"From HSC 2020, NESA will begin reporting HSC marks for Mathematics Standard and Mathematics Advanced on a common scale. This change was introduced by NESA in part to "[disincentivise] capable students who deliberately choose easier courses for a perceived ATAR advantage".
This change means that HSC students of comparable quality from previous years may not achieve similar HSC marks when being assessed on the common Mathematics scale.
How does this affect ATAR and ATAR scaling? Rather than UAC determining the relative scaling, NESA is taking this into account within the HSC mark itself. Under the new common scale, a student scoring a HSC mark of 70 in Mathematics Standard is intended to be directly comparable in mathematical ability to a student scoring a HSC mark of 70 in Mathematics Advanced. Because of this, UAC will combine both Mathematics course and scale it as a single course.
Should I study Mathematics Advanced or Standard? The relative scaling between Mathematics Standard and Mathematics Advanced is now only determined by the cohort's performance in the common sections of the Mathematics exam, rather than the cohort's overall performance in all other courses. Due to a range of factors, the performance of Mathematics Advanced students in the common exam sections will likely be significantly better than those studying Mathematics Standard. For example, students who study extension Mathematics courses are required to study Mathematics Advanced as a prerequisite. This means students who are capable of studying Mathematics Advanced should avoid studying Mathematics Standard as it risks placing them at a disadvantage on the common scale."
This change means that HSC students of comparable quality from previous years may not achieve similar HSC marks when being assessed on the common Mathematics scale.
How does this affect ATAR and ATAR scaling? Rather than UAC determining the relative scaling, NESA is taking this into account within the HSC mark itself. Under the new common scale, a student scoring a HSC mark of 70 in Mathematics Standard is intended to be directly comparable in mathematical ability to a student scoring a HSC mark of 70 in Mathematics Advanced. Because of this, UAC will combine both Mathematics course and scale it as a single course.
Should I study Mathematics Advanced or Standard? The relative scaling between Mathematics Standard and Mathematics Advanced is now only determined by the cohort's performance in the common sections of the Mathematics exam, rather than the cohort's overall performance in all other courses. Due to a range of factors, the performance of Mathematics Advanced students in the common exam sections will likely be significantly better than those studying Mathematics Standard. For example, students who study extension Mathematics courses are required to study Mathematics Advanced as a prerequisite. This means students who are capable of studying Mathematics Advanced should avoid studying Mathematics Standard as it risks placing them at a disadvantage on the common scale."