We were alerted to this one by Simon the Likeable. It is a question from the QCAA 2025 Mathematical Methods Paper 2, together with the marking guide. (It may more properly be a PoSWW, but every time someone throws one of these stats questions at me, my brain tries to flee my body and so I can never properly judge.)
Category: WitCH
WitCH 155: AERO Foil
I was gonna let this one go but an email prompted me to reconsider. Then, I wasn’t sure how to do it, and pondered either a quick PoSWW or a full-blown post. In the end I decided to handball it to the aether and make it a WitCH. It is a triple bunger of nonsense, and readers can decide which bunger offers the biggest bang. Continue reading “WitCH 155: AERO Foil”
WitCH 154: AAMT’s Excellence in Unreadable Statements
No, we’re not by any means done with whacking PowerPoint and scripted lesson plans and the explicit overreachers. But, there are a couple things fresh in the in-box, and it would be a relief to quickly out-box them. And, the easy way is to WitCH them and then worry about them, well, probably never. Continue reading “WitCH 154: AAMT’s Excellence in Unreadable Statements”
Witch 153: Reduced Complexity
As with a bunch of these WitCHes, one dearly wishes that it were a PoSWW but it probably isn’t. In any case, there is more stupidity in this one than (hopefully) first meets the eye. It is a spin-off of a recent PoSWW, and is again a question from WA: 10(b) from the 2024 Mathematics Specialist “calculator assumed” exam, together with the marking key.
And, before we get going with the WitCH, a quick question. I understand that most Australian mathematicians take the University of Melbourne approach of not giving a stuff about school mathematics. Nonetheless, one has to ask: Is there even a single decent WA mathematician paying any attention whatsoever to what kids are being fed in their backyard?
WitCH 152: Euler Nothing
This one was brought to our attention by frequent commenter, SRK. It is similar to the previous WitCH (and note this post), in that it is more properly a PoSWW but there may be some discussion (and there is some cloudiness in the grading). It is Q17(a) from 2025 General Mathematics Exam 2. The network above is introduced with some preamble about a gym hosting a competition, with activities at various stations; the edges of the network are the walkways between the stations. The students are then asked,
Here is the assessment guide and the report on the question (W,I)):
WitCH 151: an Intercept and a Fumble
Yep, we’re just in time for the Super Bowl. (Go Seahawks, go Bad Bunny.)
This WitCH is an offshoot and instigator of our VCAA Grading Madnesses post. (And, please, you guys have to do some work.) It is more properly a PoSWW, but it may cause a little confusion or argument, so let’s go with “WitCH”. Continue reading “WitCH 151: an Intercept and a Fumble”
Witch 150: When Worlds Collide
This is Q5 on yesterday’s VCE Specialist Mathematics Exam 1, and I haven’t had time to go through this (or any) question, or even properly read the comments. Possibly (and possibly not) the “C” is too harsh, and maybe the “C” might better stand for “clunkiness”. I try very hard to not post unless I already have a very clear idea what is going on, which I am doing now, but there clearly seems to be enough consternation that the question warrants its own post, and I’ll try to look properly soon. For the previous discussion, readers can begin about here, and readers may also wish to consult an old PoSWW (and a very old WitCH is also somewhat relevant). Continue reading “Witch 150: When Worlds Collide”
WitCH 149: Tasmania Has Deloitte to Learn
Yes, this is Deloitte, Part 2. Last year, while Victoria was in the midst of the 2024 leak debacle, it seems that Tasmania was going through something akin to Victoria’s 2023 admin-typo debacle. A number of “errors” were found on senior exams, leading to Tasmanian Assessment Standards & Certification instigating an independent review by – who would’ve guessed – Dial-a-Leech, Deloitte. Continue reading “WitCH 149: Tasmania Has Deloitte to Learn”
WitCH 148: Scoot
This is the last in our series of 2024 QLD Methods whacks (unless someone flags something else). This one is from the 2024 QLD Methods “Technology-active” Exam. The intended solution can be found in the marking guide (pp 33); the subject report appears to say nothing about the question. Continue reading “WitCH 148: Scoot”
WitCH 147: Ice in Their Vains
It’s back to the 2024 QLD Methods “Technology-free” Exam. The intended solution can be found in the marking guide (pp 16-18), and an “authentic student sample” is included in the subject report (pp 30-31). Continue reading “WitCH 147: Ice in Their Vains”