It’s been fun VCE times down here in Victoria, but reportedly there have also been issues up north. While our students have been lamenting their inability to calculate the area of a 20 x 20 square (Murdoch, paywalled), New South Wales’ HSC students have been struggling with projectiles subject to air resistance. Same same. Continue reading “A Scaffold for Nothing”
Tag: HSC
A Choice of Difficults
You have a choice. The two questions below come from different exams:
- The first question was the final (half-)question from the NSW 2020 Mathematics Extension 2 Examination (scientific calculator permitted, plus provided formula sheet);
- The second question was the final question from the Victorian 2020 VCE Specialist Mathematics Examination (CAS calculator permitted, plus provided formula sheet).
Each question was (arguably) last year’s most difficult exam question on the most difficult mathematics subject in that state. Each question was effectively allocated just under 20 minutes to complete (11/100 x 180 and 13/80 x 120).
Now, you must choose: which question is better, in any sense of the word “better”?
NSW (Formula Marking guide and sample solution are here.)
VIC (Briefly discussed here, marking guide and sample solution are in your dreams.)
