NSW HSC exams: How students felt about day one, future plans to tackle remaining exams
Tens of thousands of HSC students have braved their first day of exams across the state, as students reveal their response to questions and how they will tackle the rest of their exams.
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They are the cohort who braved their senior schooling through pandemic, home-based-learning and natural disaster — now they have faced their first major hurdle following the completion of the first day of their HSC exams.
To celebrate HSC student achievements, NewsLocal and regional journalists across the state have greeted the young minds of the future following their first exam to check in on their hopes for the remaining exams.
MEREWETHER HIGH
It was a nerve-racking day for Merewether High School students, as they navigated the way through their first HSC exam on Wednesday.
“I was a bit excited going in, I was looking forward to seeing what questions they were going to ask, what paragraphs I could use,” student Eva Nyman said.
“I’m feeling pretty all right after it, there was a bit of a tricky question for the essay but I feel all right.”
The key for most was preparation and having trial exams to get them into that HSC headspace.
“After the trial period it was a lot less stressful. I was nervous but it wasn’t too bad, prepared well enough,” 18-year-old Jodie Manning said.
Lukas Gremm added: “Feel like my preparation has been good and I have the exam ability because I have done a few practices, but just on the day it is settling the nerves, reading the question correctly.
“Certainly, there’s a lot weighing on it particularly if you haven’t got early entry so it is pretty nerve wracking, you’ve got your future in your hands.”
But you can never be too sure.
“I felt pretty prepared, I’ve done the work but you never know what the questions are going to ask so you can’t be too sure,” student Charlie Lentfer explained.
“I feel pretty happy with how I went and hopefully the markers think so as well.”
A sense of relief the first one is out of the way.
“I’m very relieved to get it done, I think the first exam is always key because it determines the head space you’re in after that, and I’m glad I was prepared,” William Bryant said.
“I was relieved to see all the hard work had paid off and a lot of the question styles I had expected.
“Feeling confident hopefully today sets a good tone for the next few weeks.”
MACKELLAR GIRLS
The 100 nervous, but excited, year 12 students at Sydney’s “Mackellar Girls” who began their 2022 HSC final exams on Wednesday have been through a tumultuous two years.
Not only has the well known public school — Mackellar Girls Campus, Northern Beaches Secondary College — had to steer through the Covid pandemic lockdowns of 2021, but had to cope with flooding rains during the big wet in March this year.
The school went into lockdown as waters from overflowing drains and nearby Manly Lagoon, ended with cars floating past classroom windows.
But according to a group of HSC students who spoke to The Manly Daily just minutes after putting their pens down on the first English exam, they took the difficulties in their collective stride.
And there was agreement that the first paper “wasn’t too bad”.
Katia Bjorkman, 18, school captain, from Manly Vale, said she “parts of me had been excited” about doing the final exams and finishing her senior years at Mackellar.
“But when I walked in the gates this morning everyone was standing around talking and that made me a bit nervous.
“Once we got into the exams I calmed down a little bit, and I was pretty happy with it.
“We didn’t have year 12 online, but in year 11 it was still quite hard to communicate with teachers, but this year was pretty good.”
Katia, who wants to study medical science, said that in the past two weeks should found “my bit of motivation to study”.
“But I know the HSC is quite long, I’ve still got a few weeks to go.”
Mackenzie Davies, 18, of Manly Vale, said in the months leading up to today’s exam she was not feeling nervous, but as the big day approached, things began to change.
“I was all right for quite a while, but about a week ago I really started to feel the pressure of the HSC.
“I was quite happy with the essay question because we had prepared answers to it in class.
“But it’s been hard to manage study and having social interactions and because of Covid it was hard to remain motivated and focused because we were doing school online for so long.”
Taylah de la Motte, 18, of Dee Why, said she was “really nervous” leading up to the first exam.
“The trials were sort of a nasty shock, which is good because it showed the reality of it.
“It’s a massive exam you have to do.
Taylah said when she first read through today’s exam paper she “exhaled a deep breath that I’ve been holding for so long.
“When I read it I said to myself ‘I can do this, it was really good’ we’ve prepared for this.”
Evie Bracey, 17, of Newport, said she was more nervous two weeks ago than she was on the morning before walking into the exam room.
“It was a bit weird, but I knew I could go back on all my knowledge.
“This morning, I took it a bit easy, talked to friends to see how they were all doing as well and everyone’s kind of accepting it.”
Evie, who has been offered a place at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra to study intelligence with the RAAF, said it had been difficult doing school online last year with the “worry you might have missed out on something”.
Stella Mackenzie, 18, of Dee Why, said in the lead up to the first paper she was apprehensive and uncertain about what the examiners were going to ask.
She said her teachers were a great help in providing exam tips and urging the student to do practice papers.
“We did six minute (writing) sprints in class on short comprehension questions.
“I think we felt prepared.
“I wasn’t completely discombobulated when I opened the page.”
KEIRA HIGH
Nearly 90 Keira High School students will sit the HSC this year with a majority of them tackling the first exam – English paper 1 Texts and Human Experiences – on Wednesday morning.
The Illawarra school‘s vice-captain and advanced English student, Lauren Sheppard, said she had mixed emotions leading into the first exam of a hectic four-week assessment period.
“Before the exam I felt nervous, but excited,” Lauren told NewsLocal.
“Now it‘s done I am relieved it’s over. I thought it was a pretty fair exam”.
This cohort of students have had to navigate the trials and tribulations of pandemic lockdowns which Lauren felt suited her style of learning.
“I am quite independent learner,” she said.
“I enjoy being by myself and having the time to study.”
Standard English Bella Organ-Caldwell student explained she was overcome with nerves walking into the exam room, however, that soon dissipated.
“Before the exam I felt quite ill and I thought I was going to throw up a little,” Bella said.
“It was very nerve wracking and I was just trying to remember the quotes in my head.
But when we started I was feeling more relaxed because once I saw the first question I felt prepared.
“I finished everything and now I feel relieved, so overall I feel okay.”
Kynann Biela also felt the hours of study leading into the first exam held him in good stead.
“Obviously there were a bit of nerves,” Kynann said. five more to go so there‘s still a lot of preparation to be done, but generally I am pretty relieved.
The group of students said they are looking forward to the end of the exam period where they will relax, sleep and go on a holiday ahead of future studies and work.
WAVERLEY COLLEGE & ST CATHERINE’S SCHOOL
Year 12 students at Waverley College in Sydney Eastern suburbs were unexpectedly cheerful as they filed out of the first exams for standard and advanced English.
“The stress hasn’t gone down,” Dexter Craddock said, “but I’ve done it now.”
Daniel McSweeny said there’s a “massive build-up” leading to the first exam. “You just want to get it out of the way, so I was quite stressed to be honest. But I’m just glad it’s done.”
St Catherine’s School head girl Rhianna Jones said she was feeling the pressure “because with the HSC exams that’s sort of the last chance to get marks and boost your ATAR, so that was weighing on me a lot.”
“But now I’m feeling really relieved.”
Waverley College student Christian Kitas said English was an “interesting” exam going into because “you really have to trust your abilities, you can’t just assume you know what you’re doing. I thought it was a bit of a challenging one but I’m glad that it’s over.”
“It was a tough period being in lockdown” in the early months of year 12, Guy Hammerschmidt said.
“But coming out of that things fell back into place and I started to feel a lot more motivated” back in a physical classroom.
“It was kind of stressful” transitioning back to in person school after Zoom classes Alejandro Zanapalis agreed. “But we got through it.”
Boarding school prefect Jemima Hall said she planned to take a gap year up north to work on a cattle station.
“Probably as a “govie” (governess).
Dexter said he “so excited” to take time to reconnect with friends and family after completing his exams.
“The freedom to not be in school and do what I want with my life; travel, make new friends, I’m really looking forward to it.”
HASTINGS SECONDARY COLLEGE
Hastings Secondary College had two lots of Year 12 students sitting their first HSC exam today between the two campuses.
The students from the Port Macquarie campus completed their exam from the Lord St Salvation Army hall, avoiding the constructiontaking place back on school grounds.
There were mixed feelings among the students after their first English exam, with some confident and others just glad it’s over.
Alex Wilson admitted he felt “not too good” about today’s paper.
“I needed more study, and I ran out of time in the exam,” Alex said.
He said he feels more confident in subjects like history and maths, but isn’t sure what the future holds post-high school.
Alex’s classmate Mia is in the same boat.
“I think it went okay, but I’m a bit worried about my results,” she said.
“I feel like my answers were a bit short.”
However, Mia is feeling more prepared for her following exams.
“I’m pretty confident because those classes are easier for me,” she said.
Mia is looking to enter full-time employment as a manager after completing her studies.
Sam felt he performed “okay” today.
“I’m a little nervous about the other English paper, but I’m on top of the other subjects,” he said.
After looking at his first HSC exam, Sam said he’d benefit from “a little bit more study time” but isn’t too worried overall.
“I think I’ll go alright,” he said.
Sam plans on attending university after finishing school.
The cohort’s vice captain, Tom Marks, is feeling confident after today’s paper.
“There were a few tricky questions but I got through them as best I could and that’s all that really matters,” he said.
Tom is looking forward to flexing his creative muscles in the upcoming music exam.
“Music is a fun, so that one should be good,” he said.
The vice captain noted Covid-19 had a “pretty big” impact on his year group, especially with the pandemic starting in theirsenior years.
“It was a bit weird going from home learning back to the classroom, but I think everyone’s adapted pretty well - they’ve donewell to get to where they are today,” Tom said.
He’s hoping the exams go well because Tom sees university in his future, but he’s also applied for some places already onearly entry.
Fellow classmate Jack is also planning to take on tertiary study, with plans to attend the University of Newcastle.
“I want to study to be a PDHPE teacher, but I just need to get in first,” he said.
Covid has also taken a toll Jack in his senior school years.
“It’s had a relatively big impact because it took us away from school for a long time,” he said.
“I think it impacted our attention spans but, at the end of the day, it all comes down to yourself and how much effort you’rewilling to put in.”
Jack feels alright about his performance today.
“I feel like I went okay today,” he said.
“I got through all my questions, which is what I wanted to do.”
He admits he’s a bit nervous for the coming exams - especially maths - but is keen to reach the finish line.
PENOLA CATHOLIC COLLEGE
Jessie Gallea, Tori McLean and Holly Lampard, who are Year 12 students at Penola Catholic College in Emu Plains, walked out of their Advanced English exam feeling an overall sense of relief and satisfaction with how the test went.
Ms Lampard said she was relieved her pre-test nerves didn’t get the better of her:
“I stress so much right before the exam and I can’t remember anything”.
“But as soon as I get in there and I see the questions it all comes back to me” She said.
College vice captain Tori McLean agreed with Ms Lampard.
“Despite the disruptions with Covid, floods over the last few years I think I ended up preparing pretty well.” She said
Similarly Jessie Gallea was pleased with how she felt she went in the exam.
“I feel pretty confident walking in, I knew my stuff, I knew my syllabus.” She said
“I did lots of study beforehand. I kept emailing my teacher Ms Miller and hassling her to give me more questions so that I can prepare.”
Ms Gallea also had an extra bit of stress added by the rain making her worry she’d would miss her exam due to floods.
“I emailed my year coordinator saying what procedures are in place if it floods?” She said.
“I’m from Silverdale the only way to school is through Camden which is two hours.
I can’t drive my car through floodwater”.
The three students said they were relieved the exam felt much easier than previous trial exams and were proud of how their year group was supportive of each other.
“Healthy competition is what got us through, but we didn’t want each other to fail just for us to individually succeed.” Said Ms Lampard.
“We wanted to build each other up and achieve a medium range that really benefits everyone.”
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