HSC 2021: NSW students begin trial exams amid Covid pandemic

HSC students have pledged to overcome the pandemic’s challenges as they start their trial exams this week.

It isn’t what they had in mind for the trial HSC exams but the class of 2021 is just doing what they can one day at a time.

Mercy Catholic College students in Chatswood, along with hundreds of Catholic schools around the state, started their trial exams this week, albeit on their laptops and within the confines of their bedroom.

Mercy Catholic College student Sophie Satnarine. Picture: Justin Lloyd

For Year 12 student Sophie Satnarine, 17, the battle against the pressure of the end of school exams is a case of mind over matter.

“The Covid situation has consumed our lives, it is all anyone talks about, it is hard to escape it,” she said.

“While I have been trying my best I know I am not working at my best because my mind is elsewhere. From talking with girls in my year group, mental health is a really big concern.

“I am someone who struggles with anxiety, and having all these health alerts pop up in my area, it is difficult to sit there and just focus on your work.”

Her school has shortened the exam time from the normal three hours to just one hour and has renamed them assessment tasks instead of exams.

The NSW Standards Authority has remained committed to the exam schedule beginning on October 19 but education experts have questioned if the exams will go ahead at all.

That’s on top of the fact it is looking like a lot of end-of-school events will have to be cancelled this year because of restrictions.

“We’re not going to have those coming of age events, we’re not going to have our school formal or graduation in the way that we would have all dreamed of.”

HSC trial exams are currently being conducted mainly online and dates vary by school.