Those 'separator' exam questions

[JR_StudyEd]

You know when you're reading VCAA exam reports and you see those phenomenally insane questions (usually long-winded and difficult to get your head around) at the end of the exams? And usually only 1-3% of the entire state can get full marks on it, while over 95% of the state gets 0 marks?

I know VCAA has to do this, in order to clearly separate students. It kind of stresses me out though. What if, in the heat of the exam environment, I just freeze up because a) I don't know how to answer the question b) I've answered all the other questions on the exam and am left with this behemoth of a question right at the end worth 10 marks or something and c) My mind is blank and I can't think of what to possibly write. How can I ensure that even if I am experiencing this kind of distress, I still manage to put something down on the page? I can't get any marks if I write nothing.

I'm sorry that this question is quite general, but I'm pretty sure that VCAA also like to put stupidly difficult questions worth 10 marks at the end of other subject's exams as well?

[ashmi]

You know when you're reading VCAA exam reports and you see those phenomenally insane questions (usually long-winded and difficult to get your head around) at the end of the exams? And usually only 1-3% of the entire state can get full marks on it, while over 95% of the state gets 0 marks?

I know VCAA has to do this, in order to clearly separate students. It kind of stresses me out though. What if, in the heat of the exam environment, I just freeze up because a) I don't know how to answer the question b) I've answered all the other questions on the exam and am left with this behemoth of a question right at the end worth 10 marks or something and c) My mind is blank and I can't think of what to possibly write. How can I ensure that even if I am experiencing this kind of distress, I still manage to put something down on the page? I can't get any marks if I write nothing.

I'm sorry that this question is quite general, but I'm pretty sure that VCAA also like to put stupidly difficult questions worth 10 marks at the end of other subject's exams as well?

I absolutely feel you there! (Exactly me in an exam setting too). The best thing to do in an exam which sounds pretty obvious is to stay calm and confident. If you do, you will have a better mindset and be able to think a lot clearer! If you ever see a hard question, make sure you circle or underline keywords and make sure that they are used in your final answer! Turn the big question into small steps at a time and slowly solve them one by one! This will make sure that you have a guideline on what you need in your answer! Leave the hardest questions for last if you can't think of an answer on the spot and come back to it when you have time. By then, your mind will kind of been "warmed up" if you kind of get what I'm saying? When you do practise exams, find a way to do them in the correct setting and replicate it as close as you can to an actual exam! It will help you feel more prepared, trust me . If you see one of those "separator" questions that you can't figure out on the first go, take a deep breath, circle important words and move on to the other questions and come back at the end. Usually, in the exam, there are bound to be some overlapping questions which may help you remember how to solve that monstrous question!

[Sine]

You know when you're reading VCAA exam reports and you see those phenomenally insane questions (usually long-winded and difficult to get your head around) at the end of the exams? And usually only 1-3% of the entire state can get full marks on it, while over 95% of the state gets 0 marks?

I know VCAA has to do this, in order to clearly separate students. It kind of stresses me out though. What if, in the heat of the exam environment, I just freeze up because a) I don't know how to answer the question b) I've answered all the other questions on the exam and am left with this behemoth of a question right at the end worth 10 marks or something and c) My mind is blank and I can't think of what to possibly write. How can I ensure that even if I am experiencing this kind of distress, I still manage to put something down on the page? I can't get any marks if I write nothing.

I'm sorry that this question is quite general, but I'm pretty sure that VCAA also like to put stupidly difficult questions worth 10 marks at the end of other subject's exams as well?

I definitely understand this situation, even for those who are able to answer those separator questions in past exams and practice exams you never know what they will throw at you in the exam so I believe it's a combination of preparation, natural ability and a bit of luck.

I don't think the separator questions are usually 10 marks though, I think the most marks associated to one of these questions was probably 6 in 2013 i think. VCAA actually does do quite a good job such that a student doesn't lose too many marks for not understanding only a single question.

Anyway if you aren't those questions correct at the moment try to gets your hands on as many prac exams as you can and keep getting practice on those questions. This might mean you don't even do full exams and just read the exam and look for questions that you feel you may not be able to do. Also, it is not uncommon for VCAA to repeat the concepts from "separator" questions. If they only wait a couple of years the question is usually done very well but if they wait 15+  years generally students haven't done those questions so the results go back to the same standard.

Also if you know the general concept that the question is testing and the question is something like 3 marks you can usually right a few formulas or try some methods and walk away with 1/3 without knowing how to answer the question. Most assessors hate giving out 0 marks for a question and will be quite lenient if you do something if the quesiton is really hard and most people don't' answer it.

[caffinatedloz]

Most assessors hate giving out 0 marks for a question and will be quite lenient if you do something if the quesiton is really hard and most people don't' answer it.

A comforting thought!

[DrDusk]

I mean you kind of have to let it be. The point is to separate the state ranks from the rest of the state.

I remember in my Maths Extension 2 HSC, I didn't attempt about 10 marks of questions and I still ended up with a mark greater than 90 for it. These questions are meant to test the best of the state and there's not much you can do but brush it off. Sure it feels bad to leave away that many marks but it is what it is. It comes down to a lot of hard work and an all round passion for Maths. My tutor who state ranked in Ext 2 did about 30 past papers under timed conditions.

In the Maths ext 2 HSC the "separator" questions altogether are worth 15 marks so there's not much you can do  =)

[Lear]

I mean you kind of have to let it be. The point is to separate the state ranks from the rest of the state.

Agreed. You don’t need to be able to answer those separator questions unless you add aiming for very high 40s. They are often only with a few marks and are used to separate the 45s from 50s