When it comes to picking your HSC subjects, one of the biggest decisions is whether to go for Advanced or stick with Standard. A lot of students lean towards Standard because it feels safer, but choosing Advanced Maths or English can actually be more worth it in the long run if you’re willing to put in the effort.

One of the main reasons is scaling. Advanced subjects tend to scale better than Standard ones. That means your marks can be adjusted more favourably when your ATAR is calculated. Even if you don’t get perfect marks, doing reasonably well in Advanced can often benefit you more than getting very high marks in Standard. It’s not just about how well you do, it’s also about the level of challenge in the course.

Advanced courses also prepare you better for Year 12 and beyond. The skills you build in Advanced English, like analysing texts and writing strong arguments, are much closer to what you’ll need for university. The same goes for Advanced Maths, which develops problem solving and critical thinking skills that carry over into a lot of different degrees.

There’s also the mindset shift. Choosing Advanced pushes you to step up. It encourages better study habits, more discipline and a deeper understanding of content. You’re not just memorising, you’re learning how to think.

That said, Advanced isn’t for everyone. If a subject is going to cause constant stress or you’re completely lost, then Standard might be the better option. But if you’re sitting on the fence and you’re capable, it’s usually worth challenging yourself.

At the end of the day, it’s about playing smart. Advanced subjects can give you an edge with scaling, build stronger skills and set you up better for the future. If you’re willing to put in the work, it can really pay off.

Eireyna Papinyan