QCAA Specialist Mathematics Performance

Overall average 64.3%14,446 questions answered2026 data

Score by Unit & Topic

Full syllabus

Further complex numbers, proof, vectors and matrices

68.7%
Further complex numbers
56.6%
Mathematical induction and trigonometric proofs
61.7%
Vectors in two and three dimensions
58.4%
Vector calculus
57.4%
Further matrices
88%

Further calculus and statistical inference

57.6%
Integration techniques
63.9%
Applications of integral calculus
65.5%
Rates of change and differential equations
61%
Modelling motion
52.1%
Statistical inference
52.7%

Score by Past Paper

2026 data

2025 P1
69.9%
2025 P2
48%
2024 P1
77.7%
2024 P2
55.5%
2023 P1
68.2%
2023 P2
61.9%
2022 P1
65.8%
2022 P2
40.1%
2021 P1
64.9%
2021 P2
48.3%
2020 P1
62.8%
2020 P2
68.3%

Score by Question Type

2026 data

Assignment
90.6%
Multiple Choice
58.2%
Short Answer
56.6%

Cognitive Verb Performance

2026 data

Calculate
60.6%
Describe
100%
Determine
56.2%
Develop
90.6%
Differentiate
0%
Estimate
32.9%
Evaluate
25.9%
Explain
25%
Express
60%
Identify
66.7%
Justify
33.3%
Label
70.6%
Model
50%
Modify
100%
Prove
56.9%
Provide
100%
Show
68.5%
Sketch
73.3%
Solve
54.3%
State
73.8%
Write
37.5%

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 (52.1%), Statistical inference (52.7%), Further complex numbers (56.6%). 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 (88%), Applications of integral calculus (65.5%), Integration techniques (63.9%).
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, Prove, Show, State. Practising responses to these verbs is a high-impact study strategy.

Ready to practise QCAA Specialist Mathematics?

Get instant AI feedback on past exam questions, aligned to the syllabus

Start Practising Free