English paper one asked students to complete three sections: comprehension, creative writing and an essay. 

At The Scots School, there were 27 students sitting the exam, 14 of these day students and the remaining 13 boarders. 

Students felt some parts of the exam had been challenging, but the questions were overall quite fair. 

“I was pretty prepared; the questions were good,” Georgia Flude said. 

She said the first exam had helped her become familiar with the HSC exam process, which will hopefully make the next few weeks easier. 

“The one is always the hardest because you’re not used to the rules,” she said. 

Her fellow student Lewis Wilde said he felt “pretty relaxed” during the exam.

He said the most difficult section for him had been the creative writing portion of the exam.

“I can tell stories, but I can’t write them up,” Lewis said. 

He also felt Monday’s exam had prepared him for the coming weeks. 

The HSC exams will continue on Tuesday with the second English paper for all students in the morning and the primary industries and Japanese beginners papers in the afternoon.