"For this group,I think this exam was just what they needed:something that didn’t throw them any curve-balls,no surprises,but was structured very well,"Mr Down said."While it’s challenging in part,it’s immensely fair. There are no real shocks in it."
It was a departure fromlast year's first English exam,which stumped students but was cautiously welcomed by some teachers for flipping the major essay format on its head.
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Students had been expecting a general question about the broad theme of"human experiences",as had been the case in prior years. But in an attempt to prevent rote-learning,the NSW Education Standards Authority instead asked students to tailor their essays to a specific minor theme,depending on their text.
Those who studied George Orwell's1984 were asked specifically about loneliness;the question for Shakespeare'sMerchant of Venice was about deception.
This year,however,saw the return of the general essay question.