Students sum up exam
Quick Fact
Okaihau College students and teachers are remaining positive after a controversial maths exam.
The NCEA Level One MCAT (maths common assessment test) set by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority held on September 13 and 15 throughout the country left some students in tears and teachers angry after it was described by some as ‘‘extremely difficult’’.
Teacher Stuart McDonald says the exam was too wordy but feels for most students it would be possible to get achieved.
‘‘Having a difficult question to The MCAT exam was sat by thousands of NCEA Level One students throughout the country.
start tends to put students off.’’
Calls for a resit of the exam by some principals would not be helpful for students, McDonald says.
‘‘The marking schedule can be adjusted, but it depends on how much students put down on paper.
‘‘I know people are upset but it’s not the end of the world.
‘‘Now we just move on and focus on the next exam.’’
McDonald says traditionally the MCAT has been a prerequisite for Year 12 mathematics courses.
‘‘To not accept them based on a poor result from this exam would be totally unfair.’’
Student Dion Wharerau says the exam was ‘‘interesting’’.
‘‘I didn’t think it would be that hard, I felt that I had done enough to pass but I was hoping to get excellence.’’
Wharerau says he is not too worried, but it would be a shame if he didn’t get the higher level credits.
Fellow student Jaimee Whittaker says the exam was harder than expected but will now refocus on the next examination in around five weeks time.
‘‘I’m not too worried, I can’t do anything about it now.’’
An NZQA spokesperson says the authority was aware of concerns raised after the exam and would be responding directly to those who had complained.
NZQA have stated they will not consider a re-sit for the paper.
The spokesperson says the MCAT assessment ‘‘was developed by an experienced team with expert knowledge of mathematics assessment and reviewed by several current secondary school teachers’’. their whanau member home.’’
She said the focus of the police remained on the investigation and bringing the person or people responsible for his death to justice.
Earlier, Moore’s family said they were hopeful the body was that of their relative.
Moore’s sister Marama Moore said the family wanted closure after months of searching.
Moore said the police had done a good job searching for her elder brother, who was last seen in Taipa, east of Kaitaia.
‘‘I think they did their best.’’ The identification of Moore’s body comes less than two months after his brother Gary Moore’s body was found dead by his partner at his Otara home on July 31.
Teina Taunga, 29, has been charged with his murder.