NB: Repeated factors for partial fractions are not in the HSC course. Although they can ask something similar. eg. giving you the form of the partial fractions and asking you to find the unknown coeffs.
They do some HSC topics in their prelim course, by looking at a lot of their past exams... Not sure if they substitute the topics though (ie. swap some prelim and HSC courses around).
In 3 unit you do more topics. In my opinion it's not THAT much harder. It literally is an extension of the work you do in 2U.
And yes you need to be good with your algebra.
Coroneos 4U supplement has the best questions for mechanics. They take questions from there for the HSC exam.
Apparently Patel is good for mechanics too...