No wonder exam results are on the slide

Read the original at The Sydney Morning Herald ↗
Cite

No wonder exam results are on the slide. (2026, October 21). The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/no-wonder-exam-results-are-on-the-slide-20261021-p617az.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.

The Sydney Morning Herald · collected 2026-10-21

Quick Summary

This article compiles anecdotes from readers about their experiences with exams and studying methods through the years. Contributions range from using outdated tools like slide rules to more unusual strategies such as bringing jelly beans for energy. The piece also includes a note on biblical interpretations and a plea from a reader to limit mentions of small world coincidences, reflecting on various aspects of academic pressure and nostalgia.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-21, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

AI analysis runs on qwen2.5:14b, locally

Story summary

Edward Loong of Milsons Point, responding to various anecdotes about past exam experiences shared by readers, has become the focal point in a discussion about unusual exam practices and old-school study tools. Readers have reminisced about using calculators instead of logarithm tables and slide-rules, carrying jelly beans for energy during exams, and even resorting to extreme methods like stabbing oneself with compasses to regain composure. Valerie Bray from East Killara mentioned still possessing her old slide-rule and book but struggling to remember how to use them. The anecdotes highlight the evolving nature of exam preparation techniques over time and raise questions about current educational trends, possibly contributing to recent declines in exam performance as noted by some educators.

Written for “Exam Results Decline” on 2026-10-21, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Exam Results Decline
Education · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

Nothing to compare against. No article is close enough to this one for the pipeline to have linked or judged the pair.
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
17
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
18%
3 of 17 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
61/100
The Sydney Morning Herald's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Education
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-10-21 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

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Who wrote this

No reporter is named on this article.

Topics

Baulkham Hills East Killara Milsons Point Pennant Hills Thrumster

Subjects

Baulkham Hills GPE · 2× George PERSON · 2× David Prest PERSON · 1× East Killara GPE · 1× Edward Loong PERSON · 1× Ian Nicholls PERSON · 1× Pasquale Vartuli PERSON · 1× Pennant Hills GPE · 1× Thrumster GPE · 1× Valerie Bray PERSON · 1×

Narrative

At the request of John Lees of Castlecrag, these will be the last instances of small world coincidences mentioned: “I love Edward’s contributions (probably partly driven by the fact I too am a retired lawyer) but do we really need to set the dogs running on this topic?”
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-21
🔮 David Prest of Thrumster writes: “When I started my Mechanical Engineering Certificate in 1975, I was forced to get a calculator as the rest of the class were worried that my use of logarithm tables and slide-rule (C8) wouldn’t be fast enough during the exam.
2026-10-21 · The Sydney Morning Herald
No wonder exam results are on the slide · assertive framing

Claims (17 extracted, 3 hedged)

David Prest of Thrumster writes: “When I started my Mechanical Engineering Certificate in 1975, I was forced to get a calculator as the rest of the class were worried that my use of logarithm tables and slide-rule (C8) wouldn’t be fast enough during the exam. asserted
use → write → exam
I still have that calculator but the logarithm table book and the slide-rule have since gone.” asserted
book → have → calculator
Perhaps Valerie Bray of East Killara can help: “I still have my old slide-rule and book of logarithm tables. asserted
I → help → tables
The problem is, I’ve forgotten how to use them.” asserted
I → forget → them
“I once sat for an exam with an array of jelly beans (for sugar),” says Pasquale Vartuli of Pennant Hills. asserted
Vartuli → sit → Hills
“I noticed an examiner looking at them to see if I had inscribed any messages on them. asserted
I → notice → them
” Ian Nicholls of Baulkham Hills makes a good point “Years ago, during an engineering lecture, the topic of exam nerves came up. asserted
topic → make → nerves
Our stern old school professor said self-control was important and went on to tell us that when he had a panic attack during an exam, he had to stab his hand with his pair of compasses to regain control.” asserted
he → say → control
Edward Loong of Milsons Point (C8) has a fair bit to unpack regarding his new-found fame: “No, Graham Lum, I ain’t Edmund – he’s my older brother! asserted
he → have → fame
“Ian Rewell claims four members (himself included) of the final year of Sydney University Medicine in 1977 being published in Column 8. uncertain
himself → claim → Column
If you publish this, I can claim five!” uncertain
I → publish → five
We can do that, David Baines of Eastwood. asserted
We → do → Eastwood
At the request of John Lees of Castlecrag, these will be the last instances of small world coincidences mentioned: “I love Edward’s contributions (probably partly driven by the fact I too am a retired lawyer) but do we really need to set the dogs running on this topic?” asserted
we → mention → topic
“According to the biblical account, Moses did more than injure the calf (C8),” attests Meri Will of Baulkham Hills. uncertain
Will → accord → Hills
“He melted it, ground it into a fine powder, mixed it with water and made the people drink it! asserted
people → melt → it
“Space probably restricted George from including the second verse of the Bogong Moth Migratory Throng Song (C8) which includes Geelong Galong Gooloogong Quorrobolong Gerringong and Wooden Bong,” surmises Peter Miniutti of Ashbury. asserted
Miniutti → restrict → Ashbury
“Keep writing George, it’s been Oolong.” asserted
it → write → George
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