Classical Greek Continuers 2023 HSC exam pack

Students should:

• use the marks allocated to a question as an indication of the depth and length of response required
• provide translations of prescribed texts that are coherent and fluent
• check their translations to ensure that words or phrases have not been omitted
• pay close attention to the wording of the question to see if it requires them to respond only with reference to the extract(s) given or to other sections of the text they have studied
• address all elements of a commentary question in a logical and cohesive manner, focusing only on relevant information
• support their explanation or analysis with relevant and valid examples, explaining the link between the examples given and the aspect being analysed
• use ellipsis when quoting more than a few words from an extract, for example, οἴμοι… πόσιν, in order to avoid copying long sections of text
• provide an explanation in English of how the Greek is relevant to their argument, and not leave sections of quoted Greek text to speak for itself.

In better responses, students were able to:

• translate accurately, showing close knowledge of the text (Q1a,b)
• apply knowledge of the text to the specific question (Q2a,b)
• demonstrate understanding of context, situating an extract accurately in the prescribed text (Q2bi)
• demonstrate understanding of the argument of Republic I (Q2biii)
• use detailed knowledge of the analogies Socrates draws between the arguments and professional skills (Q3)
• provide an assessment rather than just an outline of how the use of analogies strengthens Socrates’ arguments (Q3).

Areas for students to improve include:

• engaging with the detail of the extracts to show understanding (Q2a,b)
• making a clear judgement and using appropriate evidence from the text (Q3).

In better responses, students were able to:

• translate accurately, showing close knowledge of the text (Q4a,b)
• demonstrate an understanding of the context of the extracts (Q5b)
• explain how language and meter contribute to the depiction of character (Q5a)
• focus on the significance of the extract in terms of the structure of the play, demonstrating understanding of the development of plot and of relevant themes (Q5b)
• assess the success of the development of an argument (Q5c)
• demonstrate pertinent knowledge of the whole play to make a judgement about whether the conclusion of Alcestis is appropriate (Q6).

Areas for students to improve include:

• focusing on the specific question asked, rather than providing a general discussion of related material (Q5c)
• stating a clear answer before developing a supporting argument (Q6).

Students should:

• refer to all the information provided for the translation of the unseen extracts (the introduction, the translated section and the vocabulary)
• use the grammatical questions as pointers, designed to draw attention to those points of grammar necessary for an accurate translation.

In better responses, students were able to:

• interpret accurately the syntax of lines 389-390, 393, 396-397 (Q7c)
• provide a coherent translation which reflected a clear understanding of the overall sense of the extract (Q7c, Q8d)
• deal effectively with complex sentence structure (Q8d).

Areas for students to improve include:

• identifying accurately the mood, voice and person of verb forms (Q7b, Q8b)
• recognising vocabulary encountered in the prescribed text (Q7d, Q8d).