KEY POINTS:
Name: Julia Reynolds
Age: 17
School: Avondale College
Exam: Level 2 history
How do you think you went?
"I think overall I did pretty well, it was mostly what I expected it to be like. There was only one part which was different - one of the essays was structured differently."
What mark do you give the exam paper: not achieved, achieved, merit or excellence? Why?
"Probably merit. I was hoping for Excellence but that might be a bit hopeful."
What was the oddest question in the exam?
"You had to refer to all these sources (newspaper extracts, photos, eulogies etc) on the death of Princess Diana and answer questions. It was kind of morbid. There were photos of the car crash and everything."
What was the hardest question? Why?
"None of the paper was extremely hard. You kind of knew what was coming."
Will you study the subject again next year?
"Yes, I'm doing Level 3 history next year. I think it's important people learn about the past. History gives you a broader understanding of how the world works."
What is your top study tip?
"Don't leave it to the last night to study. That's one of the things teenagers always do, including me. Plan ahead so you don't have to cram."
TESTING TIMES
Among yesterday's exam questions:
LEVEL 1 HISTORY
Essay topic: What aggressive actions by European and Asian nations threatened world peace between 1930 and 1937? How did nations and organisations respond to these aggressive actions?
LEVEL 3 HISTORY
Essay topic: Explain the factors that caused the Elizabethan government and some local authorities to decide to deal with the problem of the poor. Evaluate the consequences of the legislation on the lives of the poor in early modern England.
TODAY
Morning: Level 1 English, Level 2 Te Reo, Level 3 Media Studies, Scholarship Science.
Afternoon: Level 1 Te Reo, Level 2 Media, Level 3 Te Reo, Calculus.