The paper format is stable
Every reviewed paper is 100 marks, with 15 objective marks and 85 written-response marks. The number of question parts stays within a narrow range.
Practise: changing content emphasis inside a familiar paper structure.
Parisel Exam Insight
See how Mathematics Standard papers have changed
A student-friendly view of question patterns, syllabus coverage and response demands across seven recent NSW Mathematics Standard 2 papers.
Use these patterns to choose what to practise. They describe the papers reviewed; they do not predict the next paper.
7papers reviewed
2019–2025
2019–2025
277questions
reviewed
reviewed
5syllabus areas
to prioritise
to prioritise
Across the papers
Four patterns worth knowing
Data and visual interpretation are more prominent
Data-analysis and graphing parts rise from 15 marks in 2019 to 29 marks in 2025.
Practise: reading graphs, tables and displays, then explaining the result in context.
Modelling and algebra rotate in emphasis
Modelling moves up and down across the years, from 15 marks in 2021 to 35 marks in 2025. Algebra remains present as the context changes.
Practise: multi-step modelling and algebraic relationships, not only routine calculations.
Breadth and communication still matter
Core syllabus outcomes recur across the full review period. Strong responses need correct working, interpretation, units and sensible rounding.
Practise: communicating the reasoning as well as finding the answer.
Syllabus coverage
Where the marks have accumulated
reviewed across 2019–2025. A high total does not mean an area appears in the same form every year.
01
Measurement models
Practical two- and three-dimensional measurement problems.
99marks
02
Financial mathematics
Loans, annuities and financial decisions in changing contexts.
92marks
03
Communication and justification
Showing reasoning and explaining mathematical decisions clearly.
69marks
04
Networks
Shortest paths, spanning trees and critical-path reasoning.
68marks
05
Algebraic relationships
Representing changing quantities algebraically and graphically.
64marks
reviewed evidence
What strong responses tend to show
- They interpret the answer in the context of the question.
- They show formulas and working clearly enough to follow.
- They include units where the quantity has units.
- They round at the right point and to a sensible level of precision.
These are synthesised themes from the reviewed evidence reviewed for this pilot, not copied report text.
How to use this
Turn the pattern into practice
Start with a mixed paper. When you review it, sort missed marks by syllabus area and response demand—not only by topic.
Then choose another question that tests the same kind of thinking in a different context.
Best next move: practise data interpretation, modelling and written justification together.
Explore the pattern
See what changed from year to year
The same evidence can answer different student questions. Switch views without leaving the page.
reviewed marks for the five highlighted syllabus areas. Darker cells show greater reviewed weight within this view.
| Syllabus area | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measurement models | 20 | 21 | 14 | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 |
| Financial mathematics | 18 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 14 |
| Communication and justification | 9 | — | 1 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 11 |
| Networks | 9 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 12 |
| Algebraic relationships | 13 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
A blank cell means no reviewed mark was recorded for that highlighted area in that year. reviewed marks can overlap when a question connects to more than one area.
Question labels connected to each highlighted syllabus area. A question can appear in more than one row.
| Syllabus area | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measurement models | Q1 · Q12 · Q16 · Q17 · Q18(a) · Q18(b) · Q22 · Q35 · Q41(b) | Q16(a) · Q16(b) · Q23(b) · Q27(a) · Q27(b) · Q31(a) · Q31(b) · Q31(c) · Q32 | Q14 · Q32(a) · Q32(b) · Q37 · Q39(a) · Q39(b) | Q8 · Q26 · Q28 · Q32(a) · Q32(b) · Q33(a) · Q33(b) · Q33(c) · Q34 | Q27(a) · Q27(b) · Q33 · Q35 | Q40 | Q14 · Q35 · Q37 |
| Financial mathematics | Q3 · Q6 · Q7 · Q9 · Q13 · Q21 · Q27 · Q29 · Q37 · Q42 | Q4 · Q11 · Q14 · Q21 · Q22 · Q29 · Q34(a) · Q34(b) · Q37 | Q4 · Q5 · Q26(a) · Q26(b) · Q30 · Q31 · Q40 | Q10 · Q11 · Q25(a) · Q25(b) · Q27(a)(i) · Q27(a)(ii) · Q27(b) · Q36(a) | Q10 · Q25(a) · Q25(b) · Q29(a) · Q29(b) · Q32(a) | Q20(a) · Q20(b) · Q21(a) | Q18 · Q23 · Q27 · Q34 · Q36 |
| Communication and justification | Q26(b) · Q32 · Q39 | — | Q15 | Q23(b) · Q30(a) · Q30(b) · Q35 · Q36(b) | Q5 · Q14 · Q18 · Q21(a) · Q26(b) · Q28 · Q31(a) · Q31(b) · Q34(c) | Q18(b) · Q21(b) · Q25 · Q27 · Q29 · Q30 · Q39(a) · Q39(b) · Q39(c) | Q19(c) · Q21(b) · Q22(b)(i) · Q22(b)(iii) · Q25(d) · Q34 · Q40(b) |
| Networks | Q26(a) · Q30(a) · Q30(b) · Q40(a) · Q40(b) | Q9 · Q18(a) · Q18(b) · Q26(a) · Q26(b) · Q26(c) · Q30(a) · Q30(b) | Q2 · Q23(a) · Q23(b) · Q36(a) · Q36(b) · Q36(c) | Q3 · Q20(a) · Q20(b) · Q31(a) · Q31(b) · Q31(c) | Q17(a) · Q17(b) · Q19(a) · Q19(b) | Q4 · Q16(a) · Q16(b) · Q18(a) | Q1 · Q3 · Q19(a) · Q19(b) · Q19(c) · Q22(a) · Q22(b)(i) · Q22(b)(ii) · Q22(b)(iii) |
| Algebraic relationships | Q14 · Q31(a) · Q31(b) · Q33(b) · Q34(a) · Q34(b) · Q36(b) | Q3 · Q19(a) · Q19(b) · Q24(b) · Q24(c) · Q33(a) · Q33(b) | Q10 · Q13 · Q24(c) · Q34 · Q35(a) | Q9 · Q24(a) · Q24(b) | Q20(a) · Q20(b) · Q21(a) · Q21(b) · Q21(c) · Q22(a) · Q22(b) | Q9 · Q14 · Q22 · Q26 | Q11 · Q20(a) · Q20(b) · Q30 · Q39 |
Question IDs are the labels a student sees on the paper; question labels are not shown.
The top one to three highlighted syllabus areas by section and year. Numbers in brackets are reviewed marks in that section.
| Section | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section I Objective | Financial (5) Measurement (2) Algebra (1) | Financial (3) Networks (1) Algebra (1) | Financial (2) Algebra (2) Networks (1) | Financial (2) Networks (1) Measurement (1) | Communication (2) Financial (1) | Algebra (2) Networks (1) | Networks (2) Measurement (1) Algebra (1) |
| Section II Written response | Measurement (18) Financial (13) Algebra (12) | Measurement (21) Financial (15) Networks (12) | Measurement (13) Financial (11) Networks (8) | Measurement (21) Communication (13) Networks (10) | Communication (15) Measurement (11) Financial (11) | Communication (18) Networks (6) Algebra (6) | Financial (14) Communication (11) Networks (10) |
Labels are shortened for readability. These are reviewed syllabus signals, not official section allocations.
Next step
Practice resources for this subject
Use the patterns above to choose what to practise, then open a relevant Parisel practice pack.