KEY POINTS:
The first of this year's high school exams got under way yesterday, apparently without a major hitch.
Day one of the exam season - which runs until December 5 - kicked off with level 1 and 3 chemistry, level 2 art history and the scholarship drama tests just before 9.30am.
In the afternoon, level 1 information management, level 2 chemistry, level 3 art history and scholarship Chinese exams ran.
The Herald spoke to one student about how she went.
NAME: Natalie Hines
Age: 18
School: Mt Albert Grammar
Exam: Level 3 art history
What mark do you give the exam paper: not achieved, achieved, merit or excellent? Why?
"It was pretty much what was taught [in class]. I was expecting what I got but there was one question that was a bit difficult but that was just because it was hard, not because it wasn't what I expected ... A pass mark - definitely."
How do you think you went?
"One section was exceptionally good. The other two - I don't know how it went - I knew the answers and stuff but it was kinda shaky."
What was the oddest question?
"Describe Michelangelo's personal artistic ideas ... All the rest of them are like, 'Describe this art work and the meaning behind it' and stuff and this one's like, 'Personal ideas'."
What was the hardest question?
"[In analyse style in art] compare and contrast the treatment of the figures between these two [pictured] artworks ... They are both women with two children and one's a painting and one's a sculpture and that's basically the two differences. I didn't really feel there was much I could answer on that."
Will you study the subject next year?
"No, because I'm not going back to school. I'm going to Bible college next year. And then after that I want to do communications at AUT."
What is your top study tip?
"Because I love music, it would probably be to not listen to music while I'm trying to study."
TESTING TIMES
Among yesterday's exam questions
Level 1 chemistry
A compound was analysed and found to contain:
20.2 per cent phosphorus
10.4 per cent oxygen and
69.4 per cent chlorine
It has a relative molar mass of 153.5.
Determine the molecular formula of this substance. Show all of your working clearly.
Today
Maths level 1, Te Reo Maori level 1, 2, 3, Classical studies level 2 and 3 and statistics and modelling scholarship.
