“I really admired how the kids in Year 9 in particular were really focused and understood the opportunity this year to meet the minimum standard for the HSC (Higher School Certificate),” principal Ken Barwick said. 

Tuesday saw students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 across the state sit the first of three NAPLAN exams, the writing and language conventions papers. 

Year 9 students at Bathurst High School sat their first exam in the morning and were feeling quite relaxed after seeing the questions. 

The exams are slightly different for Year 9 students this year as they are the first opportunity for students to meet the new minimum standards of literacy and numeracy for the HSC. 

Bathurst High student Lucinda Begg said she felt prepared for the questions she was presented with on the exams.

She didn’t take any issue with NAPLAN being an avenue towards receiving a HSC.

“My goal is just to achieve the best that I can and hopefully a Band 8 [to meet the minimum standard],” she said.

“It’s nice to know that if we don’t meet it, there are other opportunities.”

Fellow student Elise Fowler was also happy with how the exam went on Tuesday.

“The exam was fine, there was just a bit more on our shoulders now that we have to reach standards for our HSC,” she said. 

Mr Barwick said many of the students finished their exam early and had time to review their answers.