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NSW Curriculum Guide

What Your Child Learns, Year by Year

The complete NSW NESA curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 10 โ€” organised by subject and stage so you always know what's being taught.

For Parents

This page maps directly to the NSW NESA syllabusโ€” the same document your child's school uses. Select a stage or subject to see every topic your child is expected to cover. Use it to spot gaps, choose focus areas, or simply understand what the teacher is working through this term. NaExam's question bank is built from these exact dot-points, so every practice session targets real curriculum content.

Early Stage 1
Kindergarten
Ages 5-6
Stage 1
Years 1-2
Ages 6-8
Stage 2
Years 3-4
Ages 8-10
Stage 3
Years 5-6
Ages 10-12
๐Ÿ“–
English
English K-10 (2022)
4 stages
Early Stage 1Kindergarten
  • Oral Language & Communication
  • Vocabulary (Tier 1 & 2)
  • Phonological Awareness
  • Print Conventions
  • Phonic Knowledge
  • Reading Fluency
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Creating Written Texts
  • Spelling
  • Handwriting
  • Responding to Literature
Stage 1Years 1-2
  • Oral Language & Communication
  • Vocabulary (Tier 1, 2 & 3)
  • Extended Phonics (digraphs, trigraphs)
  • Reading Fluency & Prosody
  • Sustained Reading Comprehension
  • Writing (planning, paragraphs)
  • Spelling Strategies
  • Handwriting & Digital Transcription
  • Literature Response
Stage 2Years 3-4
  • Oral Language for Social & Learning Purposes
  • Vocabulary Building through Reading
  • Reading Fluency (accuracy, rate, prosody)
  • Text Structures & Comprehension Monitoring
  • Imaginative Writing
  • Informative Writing
  • Persuasive Writing
  • Spelling Generalisations
  • Joined Handwriting & Digital Transcription
  • Analysing Literature
Stage 3Years 5-6
  • Oral Language with Diverse Audiences
  • Extended Vocabulary & Word Strategies
  • Independent Reading of Complex Texts
  • Analysing & Evaluating Texts
  • Imaginative Writing for Impact
  • Informative Writing for Clarity
  • Persuasive Writing with Evidence
  • Complex Spelling Strategies
  • Personal Handwriting Style
  • Evaluating Perspectives in Literature
๐Ÿ”ข
Mathematics
Mathematics K-10 (2022)
4 stages
Early Stage 1Kindergarten
  • Whole Numbers to 20
  • Addition & Subtraction Concepts
  • Repeating Patterns & Equal Groups
  • Position & Direction
  • Length & Half
  • 2D Shapes
  • Area Comparison
  • 3D Objects
  • Volume Comparison
  • Mass Comparison
  • Time (hours)
  • Data Displays
Stage 1Years 1-2
  • Place Value & Zero (to 1000)
  • Number Bonds & Addition/Subtraction
  • Multiplication with Equal Groups
  • Position & Grid Maps
  • Measurement (length in cm, m)
  • Halves, Quarters & Eighths
  • 2D Shapes & Quadrilaterals
  • Area (informal units)
  • 3D Objects & Nets
  • Volume & Capacity
  • Mass (informal units)
  • Duration & Time
  • Data in Tables & Graphs
  • Chance
Stage 2Years 3-4
  • Place Value to Tens of Thousands
  • Decimals to 2 Places
  • Addition & Subtraction Strategies
  • Number Sentences
  • Multiplication & Division
  • Fractions (halves, quarters, thirds, fifths)
  • Grid Maps & Directional Language
  • Length (m, cm, mm)
  • Angles & Right Angles
  • 2D Shape Properties
  • Transformations
  • Area (square units)
  • 3D Models & Nets
  • Capacity & Volume
  • Mass Measurement
  • Analog & Digital Time
  • Graphs & Data Interpretation
  • Chance Experiments
Stage 3Years 5-6
  • Place Value to Millions
  • Decimals to Thousandths & Negative Integers
  • Addition & Subtraction of Decimals
  • Order of Operations
  • Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
  • Angle Measurement & Grid References
  • Triangles & Quadrilateral Properties
  • Transformations
  • Prisms, Pyramids & Volume
  • Unit Conversions
  • Mean, Median & Mode
  • Probability as Fractions
๐Ÿ”ฌ
Science & Technology
Science & Technology K-6 (2017) / Science 7-10 (2023)
4 stages
Early Stage 1Kindergarten
  • Living & Non-Living Things
  • Properties of Materials
  • Pushes & Pulls (forces)
  • Daily & Seasonal Changes
  • Using Digital Systems
Stage 1Years 1-2
  • Living Things Grow & Change
  • Habitats & Food Chains
  • Changing Materials
  • Light, Sound & Heat
  • Forces & Movement
  • Earth's Resources & Weather
  • Data Representation & Algorithms
Stage 2Years 3-4
  • Life Cycles & Adaptations
  • Classification of Living Things
  • Natural vs Processed Materials
  • Physical & Chemical Changes
  • Contact & Non-Contact Forces
  • Energy Transformations
  • Water Cycle & Solar System
  • Simple Programming
Stage 3Years 5-6
  • Ecosystems & Food Webs
  • Micro-organisms & Body Systems
  • Mixtures & Solutions
  • Reversible & Irreversible Changes
  • Electrical Circuits & Light
  • Forces in Action
  • Earth in the Solar System
  • Sustainability
  • Complex Algorithms & Binary
๐Ÿ›๏ธ
History
History K-10 (2012)
4 stages
Early Stage 1Kindergarten
  • Personal & Family Histories
  • Significant Events in My Life
  • Daily Life Now and in the Past
Stage 1Years 1-2
  • Present & Past Family Life
  • How Daily Life Has Changed
  • The Past in the Present
  • Heritage Sites & Significant People
Stage 2Years 3-4
  • Community & Remembrance
  • Anzac Day & NAIDOC Week
  • First Contacts & the First Fleet
  • Impact on Aboriginal Peoples
  • Early Colonial Life
Stage 3Years 5-6
  • The Australian Colonies
  • Convict Life & the Gold Rush
  • Impact on First Nations Peoples
  • Australia as a Nation
  • Federation & Key Figures
  • Migration & Australian Identity
๐ŸŒ
Geography
Geography K-10 (2015)
4 stages
Early Stage 1Kindergarten
  • People Live in Places
  • Features of My Place
  • Why Places Are Important
  • Caring for Places
Stage 1Years 1-2
  • Natural & Human Features
  • Weather & Seasons
  • How Features Influence Activities
  • Connections to Places
  • How Places Are Organised
Stage 2Years 3-4
  • Comparing Places in Australia & Globally
  • Similarities & Differences
  • Types of Natural Environments
  • How People Interact with Environments
Stage 3Years 5-6
  • Natural Processes that Shape Places
  • Human Activity & Environments
  • Diversity of People & Places
  • Global Connections, Trade & Migration
๐Ÿƒ
PDHPE
PDHPE K-10 (2018)
4 stages
Early Stage 1Kindergarten
  • Personal Identity & Emotions
  • Trusted Adults & Families
  • Locomotor Skills (running, jumping)
  • Balance & Object Control
  • Healthy Eating & Hygiene
  • Sun Safety & Being Active
Stage 1Years 1-2
  • Strengths & Achievements
  • Respectful Relationships
  • Managing Emotions & Bullying
  • Refined Movement Skills
  • Simple Games
  • Nutritious Foods & Road Safety
  • Emergency Situations
Stage 2Years 3-4
  • Peer Relationships & Problem Solving
  • Positive Communication
  • Introduction to Puberty
  • Combined Movement Patterns
  • Modified Games & Team Strategies
  • Balanced Diet & Cybersafety
  • Water Safety & Fitness
Stage 3Years 5-6
  • Identity & Body Image
  • Puberty & Adolescent Changes
  • Mental Health Strategies
  • Specialised Movement & Sport Skills
  • Game Strategies
  • Drug Education (alcohol, tobacco)
  • First Aid Basics & Media Influence
๐ŸŽจ
Creative Arts
Creative Arts K-6 (2006) / Electives 7-10
4 stages
Early Stage 1Kindergarten
  • Dance: Body Movements & Simple Sequences
  • Drama: Dramatic Play & Role-Play
  • Music: Singing, Beat & Rhythm
  • Visual Arts: Drawing, Painting & Constructing
Stage 1Years 1-2
  • Dance: Compose Short Sequences
  • Drama: Create Roles & Perform
  • Music: Sing, Play Instruments & Create
  • Visual Arts: Range of Media & Discuss Artworks
Stage 2Years 3-4
  • Dance: Choreographic Devices
  • Drama: Devise Dramas & Analyse
  • Music: Notation & Cultural Music
  • Visual Arts: 2D/3D Skills & Context
Stage 3Years 5-6
  • Dance: Themes & Critical Evaluation
  • Drama: Narrative & Varied Styles
  • Music: Ensembles & Genres
  • Visual Arts: Personal Style & Art History
๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ
Languages
Modern Languages K-10 (2022)
4 stages
Early Stage 1Kindergarten
  • Recognise Sounds in Target Language
  • Participate in Songs & Games
  • Recognise Familiar Words
Stage 1Years 1-2
  • Simple Exchanges
  • Recognise Familiar Phrases
  • Copy Familiar Words
Stage 2Years 3-4
  • Guided Interactions
  • Identify Key Information in Texts
  • Create Simple Texts
Stage 3Years 5-6
  • Sustained Exchanges
  • Interpret Varied Texts
  • Compose for Different Audiences
๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ

19 Languages Supported in NSW

Mandatory 100 hours in Years 7-8 ยท Elective in Years 9-10

ArabicChineseFrenchGermanHebrewHindiIndonesianItalianJapaneseKoreanMacedonianModern GreekPersianPunjabiRussianSpanishTamilTurkishVietnamese

Practice what they're actually learning

NaExam practice exams are aligned to the NSW NESA curriculum. Every question maps to what your child is studying right now.

Source: NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) ยท curriculum.nsw.edu.au
Content reflects current syllabuses as of 2026. New syllabuses for History, Geography, PDHPE and Creative Arts K-6 take effect from 2027.