Abstract

In this note, I comment on recent trends in the NSW Extension 2 Mathematics examination, which is often portrayed in local media as an unacceptably difficult exam. I believe that the examination problems are heading in a good direction, because they incentivise deeper problem solving strategies over memorisation of routine computations and algebraic tricks. However, students are usually exposed more frequently to the latter view of mathematics, which leads to the view that the exam questions are unfairly difficult.

NESA, the NSW Education Standards Authority, have now released the 2023 exam paper for Extension 2 Mathematics, the highest level of mathematics offered at the high school level in New South Wales. It has become a tradition that the conclusion of this particular exam is accompanied by various local media reports describing the exam as a “brutal” ordeal, with “sadistic” questions that left students feeling utterly defeated. (The quoted words are not hyperbolic, by the way. I pulled them straight out of this article). Speaking personally though, I have been quite happy with the development of the Extension 2 Maths exam in recent years (that is, since the new syllabus was first examined in 2020). Overall, it seems that the examiners are moving away from a predictable exam format, and are happy to feature questions that require ‘genuine’ problem solving — as opposed to the more routine calculations found in every high school maths textbook even at this advanced level.

From the students’ point of view, however, I can certainly see why they might be caught off-guard. As I just mentioned, exercises in the typical high school maths textbook do not leave much to the imagination. Of course, it is essential to use routine calculations to acquire a basic competence in any mathematical topic. The problem is that very often, there is not much more. Here is a simple example to fix the ideas¹ :

Continue reading “Brief remarks on the HSC Extension 2 Mathematics examinations” →