2020 HSC exam in NSW leaves students stumped with artist’s image

An artist’s image of a man rowing a boat with a pencil left many year 12 students stumped when it was in their exam. Can you solve it?

When you see the words in this image, what do they conjure up?

Gone are the days of exams having right or wrong answers - students sitting their exam for the year 12 HSC in NSW were presented with an open-ended question that left them confused.

The picture of a man rowing a boat with a pencil in a sea full of words was created by Seattle-based artist Julie Paschkis who wants children to “savour language and to play with word”.

But some students didn’t even know some of the words or what they were supposed to do with them.

RELATED: Boy’s homework question baffles mum

HSC students were asked to respond to this image by Seattle-based artist Julie Paschkis who said her work was about encouraging students to think creatively.

What do you think about the exam question? Have your say in the comments below

They were asked to explain how the image used a variety of language forms and features to communicate ideas about being creative.

“The words were so odd — some of them I had no idea what they even meant, some more simple words like sun and honey were very, very random but some of them I had never even seen before,” Bradfield Senior College Year 12 student told The Daily Telegraph.

“In class we learnt about how to dissect images … It was confusing being given a picture — do we talk about the features visually like colour, or do we solely talk about words because that was what was in the question?”

Ms Paschkis said in the US schools were teaching students there was one right answer to questions.

“I like the idea that things are more open ended,” she told the Telegraph.

“I love language and I feel like when you’re really familiar with a word you go right to the meaning but when you don’t know a word sometimes you hear the sound of it or what it looks like, it can take you to other places.

“When I put a word in a painting I am thinking about the meaning of it, but I am also thinking about the sound of it or the look of it, it is a more playful approach to the language, it is not just one meaning.

“It is not like I don’t think there are facts for you to learn, but my hope in education is that there is room for open ended exploration.”

Yesterday Hollywood megastar Cate Blanchett sent a message of hope to year 12 students struggling during coronavirus, saying she’s in awe of their “monumental” achievement.

The Oscar-winning actor said members of the class of 2020 have become “national heroes” for completing their schooling during a pandemic.

“This country has your back, and these exams are not the end of things. They are not the final word, and they do not, they do not define you.”

The HSC was scheduled to begin on October 15 but was pushed back to this week, while oral language exams were delayed by a week in August.

Last month Sydney Girls High School in Moore Park closed and had its trial HSC exams postponed after a student tested positive for COVID-19.

Students are expected to receive their HSC results at 6am on December 18.