SMH: HSC board praised for ease of maths paper (1 Viewer)

superbird

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HSC board praised for ease of maths paper
By Kelly Burke, Education Reporter
October 27, 2004

Another strife-free Higher School Certificate mathematics paper has teachers congratulating the NSW Board of Studies for its willingness to listen and act on their concerns.

But the board has rejected the accolades, arguing that the maths exams tailored for the less numerically inclined were consistent with previous years.

As with Monday's more advanced two-unit maths exam, teachers praised yesterday's general maths paper for its fairness and accessibility.

A spokeswoman for the Mathematical Association of NSW, Margaret Bigelow, said the paper was clearly articulated and free of "major dramas and nasties".

"I think the board has listened to the feedback they've been given," she said.

"They're taking it on board, and they should be commended."

Since the HSC syllabus was overhauled in 2000 the Board of Studies has come under increasing criticism by teachers and academics for doing away with Maths in Society and Maths in Practice - subjects that encouraged less academically inclined students to continue with maths.
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The new general maths course was simply too hard for many of these students, critics argued, prompting many to do away with the subject altogether.

But a spokeswoman for the president of the NSW Board of Studies, Professor Gordon Stanley, denied this year's maths papers were any easier than previous years.

"The board's instructions to the examination committee do not vary," she said.

"The committee's job is to develop papers that assess students' performance against the same standards each year."

To add weight to the board's argument, the spokeswoman said the committee began working on exam papers 12 months in advance, and was in the early stages of writing next year's.

However, Simon Suters, head of maths at Airds High School in Campbelltown, said the general maths paper was comparatively straightforward.

"By past years' standards it was easier," he said. "In previous years it's been a bit too difficult for the general population of kids who elect to do this course."

Mr Suters said the multiple-choice section was an opportunity for some "meaty marks".
 

hfis

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Fairness? Ease? Did they even look at the damn paper?
 

Sweet_Lemon

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wat de HELLLLLLLLLLL
they call this easy?????? THEN they should do it first...before give to us!!!!!
 

Shifty

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fuckin bullshit........this years test was harder than last years.....fuckin
 

Sweet_Lemon

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still. general they doing 3 unit binomial... god...tat was shoking when our teacher told us~~
 

acmilan

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I think thats dumb though, people are getting happy that the standard is easier. I dont want to start an arguement, its just my opinion.
 

Li0n

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Acmilan is correct once again.

Can someone tell me what is the point of something being easy?
 

idontgetit

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Shifty said:
fuckin bullshit........this years test was harder than last years.....fuckin
No way. I improved by about 20 marks compared to 03. Its the hardest 2u I did
 

Slidey

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How the smeg is an easy test a good test?

Does not compute.
 

acmilan

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It will be interesting to compare number of band 6's this year compared to last year
 

ay_caramba

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they're talking abt the standard paper rite... they better be :S
advanced paper was kinda hard..for me :(
 

coroneos

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well the candidature gets better every year apparently.. according to SAM calculations lol
 

dark`secrets

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the previous year's exams are easier and straight foward
 

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