HUNTER students are glad to relegate their content-heavy Ancient History exam to the past, saying the paper was challenging and asked questions based on specific elements in the syllabus.
Lambton High's Rayna Lamack and Abbie Palmer were among 7316 students across the state to sit the four-part paper over three hours on Thursday.
"It was a little bit tricky but it was not not doable," Rayna said.
"It made us think a bit more than we thought we would and was more challenging than expected."
Abbie said some questions were "out of left field" compared to past papers.
"They were really specific ones, about tiny details of battles and that kind of stumped me," she said. "Other than that it was what we expected."
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The girls said summary notes had been vital to remember specific dates and details across so many different areas of study.
"I definitely feel a weight has lifted off me, I'm probably ready to burn my notes," Rayna said.
The first section on the cities of Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum, asked what ancient writings revealed about the eruption of AD79, followed by three questions that asked students to incorporate previously unseen sources.
"The first question was a bit tough for me, but the remaining three were not that bad and I could integrate the sources with my own knowledge," Rayna said.
Abbie said she was confident with the question about the eruption "but I struggled with the last two, so used the sources to support my answer".
The second section on ancient societies seemed "very specific" and asked students to outline the role of women in the Spartan period, what Greek writers wrote about cultural life in Sparta and what archaeological and written evidence revealed about the Spartan economy.
Both girls said the question about women was easiest to answer.
The third section on personalities in their times asked students to outline problems with Alexander the Great's succession to the throne, how he won the Battle of Gaugamela and to assess his personality using a provided quote.
"I did not like the question about the battle," Rayna said. "It was a minor part of the syllabus expanded into a six marker." Abbie agreed, "but we got through it".
In the fourth section on historical periods, Rayna answered why the Delian League transformed into the Athenian Empire and Abbie answered how significant Plataea was to Greek victory in the Persian wars.
The exam fell on Abbie's 18th birthday. She also studies Modern History and Extension History.
"It's been stressful, but it's alright and I'm glad it's done," she said.
"I know a few people who have exams on their birthdays and they're not too stoked."
Her next exam is Monday, so she had time for a celebratory dinner.
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