Is Year 10 a ‘bludge’ year?
Year 10 is often called a “bludge” year by students, but teachers like to think of it as a ‘stepping stone’ year: an opportunity to try out the subjects you think you might like to continue with, without any real academic pressure.
At the end of Year 10, students will also need:
- Choose which level of English you wish to take (Extension English, English Advanced, or English Standard)
- Choose which level you Maths you plan to take (Maths Extension, Maths Advanced or Maths Standard) – maths is required for year 10, but you can drop it in year 11.
- Choose 2-4 subjects for your HSC pathway
Year 11 subject selection: The Most important decision of Year 10
The subject selection process for Year 11 is one of the most consequential decisions a Year 10 student will make.
The subjects chosen now will determine which HSC courses are available to them, which university degrees they can apply for, and how their ATAR is calculated.
Things to conside include:
- Standard vs Advanced Mathematics: Students who wish to pursue engineering, commerce, science, or medicine at university should strongly consider Maths Advanced or Maths Extension 1. Students who find maths challenging but need it for their degree may be better served by Maths Standard.
Read our resource that covers the Difference between Maths Standard and Maths Advanced - English: All students must study English in Year 11 and 12. The choice between English Standard and English Advanced affects ATAR scaling. Students with strong literacy skills who are comfortable with analytical writing should consider English Advanced.
Read our resource that covers the Difference between English Standard and English Advanced. - Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics each have distinct demands. Students should choose based on genuine interest and career alignment, not just perceived difficulty.
- Elective subjects: History, Geography, Economics, Legal Studies, Business Studies, and the Arts all offer strong ATAR scaling opportunities for students who engage with them seriously.
The decisions made in Year 10, around subject selection for Years 11 and 12, will help you decide on the subjects you wish to continue with or those subjects you never want to see again!
Do I need to do Maths Advanced?
This is a question we hear so often at Olympus Learning.
It’s a good idea to check if you need to take a level of Maths higher than Maths Standard 2 for the university course you are interested in.
Maths Advanced (or equivalent) is typically required or heavily recommended for university degrees in STEM, finance, and advanced IT.
Key courses requiring this level of maths include:
- Engineering,
- Advanced Computing,
- Pharmacy,
- Actuarial Studies,
- Physics,
- and some Science or Commerce majors.
Universities usually have a list of courses that require Maths Advanced available on their websites.
Time to build confidence
It’s best to start Year 11 feeling confident about your chosen subjects and have the skills you need to start the year on a forward footing. Before you know it, your HSC will be starting!
At Olympus Learning, we work with Year 10 students to help them overcome the challenges they have been experiencing in core subjects, so that they can make great subject level choices in Year 10.
Work experience: making the most of It
Work experience is a compulsory component of the NSW curriculum for most Year 10 students and involves spending 1 week in a workplace relevant to a career area of interest.
When it happens in the school year varies from school to school, but planning for it starts early in the year (e.g. Reddam usually has it mid November but planning starts in May!)
TIP: If you don’t know when it is, find out straight away as your child will need to start planning.
For many students, work experience is the first real-world signal about what they enjoy and what they want to pursue. It can also be a powerful tool in helping students make their Year 11 subject selections.
A student who discovers a passion for healthcare during work experience may decide to prioritise Biology and Chemistry as Year 11 subjects — both of which require strong foundations.
Specific opportunities vary by employer and school, often requiring applications in early 2026, such as The Australian Museum (closes April 24, 2026) or Taronga Zoo (applications open Oct 2026).
Schools typically require placements to be confirmed well in advance, and competitive placements in fields like law, medicine, and engineering fill quickly.
How Olympus Learning Supports Year 10 Students
Our tutors (who are mentors) work with Year 10 students in two key ways:
- First, we provide subject-specific tutoring to ensure students are performing at their best in their current courses — particularly in English and Mathematics, where strong Year 10 performance is the best predictor of Year 11 success and will help students choose the level they wish to continue with.
- Second, we partner with career counsellors to offer structured subject selection and career planning sessions. Find out more
If your child is uncertain about which subjects to choose, or if they need support in any of their current Year 10 subjects, now is the time to act.
Contact Olympus Learning today to book a tutoring session.