What Ponder’s built-in practice covers in Year 10, set by set, with the content descriptions each set is tagged with.
In Year 10, Ponder has 15 practice sets: 5 in maths (equations, inequalities and simultaneous equations; compound interest and exponential growth; bearings, elevation and similar triangles; and more), 4 in English (evaluating argument and representation; punctuation, syntax and register for effect; context, values and intertextuality; and more) and 3 in science (genetics, evolution, atoms and motion; the universe, climate and reactions; cells), plus HASS, wellbeing and study skills. Sets are tagged with Australian Curriculum v9.0 content descriptions, and every question has hints that guide rather than give the answer.
Free check: see what is going well in Year 10 maths or English, and what to practise next →
Simplify, solve and compare: phone plans, fractions and pairs of equations.
For parents: By the end of Year 10, your child should be able to solve equations, inequalities and pairs of simultaneous equations, and explain what the answers mean.
AC9M10A01expand, factorise and simplify expressions and solve equations algebraically, applying exponent laws involving products, quotients and powers of variables, and the distributive propertyAC9M10A02solve linear inequalities and simultaneous linear equations in 2 variables; interpret solutions graphically and communicate solutions in terms of the situationExpand and simplify 2(x + 5) − 3(x − 1).
Savings, car values and bacteria: growth and decay by a percentage.
For parents: By the end of Year 10, your child should be able to model growth and decay by a percentage, including compound interest, and link it to its graph.
AC9M10A03recognise the connection between algebraic and graphical representations of exponential relations and solve related exponential equations, using digital tools where appropriateAC9M10A04use mathematical modelling to solve applied problems involving growth and decay, including financial contexts; formulate problems, choosing to apply linear, quadratic or exponential models; interpret solutions in terms of the situation; evaluate and modify models as necessary and report assumptions, methods and findingsJack invests $5000 at 4% per year, compounded annually. What is the investment worth after 3 years? Give your answer to the nearest cent.
Trees, cliffs, boats and flagpoles: trigonometry and similarity at work.
For parents: By the end of Year 10, your child should be able to solve practical problems with trigonometry, including angles of elevation and bearings, and use similar triangles.
AC9M10M03solve practical problems applying Pythagoras’ theorem and trigonometry of right-angled triangles, including problems involving direction and angles of elevation and depressionAC9M10M05use mathematical modelling to solve practical problems involving proportion and scaling of objects; formulate problems and interpret solutions in terms of the situation; evaluate and modify models as necessary, and report assumptions, methods and findingsAC9M10SP01apply deductive reasoning to proofs involving shapes in the plane and use theorems to solve spatial problemsYou stand 50 m from the base of a tall gum tree on flat ground. The angle of elevation to the top of the tree is 28°. How tall is the tree, correct to one decimal place?
Quartiles, outliers, association and “given that”: read data like a statistician.
For parents: By the end of Year 10, your child should be able to compare data with box plots, describe a scatterplot, and use two-way tables and conditional probability.
AC9M10ST02compare data distributions for continuous numerical variables using appropriate data displays including boxplots; discuss the shapes of these distributions in terms of centre, spread, shape and outliers in the context of the dataAC9M10ST03construct scatterplots and comment on the association between the 2 numerical variables in terms of strength, direction and linearityAC9M10ST04construct two-way tables and discuss possible relationship between categorical variablesAC9M10P01use the language of “if ... then”, “given”, “of”, “knowing that” to describe and interpret situations involving conditional probabilityFind the interquartile range of 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18.
Discounts, class surveys and percentage increase, in dollars and cents.
For parents: Across Years 7 to 10, your child learns to work out discounts, percentage increases and decreases, and compare amounts as percentages.
AC9M7N06use the 4 operations with positive rational numbers including fractions, decimals and percentages to solve problems using efficient calculation strategiesAC9M7N09use mathematical modelling to solve practical problems, involving rational numbers and percentages, including financial contexts; formulate problems, choosing representations and efficient calculation strategies, using digital tools as appropriate; interpret and communicate solutions in terms of the situation, justifying choices made about the representationAC9M8N05use mathematical modelling to solve practical problems involving rational numbers and percentages, including financial contexts; formulate problems, choosing efficient calculation strategies and using digital tools where appropriate; interpret and communicate solutions in terms of the situation, reviewing the appropriateness of the modelWhat is 25% of $80?
Weigh up a letter to the editor: how does it represent young people, and is that fair?
For parents: By the end of Year 10, your child should be able to evaluate how an argument is built and how it represents people and ideas, and whether that is fair.
AC9E10LY03analyse and evaluate how language features are used to implicitly or explicitly represent values, beliefs and attitudesAC9E10LY01analyse and evaluate how people, places, events and concepts are represented in texts and reflect contextsAC9E10LY04analyse and evaluate how authors organise ideas in texts to achieve a purposeHow are teenagers represented in the first paragraph?
Choices: As skilled athletes practising a sport · As a noisy, messy group that takes over a shared space · As individuals with different views
Bend punctuation and word order on purpose, and pick the right register for the job.
For parents: By the end of Year 10, your child should be able to use punctuation and sentence structure for effect, and choose the right register and vocabulary for formal writing.
AC9E10LA09understand how authors use and experiment with punctuationAC9E10LA06analyse how meaning and style are achieved through syntaxAC9E10LA05analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of particular sentence structures to express and craft ideasAC9E10LA08use an expanded technical and academic vocabulary for precision when writing academic textsWhat is the main effect of the ellipsis in this line from a story?
Choices: It trails off, leaving readers in suspense about what was found · It shows that words have been removed from a quotation · It introduces a list of items behind the door
A future heatwave, a homemade drone and an ancient myth: read a story through its context and values.
For parents: By the end of Year 10, your child should be able to read a text in light of its context and values, and explain how links to other texts shape its meaning.
AC9E10LE01analyse representations of individuals, groups and places and evaluate how they reflect their context in literary texts by First Nations Australian, and wide-ranging Australian and world authorsAC9E10LE04evaluate the social, moral or ethical positions represented in literatureAC9E10LE05analyse how text structure, language features, literary devices and intertextual connections shape interpretations of textsThe father’s joke refers to a well-known Greek myth. What is the term for a brief reference to another text, story or myth?
Spot and use the tools persuasive writers rely on: emotive words, evidence, rhetorical questions and more.
For parents: Across Years 7 to 10, your child learns to spot persuasive techniques such as emotive words, evidence and rhetorical questions, and explain their effect.
AC9E7LY03analyse the ways in which language features shape meaning and vary according to audience and purposeAC9E9LY03analyse and evaluate how language features are used to represent a perspective of an issue, event, situation, individual or groupAC9E10LY03analyse and evaluate how language features are used to implicitly or explicitly represent values, beliefs and attitudes“Don’t you want a cleaner, safer park for your children?” Which technique is this?
Choices: Statistics · Expert opinion · Rhetorical question · Anecdote
Punnett squares, meiosis, cane toad evolution, the periodic table and F = ma.
For parents: By the end of Year 10, your child should be able to explain how genes are inherited and how evolution works, use the periodic table, and relate force, mass and acceleration.
AC9S10U01explain the role of meiosis and mitosis and the function of chromosomes, DNA and genes in heredity and predict patterns of Mendelian inheritanceAC9S10U02use the theory of evolution by natural selection to explain past and present diversity and analyse the scientific evidence supporting the theoryAC9S10U05investigate Newton’s laws of motion and quantitatively analyse the relationship between force, mass and acceleration of objectsAC9S10U06explain how the structure and properties of atoms relate to the organisation of the elements in the periodic tableIn guinea pigs, black fur (B) is dominant over white fur (b). Two Bb parents have offspring. What is the percentage chance that an offspring has white fur?
Evidence for the big bang, the greenhouse effect, atomic structure and reaction rates.
For parents: By the end of Year 10, your child should be able to describe the evidence for the big bang, explain the greenhouse effect, and say what changes the rate of a reaction.
AC9S10U03describe how the big bang theory models the origin and evolution of the universe and analyse the supporting evidence for the theoryAC9S10U04use models of energy flow between the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere to explain patterns of global climate changeAC9S10U06explain how the structure and properties of atoms relate to the organisation of the elements in the periodic tableAC9S10U07identify patterns in synthesis, decomposition and displacement reactions and investigate the factors that affect reaction ratesWhich observation is evidence for the big bang theory?
Choices: Stars twinkle at night · The sun rises in the east · Light from distant galaxies is red-shifted, showing they are moving away from us
The building blocks of life: cell parts, plant and animal cells, and using a microscope.
For parents: Across Years 8 to 10, your child learns to describe the parts of plant and animal cells and what they do, and how cells build tissues and organs.
AC9S8U01recognise cells as the basic units of living things, compare plant and animal cells, and describe the functions of specialised cell structures and organellesAC9S8U02analyse the relationship between structure and function of cells, tissues and organs in a plant and an animal organ system and explain how these systems enable survival of the individualWhich part of a cell controls its activities and holds its DNA?
Choices: Cell membrane · Cytoplasm · Nucleus · Vacuole
The 1967 referendum, the Freedom Ride, human rights, and managing environmental change.
For parents: By the end of Year 10, your child should be able to explain key events in the campaign for First Nations Australians’ rights, human rights, and how environments change.
AC9HH10K10the contributions of significant individuals and groups in the campaign for the recognition of the rights of First Nations Australians and the extent to which they brought change to Australian societyAC9HH10K11the significant events and methods in the movement for the civil rights of First Nations Australians and the extent to which they contributed to changeAC9HH10K15the origins and significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including Australia’s involvement in the development of the declarationAC9HG10K01the human-induced changes that challenge the sustainability of places and environmentsAC9HG10K04causes and effects of a change in an identified environment at a local, national or global scale, and strategies to manage sustainabilityIn which year did Australians vote, with over 90% saying Yes, to change the Constitution so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were counted in the national census and the Commonwealth could make laws for them?
Handle test stress, protect your sleep and know what to do about online bullying.
For parents: Across Years 7 to 10, your child learns to use a few ways to handle stress and protect their sleep, and know what to do about online bullying.
A general-capabilities set (no content-description codes).
Just before a test, your heart is racing and your mind feels jumbled. What is the most helpful thing to do?
Choices: Take a few slow breaths, breathing out for longer than you breathe in · Tell yourself you are going to fail · Skim every page of your notes one last time · Drink an energy drink for a boost
Use spaced and retrieval practice, plan your revision and decode command words.
For parents: Across Years 9 to 10, your child learns to plan revision using spaced and retrieval practice, and understand what exam command words ask for.
A general-capabilities set (no content-description codes).
Two students each spend 3 hours revising the same topic. Who is likely to remember more in the exam?
Choices: Jess, who revises for 3 hours straight the night before · Tom, who does six 30-minute sessions spread over two weeks · They will remember exactly the same, since the total time is equal
Each set has a few short questions. Every question follows the same five problem-solving steps, and the three hints line up with the first three steps, so help builds from a nudge to a worked example of a similar problem. The answer is never the first thing a learner sees.
| Step | The learner asks | A grown-up can ask |
|---|---|---|
| Understand | What is the question asking? | What is the question asking you to find? |
| Plan | How could I work it out? | What could you try first? Would a picture help? |
| Try | Have a go. A guess is a good start. | Have a go, and tell me what you’re thinking. |
| Check | Does my answer make sense? | How could you check that? |
| Reflect | What helped me? What would I do next time? | What helped you? What would you do next time? |
After each answer, Ponder explains why it’s right, or what to look at again. At the end of a set it celebrates the strategies the learner used, such as draw a picture, break it into parts and look for a pattern.
Under the Australian Curriculum v9.0, Year 10 maths covers number, algebra, measurement, space, statistics and probability. Ponder’s Year 10 maths sets practise equations, inequalities and simultaneous equations, compound interest and exponential growth, bearings, elevation and similar triangles, box plots, scatterplots and conditional probability and percentages. The full list of content descriptions is on the Australian Curriculum website.
Every state and territory teaches Foundation to Year 10 content from the Australian Curriculum, either directly or through its own version built from it (NSW and Victoria publish their own syllabuses). Ponder tags sets with v9.0 codes, so they line up with what is taught in every state, though schools order topics differently.
Yes. Open the Ponder app, choose the learner side, then pick a subject and a set. No account is needed while Ponder is in preview.
Not straight away. Each question has three hints that build from a nudge to a worked example of a similar problem. After an answer, Ponder explains why it’s right or what to look at again.
Content descriptions © Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) 2009 to present, unless otherwise indicated. They were downloaded from the Australian Curriculum website (accessed 27 September 2026) and were not modified, except that a few end early where the website shows a fraction or symbol as an image. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Ponder is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACARA.
Ponder is in preview. Explore the app now with no account, and join the launch list to hear first when accounts open later this year.