QCAA Specialist Mathematics Performance

Overall average 65.7%17,289 questions answered2026 data

Score by Unit & Topic

Full syllabus

Further complex numbers, proof, vectors and matrices

69%
Further complex numbers
59.1%
Mathematical induction and trigonometric proofs
65.8%
Vectors in two and three dimensions
60.8%
Vector calculus
62.1%
Further matrices
86.6%

Further calculus and statistical inference

60.9%
Integration techniques
67.3%
Applications of integral calculus
65.4%
Rates of change and differential equations
62.7%
Modelling motion
53.4%
Statistical inference
62.8%

Score by Past Paper

2026 data

2025 P1
69.9%
2025 P2
65.5%
2024 P1
74.7%
2024 P2
62.6%
2023 P1
68.4%
2023 P2
69.6%
2022 P1
72.4%
2022 P2
52.9%
2021 P1
70.6%
2021 P2
61.5%
2020 P1
65.4%
2020 P2
72.1%

Score by Question Type

2026 data

Assignment
90.6%
Multiple Choice
59.8%
Short Answer
63.9%

Cognitive Verb Performance

2026 data

Calculate
66.7%
Describe
93.8%
Determine
64.4%
Develop
90.6%
Differentiate
0%
Draw
0%
Estimate
42%
Evaluate
48%
Explain
49%
Express
63.6%
Identify
91.7%
Justify
51.4%
Label
48.6%
Model
50.8%
Modify
94.1%
Prove
65.7%
Provide
57.1%
Represent
100%
Show
71.4%
Sketch
59%
Solve
56.9%
State
76.7%
Write
61.1%

Study Guides

QCE Specialist Mathematics IA1 Problem-Solving and Modelling Task: How to Get Top Marks in 2026The four QCE Specialist Mathematics IA1 criteria, the rebuilt Evaluate descriptors, and the evaluation structure QCAA reproduced as a worked example.QCE Specialist Mathematics IA2 and IA3 Examinations: How to Get Top Marks in 2026How QCE Specialist Mathematics IA2 and IA3 are marked: the percentage cut-off ladder, the cued-approach rule, and what each paper may assume.QCE Specialist Mathematics Hardest Topics: Where Students Lose the Most MarksAverage scores in QCE Specialist Mathematics by past paper, topic, question type and command verb, plus the high-weight low-score revision list.QCE Specialist Mathematics Most Tested Topics: What the QCAA Exams CoverMarks by topic and dot point across 12 QCAA Specialist Mathematics external papers, 2020 to 2025, plus the question type and cognitive verb mix.
All Specialist Mathematics guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hardest QCAA Specialist Mathematics topics?
Based on student performance on AusGrader in 2026, the hardest QCAA Specialist Mathematics topics are Modelling motion (53.4%), Further complex numbers (59.1%), Vectors in two and three dimensions (60.8%). Focus your revision on these areas for the biggest score improvement.
What are the easiest QCAA Specialist Mathematics topics?
Based on student performance on AusGrader in 2026, the highest-scoring QCAA Specialist Mathematics topics are Further matrices (86.6%), Integration techniques (67.3%), Mathematical induction and trigonometric proofs (65.8%).
What are the most common command words in QCAA Specialist Mathematics exams?
The most frequently tested command words in QCAA Specialist Mathematics are Determine, Develop, Show, Prove, State. Practising responses to these verbs is a high-impact study strategy.

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