HUNTER students have described their Mathematics Standard 2 paper as much easier than expected and a confidence booster ahead of their remaining Higher School Certificate exams.
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Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College, Fletcher, students Chris Collard, Imogen Anderson and Charlie Campbell were among 30,163 students across the state who sat the paper on Friday, when the Mathematics Standard 1, Mathematics and Mathematics Extension 2 tests were also held.
"I thought it was pretty easy compared to sample papers we'd practised in class," Chris, 17, said.
"It had potential to be really difficult but didn't live up to it."
Imogen, 18, agreed, saying her first impression when she opened the paper was "this is not what I was expecting".
"It was more simple," she said.
"With the right amount of study people could do really well."
The trio said they spent about 20 minutes on the multiple choice questions, which Charlie, 18, said started with a question about the perimeter of a shape "so you just had to count all [sides] together".
She said she hadn't expected most of the longer form questions to only be worth between one and four marks.
"There was a more even chance of covering everything," she said.
"There was only one or two five-mark questions."
Chris said the longer questions were "moderate, but a bit on the easier side".
"There were only one or two that would have stumped people and they were high performance band questions."
Imogen said she was relieved to see the questions were based on "basic things we've done in class, just changed a bit".
"Across the whole grade what we're hearing is that everyone is shocked that it's not what they expected," Imogen said.
"For most people the majority of their schooling life they've been told the HSC is this big thing, but you get to it and realise it's not as stressful and intense as you expect - it's just like every other exam.
"We're so close to being done and it's not as terrifying as I thought it would be."
The friends had planned to spend the afternoon relaxing - the girls were heading to the beach and Chris to Sydney to see cousins - before hitting the books.
They said they would continue spending a few hours studying each day, but also squeeze in time for other activities.
Chris goes to the gym, Imogen works in a cafe and plays futsal and touch football and Charlie walks and socialises.
They said they were ready to start the next chapter of their lives.
"I feel ready for something new, to be finished with the routine of school and excited to develop a new routine," Charlie said.
"I don't think it will be scary," Chris said.
"It's an opportunity to adopt more responsibilities and grow as a person."
Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
