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HSC English Advanced 2024 exam throws Module C ‘curveball’ at unsuspecting students
Amid rumours of an exam “leak”, mischievous meme-makers have been given a rap over the knuckles after faking messages from the Premier and Prime Minister in the lead-up to the second English HSC test.
Eilidh Sproul-Mellisfollow
@Eilidh_Mellis
4 min read
October 16, 2024 - 8:31PM
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Year 12 students copped a reality check in their second HSC English paper amid rumours of an exam “leak”, while mischievous meme-makers have been given a rap over the knuckles after faking messages from the Premier and Prime Minister.
The three-part Advanced English paper caused a stir on Wednesday with students shocked and dismayed to find the exam’s final question, for the first time since the current syllabus was introduced, did not allow for an “imaginative” response.
Glenwood High School advanced English student Audrey Chen said the “craft of writing” module was the most challenging and unexpected element of the exam.
“I thought Mod C was definitely going to be easier than Mod A and Mod B, but it was actually the opposite,” she said.
“I would have picked imaginative if I could.”
Glenwood High HSC student Audrey Chen (second from right) said the final module was the most challenging and unexpected element of the exam. Picture: Richard Dobson
Rumours had swirled on social media in the day prior that the exam would not include an imaginative option, and while dismissed at the time, some later praised a fellow student for “leaking” the exam after he claimed to have insider knowledge.
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) swiftly cracked down on the speculation, confirming the “leak” was nothing more than a well-aimed stab in the dark.
Some Year 12 students complained about the second 2024 English HSC exam online.
“We are reminding HSC students to disregard rumours and hoaxes about exam content shared in online forums and over social media,” a spokeswoman said.
“Rigorous processes are in place to protect the security of exams and to maintain their confidentiality.”
Two inquiries have been lodged with NESA in relation to rumours shared online, however unsubstantiated claims do not provide grounds for an appeal or a review of final HSC marks.
Faked screenshots of emails and social media posts “revealing” the exam’s contents had also been circulated the evening prior, including one email supposedly sent by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and an easily debunked edited version of NSW Premier Chris Minns’ good luck message for students on Instagram.
A faked screenshot based on Premier Chris Minns’ message for Year 12 students was circulated on social media.
The real deal.
The Premier said while those behind the faked screenshots may not have had ill intentions, the impersonation came with a risk.
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“I’m sure this was done with lighthearted intent, but when it comes to impersonating someone online there are risks associated with it, and I hope no student has been conned by it,” he said.
“Good luck to every single student sitting the paper … this is where the hard work pays off.”
A screenshot of an email claiming to be from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealing the HSC exam questions was circulated on social media in the lead-up to the exam.
Former HSC English chief examiner Dr Janet Dutton said there has long been a “tradition of spreading misinformation” among Year 12 students prior to the HSC, much to the dismay of exam writers.
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“The exam committee are never out to trick you,” she said.
“They’re all teachers – they understand the pressure students are under.”
Dr Dutton also hit back at the backlash over the Module C question, and said exam writers had, in fact, made life easier for students given the nature of the stimulus – an extract from a wellbeing magazine about “timesaving inventions” and “going back to basics”.
Dr Janet Dutton, former HSC chief examiner, said the paper was very fair. Picture: Supplied
“That particular quote wouldn’t bend itself as well to a creative piece … it’s a great quote, so it’s easy to see why the exam committee has chosen it,” she said.
“There’s been a real trend towards ‘slow’ culture – slow television, slow food – and it’s quite current, so I think students will have examples from their own lives they can use.
“They can draw on examples from their prescribed text if they want to, but they don’t have to.
“We just want the students to make judicious choices … suitable for their purpose.”
The test is designed to force students to think creatively on the spot rather than adapting prose they’ve pre-written, she said.
“This exam really does mitigate against dumping in rote-prepared answers,” Dr Dutton said.
A few students felt let down by their teachers after apparently being advised an imaginative work would almost certainly be an option.
Glenwood High School Head of English Lana Kershaw said the section would likely prove most challenging for students, and a “discriminating feature” for markers between the highest achievers and their peers.
“It’s one of the more difficult modules to prepare for, because they don’t know how they’re going to be assessed … but I do think it’s going to create quite an even playing field,” she said.
While Advanced students complained of being “totally cooked” online by an exam that was “not it”, Standard stream students expressed gratitude for choosing the easier course.
“Standard was blessed by the NESA gods for paper two,” one said.
At Glenwood High School, standard students Natalya Foeken, Molly Forster and Josh Alexander largely found their exam straightforward.
Glenwood High students after sitting today’s English exam. Picture: Richard Dobson
“The Module C question was much easier, it gave us an image and we had to write an imaginative piece about that image, (then) refer it for the second part to something from our Module C essay,” Natalya said.
“It originally had a lady pouring some water onto a little sprout, and there was … a lovely big apple tree, and she was collecting some apples,” Molly explained.
“I actually used that to my liberty and did more of a dystopian sort of text … because I wasn’t going to talk about apples!”
