficulty

Like previously mentioned, Maths Extension 1 isn’t easy! But I would not like to say it is super hard or not doable. It is very doable, new and fun - for me, Maths Extension 1 had to be my most favourite out of Maths Advanced, Extension 1 and Extension 2; the topics were much more applicable and interesting personally. If you did well in stage 5 maths advanced, you should be able to do well in Maths Extension 1. Furthermore, this course does require some extra time and attention since the topics are extremely fresh and unheard of in earlier years of high school. Doing your homework, trying past papers/harder questions and asking the teacher for clarification for each topic is the bare minimum you can do to do well in the course. If you have higher expectations, you need to put in more effort. “Will I be able to do this?” is something to ask yourself.

Relevance

Is doing Maths Extension 1 something that is important for you? Is it something you know you will be able to do well in? Is it something you will enjoy? Is it something that will help you in your later academic life? Two main things to ask yourself are: will you be good at this? and will you ever need it?. If the answer to any of these two is “yes”, then go for it! HSC is like a game, you need to know where you stand and how well you can fulfil your given tasks. If something is really interesting to you but you know you won’t be able to do well, I suggest not to do it. You can always pursue it later in university but HSC is more about giving your best. 

One more thing that might convince you to pick Maths Extension 1 is to know whether the degree you want to pursue in uni requires it as a prerequisite or not. Most students have an idea by now what they want to pursue, but even if you don’t, that’s okay and it’s worth having a quick research and having options ready. If you already know, then make sure you are aware of the entry requirements for your chosen field of study. Below are some examples.

USYD Bachelor of Psychology:

UNSW Bachelor of Engineering:Here’s a website that lists the degrees in University of Sydney that have maths entry requirements: https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/applying/how-to-apply/undergraduate/mathematics-prerequisite.html

Skills

You must have a good algebraic foundation and be able to link concepts well in Maths Extension 1. This course at many times is a bringing together of basic things you have learnt before, just a more complicated application and combination of new ideas. You must be able to decipher and do difficult questions that have not previously been encountered. Remember, it isn’t hard, it’s just new! Most of the time, even the harder questions just test your basic knowledge but you need to learn how to read the wording of the question and apply your learnt knowledge proficiently. Remember, everything you learnt in year 11 will also be tested in year 12, so you must be confident with and continue mastering things you learnt in year 11 Maths Extension 1 if you wish to keep the subject in year 12. Being disciplined, keeping track of your strengths and weaknesses and asking questions to strengthen your understanding and learn new things is also helpful in this course.

Hopefully this article made some things clearer for you regarding Maths Extension 1. All the best for your studies and remember to ask for help whenever you are confused with what subjects to select. Even if you do end up making the wrong decision, it is okay! You can always drop the subject, but you should avoid doing this since it can really waste your time and lower your confidence, by going in the right direction from the very start. This is one of the most important decisions you will make throughout high school so don’t compromise!