A guide to the new Australian Curriculum
(Version 9.0)
Mathematics Years 7–10
This guide has been produced by the expert team of mathematics teachers, authors and publishers at Oxford University Press.
It contains a clear, concise overview of the key changes to the structure and content of the Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0) and is designed to save you time and help you plan and implement the new curriculum with confidence.
Why is the Australian Curriculum Mathematics changing?
The Australian Curriculum is reviewed by ACARA every 6 years and the 2020–2021 review resulted in the Australian Curriculum, Version 9.0.
The review was conducted to ensure the curriculum was up to date, had a strong evidence base, and matched the high standards expected in other high-performing countries.
According to ACARA, ‘Australian Curriculum, Version 9.0 is a more stripped-back and teachable curriculum that identifies the essential content our children should learn’.
In mathematics, there is a stronger focus on students mastering the essential mathematical facts, skills, concepts and processes, and being introduced to these at the right time.
The new Australian Curriculum Mathematics has been designed around the assumption that students will study mathematics in each year of schooling from Foundation to Year 10, but state and territory approaches differ, so check with the curriculum or education authority before finalising your teaching programs. For more detailed information on the changes to Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0), visit the Australian Curriculum website (australiancurriculum.edu.au).
KEY FACTS
In May 2022, an updated version of Australian Curriculum Mathematics for Years 7–10 (known as Version 9.0) was released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
From Term 1 2023, schools around Australia will begin to implement the Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0), most according to their own state and territory timelines.
Schools in some states and territories will be required to adopt the new curriculum in its entirety, while curriculum bodies in other states and territories will adapt the new curriculum and integrate it into their existing state curricula.
Regardless of the approach taken in your state, the Australian Curriculum forms the basis of all state and territory curricula, so this change will affect many aspects of teaching and learning across Australia.
How is the structure changing?
The basic structure of the Australian curriculum remains unchanged, but most of the content descriptions and achievement standards have changed
The structure of Version 9.0 is still three-dimensional – meaning it includes Learning areas, General capabilities and Cross-curriculum priorities as shown in the table below:
Content was previously organised under 3 paired strands, 13 sub-strands and 4 separate proficiency strands.
Learning areas
The essential knowledge, understandings and skills that students should learn in 8 learning areas.
• English
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Health and Physical Education
General capabilities
The knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions required to live and work successfully.
• Critical and creative thinking
• Digital literacy
• Ethical understanding
Cross-curriculum priorities
Priorities that reflect national, regional and global contexts.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
• Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
• Languages
• Intercultural understanding
• Mathematics
• Science
• Technologies
• The Arts
• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Personal and Social Capability
Overall, there is a much greater emphasis on the cross-curriculum priority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.
The strands have changed
Old strands (Version 8.4)
New strands (Version 9.0)
• Sustainability Statistics and Probability Statistics
Content structure has now been simplified to 6 strands. All sub-strands have been removed. Proficiency strands are now embedded into the content descriptions.
How is the content changing?
The following table provides a brief overview of the key content that is changing in Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0) at Years 7–10.
Only content that has been added, moved or removed is listed here. Many other content descriptions have been refined or combined.
More detail on all content and assessment changes, together with course planners, scope and sequence charts, teaching programs, lesson plans, and assessment support will be available for schools implementing the Australian Curriculum with Oxford resources.
Year
7
What’s been added or moved?
• Representing natural numbers in expanded notation AC9M7N03
• Solving problems involving the volume of right prisms AC9M7M02
• The relationship between π and features of a circle AC9M7M03
• Designing and creating algorithms to sort and classify sets of shapes AC9M7SP04
• Commenting on the shape, centre and spread of numerical data displays AC9M7ST02
• The effect of individual data values on the mean and median AC9M7ST02
• Planning and conducting statistical investigations involving discrete and numerical variable AC9M7ST03
• Conducting repeated chance experiments and running simulations, comparing predictions with observed results AC9M7P02
8
• Solving one-variable inequalities using graphical and algebraic techniques AC9M8A02
What’s been removed?
• Identifying and investigating issues involving numerical data collected from primary and secondary sources ACMSP169
• Features of circles ACMMG197
• Calculating the area of composite shapes AC9M8M01
• Introduction to Pythagoras’ theorem AC9M8M06
• Describing the position and location of objects in 3 dimensions AC9M8SP03
• Designing and creating algorithms that identify congruency or similarity of shapes AC9M8SP04
• Planning and conducting statistical investigations involving samples of a population AC9M8ST04
• Conducting repeated chance experiments and running simulations to determine probabilities for compound events AC9M8P03
• The effect of individual data values on the mean and median ACMSP207 9
• Expanding binomial products and factorising monic quadratic expressions AC9M9A02
• Graphing quadratic functions AC9M9A04
• Calculating and interpreting absolute, relative and percentage errors in measurements AC9M9M04
• Designing and creating algorithms based on geometric constructions and theorems AC9M9SP03
• Analysing how different sampling methods can affect the results of surveys AC9M9ST02
• Choosing appropriate forms of display for a given type of data AC9M9ST04
• Conducting repeated chance experiments and running simulations to determine probabilities for compound events AC9M9P03
• Solving problems involving simple interest ACMNA211
• Sketching linear graphs using two points and solving linear equations ACMNA215
• Introduction to Pythagoras’ theorem ACMMG222
Year What’s been added or moved?
What’s been removed? 10
• Recognising the effect of using approximations of real numbers in repeated calculations AC9M10N01
• Solving linear inequalities and graphing solutions as a region on the Cartesian plane AC9M10A02
• Interpreting and using logarithmic scales in applied contexts AC9M10M02
• Identifying the impact of measurement errors AC9M10M04
• Introduction to networks AC9M10SP02
• Planning and conducting statistical investigations involving bivariate data AC9M10ST05
10 Optional
YEAR 10: OPTIONAL CONTENT (PREVIOUSLY 10A)
• Simplifying expressions involving simple algebraic fractions (Algebra)
• Approximating instantaneous rate of change using increasingly small line segments (Measurement)
• Apply combinatorial principles and notation to probability (Probability)
• Expanding binomial productions and factorising monic quadratic expressions ACMNA233
• Solving linear inequalities and graphing solutions on a number line ACMNA236
• Substituting values into formulas to determine an unknown ACMNA234
• Solving problems involving parallel and perpendicular lines ACMNA238
• Solve linear equations involving simple algebraic fractions ACMNA240
• Investigating polynomials and the remainder and factor theorems ACMNA266
• Graphing polynomials and describing their features ACMNA268
• Solving simple exponential equations ACMNA270
• Applying Pythagoras’ theorem and trigonometry in three-dimensional problems ACMMG276
• Investigating bivariate data sets ACMSP279
Other changes across Years 7–10
• Achievement standards have been refined across Years 7–10 and are presented in a more consistent structure.
• Increased emphasis on the cross-curriculum priority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.
• Content descriptions have been combined and refined across Years 7–10 so that they more clearly express what’s expected.
• Links to the Numeracy general capability progression have been strengthened in content descriptions and elaborations.
• New elaborations have been added and others refined to give a range of quality suggestions for teachers.
When will the Australian Curriculum (Version 9.0) be implemented in my state or territory?
Education authorities in different states and territories around Australia will determine the timeline for the implementation of the new Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0).
Information specific to each state and territory can be found in the table. All information provided was correct at the time of printing. Please confirm your approach with the education authority in your state or territory prior to implementation.
State or territory Mathematics 7–10
Australian Capital Territory
• All government, independent and Catholic schools in the ACT are required to adopt the Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0) at Years 7–10 from Term 1, 2024.
For more information visit: ACT Education Directorate
New South Wales
• NESA is currently undertaking a review of existing curriculum in NSW. It’s likely they will incorporate some or all of the Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0) content as part of that review.
• All government, independent and Catholic schools in NSW will be required to implement the new NSW Curriculum Mathematics at Years 7–10 from Term 1, 2024.
• More formal implementation timelines and additional details will be made available by NESA from the start of 2023
For more information visit: NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)
Northern Territory
• All government, independent and Catholic schools in NT schools are required to adopt the Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0) at Years 7–10. Implementation dates are yet to be confirmed.
For more information visit: Northern Territory Board of Studies (NTBOS)
Queensland
• All government, independent and Catholic schools in Queensland are free to determine their own plan for the implementation of the Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0) at Years 7–10 (with a few conditions). Schools can begin teaching the new curriculum at any year level from Term 1, 2023 onwards, but must have completed full implementation by the end of the 2025 school year That is, from Term 1, 2026 all schools must be teaching Version 9.0 across Years 7–10
For more information visit: Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA)
Tasmania
• All government, independent and Catholic schools in Tasmania are required to adopt the Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0) at Years 7–10. Implementation dates are yet to be confirmed.
For more information visit: Department of Education Tasmania
South Australia
• All government, independent and Catholic schools in SA will be required to adopt the Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0) at Years 7–10. Implementation dates are yet to be confirmed.
For more information visit: South Australia Department for education and learning
Victoria
• VCAA is currently undertaking a review of Victorian Curriculum. It’s likely they will incorporate some or all of the Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0) content as part of that review.
• Government and Catholic schools are required to continue teaching the Victorian Curriculum at Years 7–10 until further notice.
• Non-government schools may choose to adopt or adapt elements of the Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0) at Years 7–10 from Term 1, 2023 onwards.
For more information visit: Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA)
Western Australia
• SCSA is currently undertaking a review of Western Australian Curriculum. It’s likely they will incorporate some or all of the Australian Curriculum Mathematics (Version 9.0) content as part of that review.
• All government, independent and Catholic schools are required to teach the current Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline at Years 7–10 until advised otherwise
For more information visit: School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA)
