The curly biology questions that had these country kids baffled: Westminster year 12 boarders give wrap on their last SACE exam

Today’s biology exam marks an end to school for this group of country students who’ve been boarding in Adelaide. They share its most perplexing problems.

A cohort of bright young country students is today celebrating the end of year 12 after sitting their final SACE exam – biology.

The Westminster School boarding students who hail from Waterloo in the state’s mid north, Bordertown in the east and Mt Gambier in the South-East all agree the exam wasn’t as hard as they feared.

Still, there was a question or two that stumped each.

That being said, most would leave much of the general public reaching for a translation app to even understand what was being asked.

Take for example, “questions about the phylogenetic trees” or considering “mutation rate ... as a clock”.

Here they share the highs and lows of the year 12 biology exam as well as their plans post-school.

Westminster School boarding students Jack Whittlesea, Leila Croker, Milly Schwartz and Daniel Will all plan to take a gap year. Today’s biology exam marks the end of their schooling for each. Picture: Emma Brasier

Jack Whittlesea, 18, whose parents farm near Bordertown says, for him, the hardest was a “question talking about the G1 phase of the cell cycle”.

“(But) it was probably easier than I expected … overall (it wasn’t too bad).”

Jack is planning on taking a gap year before heading to university to likely do a double degree in exercise and sport science and psychology.

Milly Schwartz, 17, from Waterloo near Clare agrees the exam “wasn’t too hard”.

“I know there were some questions I didn’t get right … I didn’t really remember the cell cycle very well – I didn’t study that bit specifically,” she says.

“There were a couple of questions that led on from each other (in relation to that) I didn’t get quite right.”

Still, she found the exam manageable.

“It was actually ... easier than I expected originally,” she says.

Millie hasn’t yet decided on a post-school path but hopes to take a gap year and possibly get a position at a US Summer Camp for kids.

“Hopefully, next year I will do a bit of travelling and find something I feel I really enjoy,” she says.

Friend Leila Croker, 18, from Mt Gambier, is hoping to study medical imaging, after also taking a gap year.

Relieved to have finished her year 12 exams she says it was “questions about the phylogenetic trees” which stumped her a little in the examination room.

“It was what I expected ... (but) some of the wording of questions made me have to think a bit harder,” she says.

Westminster School boarding students Jack Whittlesea, Daniel Will, Milly Schwartz and Leila Croker chat after the biology exam - their final SACE exam. Picture: Emma Brasier

For Daniel Will, 18, also from Bordertown, one question had him scratching his head.

“I struggled with one where it was talking about mutation rate being described as a clock, I didn’t understand that one,” he says.

Still he isn’t feeling too stressed post exam.

“To a point it was what I expected ... if anything, it was a little on the easier side,” he says.

Daniel, too, is planning on taking a gap year as he considers either studying sport science or “potentially teaching”.

Whatever path each of the students decide to take, principal Simon Shepherd says he is incredibly proud of each.

“All of us at Westminster hope that our Year 12s continue to live a life of purpose, kindness, gratitude and humility. Go well Class of 2024,” he says.

Jumping for joy at being finished school are, from left, Jack Whittlesea from Bordertown, Leila Croker from Mt Gambier, Milly Schwartz from Waterloo near Clare and Daniel Will from near Bordertown. Picture: Emma Brasier.