On Tuesday, approximately 75,000 Year 12 students across New South Wales sat the first of their final school exams, tackling an English question centered on the theme of human strength and vulnerability. The exam asked students to explore how the composer of their prescribed text provided opportunities to examine assumptions about these themes. For many, it was a challenging start to the Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams, which mark the culmination of their secondary education.

At Canley Vale High School in Sydney’s west, where nearly 200 students took the exam, opinions on the test varied. Kayden Tran, 18, began the day feeling stressed but afterwards expressed satisfaction with his effort, saying he felt content and believed he had done his best. Mary Alnimry, 17, entered the exam feeling confident after preparing by listening to David Bowie’s "Heroes," a song she associates with English study. She described the paper as fair and typical of expectations.

Some students, however, expressed uncertainty about addressing the question in full. On social media platforms like Reddit, students shared their experiences, with one commenting on the complexity of the question, while another admitted to focusing mainly on vulnerability and strength without fully engaging with the aspect of assumptions, leaving them concerned about their responses.

Alana Miller, an experienced English teacher at Canley Vale High with 17 years of exam preparation behind her, noted that exam nerves extend beyond students to educators as well. She emphasized the school’s efforts to engage students by incorporating diverse reading materials, including fantasy novels and Japanese manga, to cultivate a love of reading among resistant learners. Miller highlighted the importance of meeting students where they are to foster engagement and confidence.

For many students, self-belief was critical. Seventeen-year-old Zenith Diep said she felt “not too bad” about her exam, acknowledging that while she was unsure if she fully answered every question, she trusted in the preparation and effort she had put in.

Effie Niarchos, principal of Canley Vale High, described the HSC as a significant milestone representing years of teaching and learning. She acknowledged rising student anxiety in recent years, which she attributed in part to heightened community expectations and broader societal changes. Nonetheless, as the last students completed their exam on Tuesday, Niarchos expressed pride in the cohort, calling them “our future” and emphasizing the school’s commitment to preparing students for life beyond high school.

The results of this year’s HSC exams are scheduled for release on December 16.