MORE than 560 students in the Lake Macquarie state electorate began their Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They were among more than 70,000 students across the state who sat the compulsory two-unit English paper on Monday.
St Paul's Catholic High School students Bayley Amos and Lachlan Adams agreed the first half of the test was slightly different to what they expected.
The second half, however, was very similar to what they had practised in class.
"This year, the first half of the test had four questions to respond to. Last year had five. So that meant we had to put more time into each of the questions because they were worth more marks," Lachlan said.
"The second half was creative writing, and the question was pretty much the same as last year's question, just worded differently."
Although the exams are the culmination of their schooling years, the boys are keeping cool heads.
When the stress levels get too high, they said the best medicine is physical activity, music and catching up with mates.
Lachlan said despite all the study he still manages time to go to his friends' 18th birthday parties.
"It's important to still live a normal life and not to let the HSC dictate what you do," Bayley said.
The pair said they will feel a mixture of relief and nostalgia when they put down their pens in their final exam.
"I'm keen to get it over with and let all the hard work pay off," Bayley said. "I think it will be a bit nostalgic at the end of the last test. School is something that has been a part of our life for 13 years.
"I'm definitely going to miss this place."
HSC exams continue today.
Among the papers being sat are Human Services, Information Processes and Technology, Tourism and Events, Japanese (Continuers), and German (Continuers).