HSC English Exam Begins with Student Complaints Over Essay Prompt and Stapling Methods
The Higher School Certificate (HSC) English exam commenced this week, amid student complaints regarding essay prompts and exam format. The 20-mark essay challenged candidates to analyze representation in their prescribed texts, a task met with mixed reactions.
Student Experiences during HSC English Exam
On the day of the exam, students from Cumberland High School in Sydney were notably stressed. Desks were cluttered with papers as they concentrated on their work. The relief was palpable when the clock struck 11:30 AM, marking the end of the first HSC exam.
Year 12 student Abby Meguerditchian remarked on the difficulty of the exam, stating, “It was down to the last minute, essentially.” Although she managed her time, others echoed concerns over the essay prompt’s complexity.
Details of the Exam
Students in both English Advanced and English Standard faced a long-format essay question and five short-answer questions on unseen texts. The prescribed texts for this year included:
- Amanda Lohrey
- Favel Parrett
- Tim Winton
- Rosemary Dobson
- Jane Harrison’s play “Rainbow’s End”
- Malala Yousafzai’s memoir “I Am Malala”
Unseen texts featured excerpts from:
- Andrew Pippos
- Elena Ferrante’s “The Lying Life of Adults”
- Deirdre Fidge, discussing the animated character She-Ra
The absence of an image prompt disappointed some students, including Meguerditchian, who had anticipated a different approach. Furthermore, issues arose regarding the stapling methods used in the exam, leading to complaints about difficulty in turning pages.
Context and Statistics
Approximately 74,700 students are completing their HSC this year, a record number according to the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA). An additional 9,179 students, primarily younger than Year 12, are also participating in various subjects.
This year, examinations are spread over four weeks, totaling 123 separate tests or around 350 hours of assessments. The English exam was the first to be conducted in a newly refurbished hall in Cumberland, which added to the experience for the students.
Principal Luke Fulwood encouraged students to stick to their trial exam strategies, despite the pressures of the new environment. Students maintained their pre-exam routines, with some opting for familiar breakfasts to start the day right.
Looking Forward
The HSC English Paper 2 follows quickly on the heels of Paper 1. Students who began their educational journey in 2013 will soon transition to a phase of camping trips and graduation celebrations as they close this chapter of their academic lives.
Paul Martin, NESA’s chief executive, noted the unique circumstances faced by this cohort, mentioning they started Year 7 amid the pandemic. HSC results are set to be released on December 18.
