CAFS
HSC Enrichment Day
2012
Exam Technique
Exam Structure
• Section I : Core 1, Core 2, Core 3
Part A: 20 marks
• Questions – 20 Multiple choice questions
• Answer on separate multiple choice answer
sheet.
Part B: 55 marks
• Questions – Short answer questions
• Answer on lines provided.
• Section II: 25 marks
• Questions – Options
• One short answer and one extended response
question for each option
• ONLY answer the questions for the option you
have studied
• Answer in a separate writing booklet
Time Allocation
• Exam length is 3 hours (180 minutes)
• PLUS 5 minutes reading time
• BOS recommends the following time breakdown on the
front page of the exam paper
Section I:
• Part A:
35 minutes - Multiple choice
• Part B:
1 hour and 40 minutes - Short answer
Section II:
• Option 1:
45 minutes - Short answer and extended
response
Things to Ponder
• What will you read in the reading time?
• What section will you start first?
• What will you do if you draw a blank on a
question?
Activity 1.
Marking the HSC
• Marking guidelines.
• Pilot marking/real marking.
• Script double marked (Option only).
• Discrepancies.
• Positive marking.
‘Quick Tricks’
• Evaluate the extent to which community service
groups assist in meeting the needs of ONE group
you have studied.
8 marks
What to include in a response
•Name group and write a definition (show knowledge
of legal and/ or social definitions)
•Show knowledge of the needs of the group
•Show how community service groups help to meet
the groups needs
•Make a judgement as to how effective OR
ineffective the community service group is in
meeting the groups needs
•Use examples
Activity 2.
‘What are the Quick Tricks’
1. Read the question
2. Identify the marks allocated
3. Circle the HSC word/s so you know HOW to
answer the question
4. Underline the syllabus points so you know
WHAT the question is asking you about
5. Read the question again for key hints
6. Use acronyms to remember key concepts
Activity 2 Cont.
Scaffold for writing a response
Verbs
How to answer
Sentence
Name
Define
Identify
List
What are the areas of
content?
e.g. The Homeless can be defined as …
e.g. The needs of this group include...
e.g. A community service group (CSG) called …
Describe
Outline
Recall
Recount
What are the features? /
e.g. these needs refer to…
What are the characteristics?
e.g. the features of this CSG are OR services offered by this
/
CSG include
What are the properties?
Explain
Account
Apply
Illustrate
What are the reasons why? /
What is it for? /
How does it work?
e.g. these are needs for the group because …
e.g. this CSG offers these services because/…
Analyse
Compare
Examine
What are the specific
elements?
How do the areas relate?
Why is it important?
What can happen?
e.g. this CGS helps/meets these needs by…
e.g. this is important because…
e.g. if the CGS does not meet these needs then…
Critically
analyse
Discuss
What are the positives and
negatives?
How effective is it?
e.g. the best thing about this CGS is…
e.g. the negatives about this CGS are…
e.g. this CGS is effective to an some extent…
e.g. this CGS is ineffective to a degree….
Why is it effective or not?
What might it lead to?
What is your judgement?
e.g. this CGS is extremely effective / ineffective because….
e.g. as a result of this CGS being ineffective the groups
needs are…
e.g. due to the effectiveness of this CGS the groups needs
are…
e.g. the CGS is therefore not effective / very effective
Evaluate
Predict
Assess
Framework for writing a logical and
clear response
Point
Elaborate
Example
Link
One minute madness
STOP!
START !
Activity 5.
Support Networks
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Teacher/tutor
HSC Advice line 13 11 12
Stuvac study groups
Textbook/study guides/past papers
BOS site – coping with stress
BOS sample answers