ESL 2016 HSC exam pack (archive)

Section I

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• demonstrating understanding of the concept of discovery
• demonstrating understanding of the overall meaning of a text
• identifying appropriate textual references that demonstrated understanding of discovery
• writing responses that took into account the mark value of the question.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• addressing the key components of each question
• selecting relevant quotations, techniques and examples to support their argument
• including analysis rather than providing a quotation as a complete answer
• avoiding unnecessary detail in their responses.

Section II

Different approaches to the question:

Different notions of Discovery were used as a thesis statement, with better responses linking this clearly to the question.

Some candidates outlined the positive aspects of meaningful discoveries, while others incorporated the idea of the impact of negative discoveries.

One valid approach was to focus on a social issue in regard to Discovery as a link across texts.

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• attempting to address the examination question
• demonstrating knowledge of the texts
• understanding how different concepts of Discovery and discovering are conveyed through texts
• using language features fluently and demonstrating control of expression
• using the language forms and structures of an essay.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• fully addressing the question throughout the response, not simply reiterating the question in each paragraph, or simply stating the question’s key phrase in the introduction and conclusion
• including analysis of the effect of techniques on the audience and relating these to ideas of Discovery
• including analysis of the forms and features of each text, for example, media texts need to engage with structural and cinematic elements
• synthesising ideas throughout the response.

Section I

Different approaches to the question:

One approach was to respond using the first person, evaluating how effectively the study of Australian Visions or Voices had influenced individual perceptions of Australia and its society, values, attitudes and beliefs.

A different but equally valid approach was to consider how effective the composer’s exploration of Australian Visions or Voices, shown through language and textual forms and features, was able to influence the responder’s perspective of Australia and its society, values, attitudes and beliefs.

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• evaluating, through analysis and discussion, how the study of Australian visions or Australian voices has influenced perceptions of Australia in the prescribed text and related text
• developing a thesis
• demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of the prescribed and related texts
• demonstrating understanding of the language and textual forms and features in both the prescribed and related texts
• composing a cohesive response with sustained control of expression
• discussing a range of Australian visions or voices with well-chosen supporting textual evidence to reflect values, attitudes and perceptions within Australian society.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• addressing the question and not merely relying on learnt responses from previous examination questions
• providing an insightful understanding and detailed analysis that links not only to the question but also to the Module and the Elective studied
• engaging and showing a holistic understanding of the texts and avoiding recount of both texts
• demonstrating a thorough understanding of the textual forms, features and structures
• choosing relevant examples and textual references to support the thesis.

Section II

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• demonstrating understanding of the module and the elective
• identifying and explaining texts and skills used in the elective
• understanding the connection between audience, context and purpose
• writing in a personal and reflective voice.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• responding to the question through their knowledge of the elective, not simply creating an answer in isolation from it.
• fully addressing the requirements of the question, not elements of it
• providing a reflective connection between what was studied in the elective and how it had assisted
• including only necessary detail in their responses.

Candidates showed strengths in these areas:

• providing direct information from the text (Q1and Q3)
• locating elements of music (Q4)
• identifying voice techniques (Q5)
• writing a synthesised response(Q6).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• providing a detailed explanation (Q2)
• addressing the question given, such as linking music and sound to structure (Q4)
• identifying examples from the text, rather than a generic response (Q4 and Q5)
• including textual detail in response (Q6).