The first Higher School Certificate exam is now over and done with.
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Sixty-four students from St Mary’s College and Gunnedah High School sat English paper one on Thursday morning, with Primary Industries following in the afternoon.
Ahead of the English exam, St Mary’s student Grace said she was “quite nervous” but also “excited to start the exams because that means they will be closer to finishing”.
When the NVI spoke to Grace after she left the exam room, she said she was glad it was over and she “needed more time”.
“I liked the question for the essay [but] I think I struggled to remember my creative [text] more than my essay. I think my essay was pretty good,” Grace said.
“It will just be a like a rhythm you’ll stay in and smash it out until the last one.
- Jess Moore
Grace said her nerves made it difficult to sleep on the eve of the exam.
“I slept fine in the holidays but just not last night; I was a little bit nervous,” she said.
Fellow student Max Crowhurst said “I remembered everything I needed to remember” and completed the creative section of the paper first because he found it easier.
“My creative writing I felt was pretty good,” Max said.
“I felt the most prepared for it.”
Max said he felt less confident about paper two on Friday, which will include poetry and a play.
Over at the Gunnedah High School, Jess Moore had a good run with the first paper.
“I’m actually feeling really good. I was really happy with the paper,” she said after the exam.
“I really liked the questions, especially the creative writing. It’s usually my favourite when I’m writing.
“I felt prepared and I felt really confident with myself and I walked out with a big smile on my face and everyone's like ‘Why are you smiling?’ and I said, I’m just happy that it’s over’.”
Jess hit the books again straight after the exam before heading to work for the afternoon.
“[I will] work then go home and have a good night’s sleep, then get up and have a good breakfast and get back into it,” she said.
“It will just be like a rhythm – you’ll stay in and smash it out until the last one.
“All done and dusted.”