Brutal, punishing and disheartening. That's what year 12 maths students were served yesterday as they sat for their maths extension 1 HSC examination.

The paper, taken by more than 9000 students across the state, was described by one maths teacher with more than 40 years' experience as cruel and difficult.

'I don't know why I bothered' ... students used social media to complain about the maths paper. Credit:Robert Pearce

"I am appalled that an examination committee could set such a difficult paper which gives the competent student little chance to show what they know," said Keith Hartmann, who has been the head of mathematics at several NSW schools.

"It continues a recent trend in HSC maths where the majority of questions are beyond the level of all but the most talented. Many students who have worked hard at this difficult course will leave their 13 years of school mathematics with a feeling of failure. The examiners should be ashamed of themselves. They are doing a disservice to mathematics education."