VCE English exam: Section C question frazzles students

THE VCE English exam threw a curve ball at students asking them to analyse two subtly different opinions.

Brunswick Secondary College students after the first big exam of the year. Picture: Tony Gough

THE VCE English exam threw a curve ball at students asking them to analyse two subtly different opinions.

Section C usually asks students to write about two contrasting texts but today’s exam, which launched a three-week barrage of written tests for senior students, had two texts with a similar stance praising volunteering.

Victorian Association for the Teaching of English president Melissa Goffin said Section C had surprised teachers.

It appeared straight forward, but the differences between the two texts were so subtle that “lower range” and even some “middle range” students would have struggled.

She said it “lacked opportunities for strong analysis”.

Brunswick Secondary student David Vadori, 18, said he was a bit frazzled after the exam due to the “subtler nuanced” question, but was feeling positive.

“I enjoy English, but I’m not going to say I enjoyed the exam,” said David, who hopes to get into Monash to study arts and law next year.

Troy Koikas, 18, also of Brunswick, said: “The practice exams were much harder than what I had to endure.” He also wanted to do law.

Elowen Amos, 17, said the exam was “fair and interesting”.

The texts about volunteerism were accessible and easy for most people to relate to, said Elowen, who plans to take a break from studies next year before studying sciences.

About 43,000 students sat the English exam.