Number and Algebra
Surds, indices, simultaneous equations and the linear function, plus the financial mathematics of compound interest.
- Index laws with zero and negative indices
- Scientific notation
- Surds and simplifying surds
NSW Mathematics Stage 5 (Year 9) syllabus strands, expressed in Dux teaching language. Dot points are our own phrasing, not syllabus prose.
Dux tracks each dot point separately, so “I did Mathematics Year 9” becomes a list of specific things you can already do and specific things you have never been asked. Open a module for all of its dot points, written out.
Surds, indices, simultaneous equations and the linear function, plus the financial mathematics of compound interest.
Trigonometry, similarity and circle and solid measurement - the geometry that Year 10 builds on.
Interpreting and comparing data displays, bivariate data, and probability with trees and two-way tables.
A Mathematics Year 9 paper is not one question type repeated. Each command word asks for a different shape of answer, and each is worth a different number of marks.
| Command word | Question type | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| calculate | Multiple choice | 1 |
| calculate | Calculation | 2–4 |
| explain | Short answer | 2–3 |
| identify | Multiple choice | 1 |
| justify | Extended response | 4–6 |
| solve | Calculation | 3–5 |
Year 9 Assessment Task Shape — 50 marks, 75 minutes. Practice papers in Dux are assembled to this shape rather than invented, so the timing is training too.
Diagnostic first, then questions written in the shape this course uses. Written answers come back marked against the bands, not just scored.