NSW science and maths teachers are calling for a rewrite of new HSC syllabuses, saying in their current form they are "confusing", contain "serious blunders" and are not fit for introduction.

Key points: The new syllabuses are due to be finalised by the end of the year

The new syllabuses are due to be finalised by the end of the year Teachers are concerned the draft versions are confusing and contain "serious blunders"

Teachers are concerned the draft versions are confusing and contain "serious blunders" The Board of Studies says concerns are being taken into account

With just weeks to go before the syllabuses are due to be finalised, the Science Teachers Association of New South Wales (STANSW) has also criticised the consultation period given to teachers to provide feedback on the draft syllabuses, describing it as inadequate.

It has called for a further round of consultation after "major revision" of the documents.

In a strongly worded statement, STANSW said the "draft syllabuses will not meet the interests and/or needs of the diversity of students that currently study at least one science course in their preliminary and/or HSC subject selection".

The document goes on to say that this will "directly impact on the number of students continuing with Science in Years 11 and 12".

The syllabuses, some of which contain decades-old material, are due to be finalised by the end of the year and released to schools by early 2017.

Students entering Year 11 in 2018 will be the first to encounter the new syllabuses, with the first HSC examinations based on them taking place in 2019.

But teachers said they were concerned that an increased breadth of content and level of demand would mean science in years 11 and 12 "will only be for the academically elite".

Got a confidential news tip? Email ABC Investigations at investigations@abc.net.au For more sensitive information: Text message using the Signal phone app +61 436 369 072 No system is 100 per cent secure, but the Signal app uses end-to-end encryption and can protect your identity. Please read the terms and conditions.

'I feel like it's all gone horribly wrong'

One chemistry teacher of almost two decades' experience, who did not want to be named, told the ABC she was "flabbergasted that this was the result of many months of work".

"We rarely get the chance to create a new syllabus and it is disappointing to see the opportunity wasted," she said.

She said the draft chemistry syllabus was "all over the place".

"The content appears hastily cobbled together," the teacher said.

"Honestly, I feel like it's all gone horribly wrong and they need to start again."

Similar concerns have been raised by a number of senior maths teachers.

Jenny Allum, the head of school at the Sydney private school SCEGGS Darlinghurst, said the draft maths syllabuses contained "serious blunders".

Ms Allum said the documents were "poorly structured, confusing and confused".

Some of the errors, she said, could be easily fixed but others were much more fundamental.

"You wonder how someone could make such a mistake," she said.

The head teacher said only a complete rewrite of the document would suffice.

Teachers push for further consultations on syllabus

Both the science and maths teachers are calling for an additional round of consultation to be built in to the curriculum development process because of their concerns about the first drafts.

"I would think that it is sort of pretty obvious that what you would do is that you'd have to start to rewrite things quite significantly and so that you'd want to then check again," Ms Allum said.

The Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW (BOSTES) said it was taking all feedback into account.

But BOSTES executive director of curriculum, teaching and assessment, Paul Hewitt, rejected calls for a further consultation period before the draft syllabuses were put to its board later this month.

"I don't accept that there is a need for a total reworking," he said.

Mr Hewitt said there was very strong support for the drafts.

"However, it might be a lesser number, but a very well-thought argument that says there are issues that need to be addressed," he said.

BOSTES said it was confident that the issues raised are being addressed and that there has been "significant work done" on all syllabuses.

"We are confident that the final syllabuses will satisfy both the Maths and Science teaching profession," Mr Hewitt said.

Maree Woods, president of the Science Teachers Association said she was disappointed there would be no further consultations, but "we have to be confident" that the issues are being addressed.