UPDATE: Students across New South Wales (NSW) are voicing their concerns over what many are calling the most challenging Higher School Certificate (HSC) Mathematics exam in recent history. On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, a staggering 17,023 students tackled the Mathematics Advanced exam, while 32,243 students faced the Mathematics Standard 2 paper amidst soaring temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius.
Year 12 student Ryan Luu, attending Canley Vale High, expressed his distress, stating, “I found it way, way more difficult than what I prepared for.” His assessment was echoed by fellow students, including Stephanie Ly, Ayden Tran, James Ly, and Katie Nguyen, who reported that both the advanced and standard exams presented unexpected challenges compared to previous years.
Ryan, aged 17, had diligently completed past papers from 2020 to 2024 with guidance from his teachers but found the latest exam to be perplexing. “This was a deceptively hard test, I think, especially in topics like probability and statistics,” he noted. The feedback from students highlights a growing concern about the exam’s difficulty level.
Mathematics teacher Paul Nguyen from Canley Vale echoed these sentiments, pointing out that the combination of exam pressure, extensive wordy questions, and the sweltering heat contributed to a stressful examination environment. “There were some questions that were textbook, and it was nice to see. But there was also a really good mix of questions that were, I wouldn’t say out of scope [of the syllabus], but nearing it,” he remarked.
Nguyen, reflecting on past years, stated that until now, the 2023 exam was considered the toughest. “However, I believe genuinely, this year’s paper has topped it,” he declared.
The overwhelming feedback from students and educators alike raises critical questions about the preparation and expectations placed on these young individuals. The intensity of the exams, compounded by extreme weather conditions, has sparked discussions regarding the fairness and accessibility of the HSC assessments.
As the results are anticipated, the educational community is left to consider the implications of this year’s exam challenges. What will be the impact on student confidence and performance? The conversation surrounding the future of the HSC maths exams is just beginning.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
