The paper, English Standard and Advanced, was roundly declared to be fair, buoying confidence for the exam marathon ahead.

Sarah Orman, 18, said the paper was “just what I wanted”, adding there were no unexpected questions and it was solidly based on the syllabus.

“And the last question was a dream!” Sarah said.

Fellow student Shelly Blain, 17, said the paper fitted well with her studies.

“It was pretty good and with the preparations we had done, it was pretty easy to adapt to the questions,” Shelly said. 

“The creative writing question fitted exactly into my plan.”

Eighteen-year-old Timothy Daley’s thoughts were similar:

“Although it is the luck of the draw, it all lined up well with what I studied for ... it was still a lot of work though!”

Thirty Nambucca High students are sitting for their Higher School Certificate this year. 

The exams will continue from now until Wednesday, November 5; there are a total of 18 exam days that will 

test everything from Chinese to Legal Studies to the Entertainment Industry.

Today’s exams include Human Services, Information Processes and Technology, Tourism and Events as well as Construction.

Tomorrow it is Dance, Engineering Studies plus Community and Family Studies.