Hardest Questions In HSC maths? (1 Viewer)

dan964

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I think lets say back to 2001. Although the syllabus hasn't changed really since 1989. (A minor update in like 2012 or something).
 

Green Yoda

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Lets discuss the recent ones in this century
But it is open for discussion for any year your like
 

leehuan

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2001 2U very last question - I was told the committee got fired for putting in that question..
2003 Ext 1 very last question.
 

Nailgun

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Very last question of 2000 2U was pree hard
I'd heard about that specific question multiple times before actually doing the exam as well, so that goes to show

(I got it though :lol:)

#notevenhumblebrag
 

eyeseeyou

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It usually the last few questions. In terms of topics, not sure which 2U topic is the hardest, in 3U it's Perms and combs, probability and simple harmonic motion (I think) and in 4U, it's harder 3U and I think mechanics (you got an advantage in this if you do physics)
 

leehuan

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It usually the last few questions. In terms of topics, not sure which 2U topic is the hardest, in 3U it's Perms and combs, probability and simple harmonic motion (I think) and in 4U, it's harder 3U and I think mechanics (you got an advantage in this if you do physics)
It's mostly harder 3U and mechanics but I've seen some really devious volumes question overthrow 4U kids before

2u hardest topic is just appns of calculus but the harder 2U questions (e.g. 2013 paper) really try to twist with what you know.
 

leehuan

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Very last question of 2000 2U was pree hard
I'd heard about that specific question multiple times before actually doing the exam as well, so that goes to show

(I got it though :lol:)

#notevenhumblebrag
I went to look it up.

Lol, the snow question. Yeah someone asked for help (irl) for that one before; it's just hard to wrap your head around the wording that's all
 

DatAtarLyfe

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what topic generally has the hardest qu. in 3u? I don't really see any of them as contenders.
 
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leehuan

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what topic generally has the hardest qu. in 3u? I don't really see any of them as contenders.
Projectile motion
Binomial theorem

^Two classic candidates for last question
 

DatAtarLyfe

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hmmm projectile motion can be a pain, but doable.
I found binomial quite easy, the harder 3u version is a little bit more challenging.
 

eyeseeyou

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HArdest 2U topic: Applications of calculus to the physical world
3U: perms and combs, probability, binomial theorem, simple harmonic motion
4U: Harder 3U, mechanics and volumes

Can someone please correct me
 

leehuan

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HArdest 2U topic: Applications of calculus to the physical world
3U: perms and combs, probability, binomial theorem, simple harmonic motion
4U: Harder 3U, mechanics and volumes

Can someone please correct me
2U probability is harder than 3U binomial probability if you ask me
Projectiles are typically a bit harder than SHM. On occasion SHM has been harder.
 

porcupinetree

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In the 1998 (I think?) 4U HSC there was a question to prove the AM-GM inequality which iirc only 4 people successfully answered according to the marker's notes. There was also a tricky proof for the irrationality of pi sometime in the early-mid '00s iirc
 

Hi there444

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ohhh fck half the state doing 4u got stuck doing the last integration question in 2014 despite it being easy. it probs the fact that the last question was only 3 marks that confused everyone.
 

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