Check out our tutor’s Faadil’s experience with HSC Maths Advanced and how he got a 98. Faadil has shared his most effective tips and strategies that helped him succeed, so you can put yourself in the best position to excel.
What score did you achieve in HSC Maths Advanced?
Mathematics Advanced was one of the most rewarding challenges of my HSC year. With focus, structure, and consistent guidance, I was fortunate to achieve a 98 in the subject.
How did you study for HSC Maths Advanced? What techniques did you use to study?
Scoring highly in Mathematics Advanced doesn’t come from last-minute cramming. It’s built on long-term systems of revision, reflection, and reinforcement. These are the techniques I relied on:
Topic consolidation via active recall. After learning a topic, I summarised it in my own words and then explained it aloud—either to a peer or to myself on a whiteboard. This revealed gaps far better than passively reviewing notes.
Progressive mixed-topic practice. I didn’t just study topics in isolation. Every few weeks, I created mock exams blending algebra, calculus, and probability. This helped train the mental agility needed for the actual HSC.
Error-based revision. I created a “problem bank” from past papers where I’d misstepped—then redid those questions a few weeks later. Seeing my past self improve over time was incredibly motivating.
What is your advice for HSC Maths Advanced School-Based Assessments?
Assessment tasks during the year are more than just a lead-up to the HSC—they shape your internal rank and expose areas for improvement early on. My advice for excelling in them:
Go beyond textbook problems. School tasks, especially investigative ones, often involve unfamiliar applications. Practise extension-style questions and look for real-world problems involving rates, optimisation, or trigonometric modelling.
Don’t treat tasks like isolated events. After every test or task, I reviewed not only what went wrong but also why. Did I misread the question? Was my algebraic manipulation too slow?
Investigative tasks require writing and reasoning. Don’t just give the correct solution—explain your method, show logical steps, and justify conclusions clearly. Teachers reward mathematical communication as much as they do calculation. Apex students I now work with often improve rapidly once they learn how to communicate their maths effectively, not just correctly.
What is your advice for HSC Maths Advanced students for the end of year exams?
In Year 12, I didn’t just “do” past papers—I studied them. Here’s what I recommend:
Keep a “mistake log.” Each time I got a question wrong, I would note the exact reason—careless arithmetic, misunderstood concept, rushed decision-making. This log became my most valuable revision tool leading up to trials and the HSC.
Work on timing strategies. I broke the paper into chunks and assigned each a strict time limit. For example, 15 minutes for Questions 1–5, 15 more for Questions 6–9, and so on.
Master the standard question types. Integration, graph sketching, proofs, and optimisation all tend to follow recurring patterns. Apex Education provides access to categorised question banks that mirror this structure, which I now use to help students build confidence one skillset at a time.
What resources did you use for HSC Maths Advanced?
Cambridge Year 12 Advanced Mathematics – A comprehensive textbook I used for both learning and practice.
Past trial papers – Especially from selective schools. These are typically more difficult than standard HSC questions and sharpen problem-solving.
My own summary sheets – One per topic, with formulas, common mistakes, visual guides, and strategy tips.
Apex Tuition Australia resources – now, as a tutor, I draw on Apex’s refined materials, topic-based drills, and walkthroughs to help my students target their weaknesses systematically.
How did you balance study with the rest of your life during HSC?
Maintaining wellbeing was a non-negotiable part of my success. Here’s what kept me balanced:
I structured my study into task-based goals. Instead of vague “study maths,” I had targets like “complete 2 integration sets” or “review inverse trig identities.”
Protected downtime—I always reserved one full evening a week for rest or social time. It made my study blocks more productive.
Exercise and sleep were non-negotiable. It’s impossible to solve a three-part calculus question when you’re burnt out. A healthy mind outperforms a tired one every time.
Some final words for students
If you’re a student reading this, remember: Mathematics rewards those who persist with clarity and curiosity. Don’t chase marks—chase mastery. Every difficult question you grapple with makes you stronger. Every mistake is a lesson in disguise.
And you’re not alone in that journey. At Apex Tuition Australia, we’re committed to helping students build not just results, but true confidence in mathematics. As someone who’s been in your position, and who now tutors students through the same process, I can tell you this:
You can do it—with the right support, the right systems, and the right mindset.
More information about Faadil
Faadil is a high-achieving medical student at UNSW, currently undertaking the Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine (BMed/MD) program. A graduate of Hurlstone Agricultural High School, he achieved an exceptional ATAR of 99.00 and was recognised as an HSC Premier’s All-Rounder for scoring Band 6 results in Mathematics Advanced (98), Mathematics Extension 1 (99), and English Advanced (98), among other subjects. Faadil has over five years of tutoring experience across Mathematics and English, and is especially skilled at helping students transform their academic performance — including one student who went from failing Year 11 Maths to consistently scoring over 90% within two terms. He is known for his ability to explain difficult concepts in simple, relatable terms, and his sessions are tailored to each student’s needs. Faadil ensures every lesson is supportive, structured, and engaging, empowering his students to build confidence and excel academically
If you would like to organise a session with a tutor like Faadil, please submit an application today.
