Why are vcaa making the methods exams harder each year?

[DinWell]

Last year's exam 1's last question as just about equating 2 tangents together, which was much easier than yesterday's last few questions

You can reduce any hard question to some simple tasks. This years last question was just about finding some integrals, which didn't make it easy.

[Lear]

it's arrogant to state that an exam was "accessable" when it really wasn't, that's all i'm trying to say

Conversely, it is narrow thinking to assume your view on what is accessible and not accessible holds true for the whole state and VCAA.

[integrationbyrecognition]

A contributing factor may be that you likely did past year's exams under less pressure-filled situations than you did this year's exams under. That can skew your perception of "difficulty". Something that you have a heap of time to do or can work out solutions with friends and can troubleshoot makes for easier work than something you have to do independently under the pressure of your final exams.

Generally that's true but yesterday's exam wasn't hard due to the pressure, it was hard since there were questions that have literally "never" appeared on the past vcaa exam 1's or even company exam 1's, such as the value of k for one solution and the "odd" "even" questions

[DinWell]

Generally that's true but yesterday's exam wasn't hard due to the pressure, it was hard since there were questions that have literally "never" appeared on the past vcaa exam 1's or even company exam 1's, such as the value of k for one solution and the "odd" "even" questions

Odd and even question was similar to a question on 2015 exam I believe.

[integrationbyrecognition]

Conversely, it is narrow thinking to assume your view on what is accessible and not accessible holds true for the whole state and VCAA.

Even though I don't agree with your opinion on yesterday's exam, I still think there will be students who scored 40/40.

[S_R_K]

it's arrogant to state that an exam was "accessable" when it really wasn't, that's all i'm trying to say

Ok, so let's say we all agree that it was hard.

So what? It achieves nothing for you. VCAA aren't going to start playing violins. Get prepared for exam 2, and any other exams you still have to do. Stay focused on the things that are within your control.

[Meddling]

it's arrogant to state that an exam was "accessable" when it really wasn't, that's all i'm trying to say

The chances are, everyone would've found it hard.
The Exams rank people based on their scores, so what if you under-performed, everyone would've too.
If you did last year's exam, I think you still would achieve the same score because everyone would've found the difficulty similar to you.
So what I'm saying is, your rank will not really change because the exam is harder as everyone would've found it hard as well!

Just don't think about it until you get your scores and focus on your next exams.
I thought I did bad and found methods exam hard last year but I think that was mostly attributed to the pressure I was under, which might be the case here.

[integrationbyrecognition]

Odd and even question was similar to a question on 2015 exam I believe.

yeah but that was exam 2 of 2015, not exam 1. And the question about finding the value of k for one solution has never appeared on any vcaa or company exam 1's before. Same as the area of the shaded region and the very last area question. (they've also never showed up on any vcaa or company exam 1's)

[DinWell]

Generally that's true but yesterday's exam wasn't hard due to the pressure, it was hard since there were questions that have literally "never" appeared on the past vcaa exam 1's or even company exam 1's, such as the value of k for one solution and the "odd" "even" questions

If that's the case, then VCAA have made a good exam. They're not supposed to test your ability to do questions that you've done before.

[integrationbyrecognition]

The chances are, everyone would've found it hard.
The Exams rank people based on their scores, so what if you under-performed, everyone would've too.
If you did last year's exam, I think you still would achieve the same score because everyone would've found the difficulty similar to you.
So what I'm saying is, your rank will not really change because the exam is harder as everyone would've found it hard as well!

Just don't think about it until you get your scores and focus on your next exams.
I thought I did bad and found methods exam hard last year but I think that was mostly attributed to the pressure I was under, which might be the case here.

this time it wasn't the pressure, it was the difficulty level gone insane imo

[integrationbyrecognition]

If that's the case, then VCAA have made a good exam. They're not supposed to test your ability to do questions that you've done before.

Yeah fair enough, it's just that I thought it's only exam 2 that has insane level questions, not exam 1

[Lear]

If that's the case, then VCAA have made a good exam. They're not supposed to test your ability to do questions that you've done before.

Agreed. Expecting that VCAA will regurgitate same questions year after year is silly. What's the point of having a new exam then LOL. Might as well hand the same exam to students at the start of every year and give the same one at the end :')

[S200]

Might as well hand the same exam to students at the start of every year and give the same one at the end :')

At least you could see what skills you built on from 1/2...

[integrationbyrecognition]

If we get a statement of marks, can we see the actual exam we did in hard copy?

[passbleh24]

If we get a statement of marks, can we see the actual exam we did in hard copy?

No you can't.
Only the literal marks for each question given by both markers.