A national academic body has weighed in on Tasmania’s grade 11 and 12 exam timetable.
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The Australian Institute of Physics has written to Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff to request the timetable for two subjects be tweaked.
As it stands Physics and Mathematics Specialised will be held within 90 minutes of each other.
The Australian Institute of Physics says many students study both of these subjects and the content is quite complex.
Earlier this month college students around the state queried the clash. A petition has attracted more than 500 signatures. In previous years both subjects have delivered some of the highest scores to put towards university entrance scores.
The Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification was required to produce a 10-day timetable for about 17,000 students across 47 subjects.
This is not an easy task. There are often clashes for students or exams within a day or two. But, this clash is clearly a unique situation. Both subjects are intricate and are very demanding. It makes sense for the subjects to be moved.
The incident raises the questions of exams. They’re at times a contentious and sometimes described as antiquated. Naplan is often criticised because of the exam environment.
On paper exams and tests are a great concept. They offer a chance to grade students based on a uniform test from a set curriculum.
We also know that not everyone learns or expresses their knowledge in the same way. We have seen our education system adapt to these various learning styles through play-based learning, Big Picture schools and VET programs. People can be auditory, visual or kinesthetic learners.
When you add the peer, self and social pressure to the situation it can raise many issues for those sitting the exams. The anxiety and stress can impact a performance.
These days recruiters are often looking for interpersonal skills and passion for their industry. It’s not knowing everything from memory, but knowing where to find the answers if you’re not sure.
While the concept of exams won’t disappear anytime soon, what we can ensure is that students are supported and know that the exams don’t define them as a person. The marks are just that, and you should only ever compare yourself to yourself.
