THEIR final year didn’t go exactly as planned, but the class of 2020 hope to finish on a high.

South Australian year 12 students are currently in the throes of their final examinations, with Monday morning’s Mathematical Methods exam kicking-off the SACE major written exam period for the next three weeks.

Around 3000 students sat the Stage 2 Mathematical Methods exam, followed by more than 1300 students who took their Stage 2 Essential Mathematics exam in the afternoon.

Among them were Gawler & District College seniors Rachel Baker, Dana Kennewell, Daniel Copley and Lachlan Knott.

The students have been focussing on their goals for next year to get them through the final leg of year 12 study, which also includes several major essays or assignments.

“I just really pushed myself this year,” Rachel, who hopes to study primary teaching in 2021, said.

“I thought with COVID pushing everybody back this year, I really wanted to focus on myself and get good grades.”

Classmate Dana also hopes to study primary teaching, as well as equine management, and underwent a math exam on Monday. She will have another, for modern history, on Thursday afternoon.

Dana said she has remained determined COVID-19 won’t affect her studies or final year 12 result, but has still felt the loss of a ‘traditional’ senior year.

“Things like excursions, being able to spend more time doing in-school activities, like we were supposed to do year 12 camp and that got cancelled; and so things most people would have done in their senior year, we were unable to,” she said.

“I think for many it could have been better, but everyone is doing the best they can for how it has happened so far.”

A total of 12,495 students from 205 schools will sit at least one Stage 2 exam in 2020 – 2779 in country South Australia and 9716 in the metropolitan area.

Students will also sit electronic exams in nine subjects, increasing from three in 2019, while the most popular exam subjects this year include general mathematics, biology and psychology.

Gawler & District College B-12 Head of Senior School Angela Karatassa said the year 12s are travelling well in regards to their studies, and while nervous, are staying positive.

“They are obviously terrified, but excited at the same time,” she said.

“But we actually say to them ‘don’t let the SACE happen to you – take a hold of it, and you control it’.

“There is always options. They will be successful and this is just a small part of that journey.”

Education minister John Gardner believed in spite of a global pandemic, students and teachers have shown the tenacity and resilience to rise to the challenge.

“Thanks to the hard work of our public health officials in tackling the pandemic, and the leadership of educators across the state, our students have benefitted from the least disruption to their learning this year of any students in Australia,” he said.

Students will receive their SACE results on Tuesday, December 15.