UPDATE (22/04/25)
I’ve written a post about the SM1 video, here.
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Commenter Sentinel has just pointed out that VCAA has posted a “video” for each 2024 VCE exam. Links are below. Each video is accompanied by the following description:
In the following video, the Chief assessor for the examination will describe the general marking principles and solution pathways to complete the paper with written solutions that would attract full marks. Where appropriate, descriptions of working for Multiple Choice questions and related CAS techniques will also be explored. It will be useful during viewing to have access to the external assessment report and assessment guide for the examination.
God knows when these appeared. In any case, each “video” consists of slides with an audio voiceover, working through some of the exam questions. So, more than just PowerPoint slides, and our title is a cheap shot, but much less than meeting the assessors in person with the opportunity to query VCAA’s decisions,* so the cheap shot is not that cheap. The slide-audios are presumably better than nothing but there is still zero excuse for VCAA’s sleazy arrangement with MAV.
We have not yet looked at the videos, although it seems safe to assume nothing of much substance or candour is said on contentious questions. There are obvious exam questions to check out, of course. We’ll update after we’ve had a look, and of course readers are welcome and encouraged to comment. The links follow (with the videos near the top, with the other 2024 exam stuff).
General Mathematics
No Exam 1 video
Exam 2 Transcript (W,I)
Mathematical Methods
Exam 1 Transcript (W,I)
Exam 2 Transcript (W,I)
Specialist Mathematics
Exam 1 Transcript (W,I)
Exam 2 Transcript (W,I)
Foundation Mathematics
Exam transcript (W,I)
*) It should be noted that a screwy VCAA decision on a screwy exam question is not necessarily the Chief Assessor’s doing. Unless we know who to blame, and usually we do not, then we do not know who to blame.
A minor point, but it looks like the solutions in the videos were written using LaTeX, and not Word.
Meaning the equations in the slides? That would not be that minor a point.
There is a feature in Word’s equation editor that allows
input. At a guess, maybe that is what was done?
I know I do it myself when someone superior requires me to submit exams in Word (for reasons that remain slightly beyond my comprehension, but that is not relevant here).
Ah, interesting. Thanks, RF. Mac’s Pages has a similar capability, which I sometimes use when writing stuff with just a little mathematics.
I suspect there would be a video for GM exam 1 because no assessors was required to mark the 40 multiple choice questions.
Could be wrong but that’s my feeling.
The exam report to that does provide detailed analysis though.
VCAA didn’t announce these videos but it’s good to see them made available to public. And there will be a FAQ for each maths subject soon – I heard that last year.
Hmm. “Why do you keep stuffing up?” is a question I ask frequently, but I guess we cannot expect an answer to that one.
Thanks, Sentinel. That’s a plausible answer re GM1, if a regrettable answer. Note that the Hungarian nonsense was in GM Exam 1. And, though the “analysis” in the exam report may be “detailed”, that does not mean it makes any sense. (It does not.)