Hi guys, I was just wondering how hard/easy is it to place in the state for economics. I'm doing reasonably well in that I'm ranking first in all my internal assessments but is it based on the actual HSC and Trial exams more so? I was just wondering if anyone knew how it worked and what I would need to do to place in the top 10 for the state for eco.
Hi Laura, in response to your query, I, as you can probably see from my signature, received a state rank in economics (3rd) in the 2010 hsc, with a mark of 97. It is quite a competitive subject, mainly because it is offered in virtually all selective high schools and top private schools, so there is a lot of competition. You need to have a strong understanding of all the economics concepts in the course and be able to LINK them effectively, as you will often find that the essay questions in particular force you to combine knowledge from a range of topics and rely on you being able to analyse contemporary economic issues. The focus of the short answers is changing too now, as there is an increasing amount of emphasis being placed on contemporary issues too, rather than just regurgitating the course content - you really need to understand the concepts and be ready to manipulate what you know to different questions. Also, don't underestimate the importance of multiple choice, as one multiple choice mark can mean the difference between a state rank and not receiving a state rank, as I know I just missed out on a place in Business Studies because of that!
The state rank is based ONLY on the external exam, but I would say only if you're ranked in the top 2-3 in the subject (depending on how highly ranked your school is overall) would you even have a remote chance of state ranking. Bear in mind that Economics only offers 10 places in the state, so it is even more tight in that respect. Hope that helps!
All the best, and good luck in getting that state rank!