The problems run deeper than the article suggests - HSC curriculum in virtually every subject is more or less a waste of time for better students. The best among them compete for that extra 0.1 on their UAI by rote learning complete garbage (e.g. compare 4U maths with "real" mathematics), instead of getting an actual education.
The only thing that goes on in years 11 and 12 is teaching to the exam, learning be damned.