By STAFF REPORTERS and NZPA
A Bursary maths exam was so difficult it left students and teachers in tears.
At least three complaints have been made to the Qualifications Authority about the maths with calculus paper.
And teachers will be telling the authority the exam was too hard.
Nelson College headmaster Salvi
Gargiulo, who has written mathematics textbooks, said the exam was "a disgrace" and he had complained to the authority.
"I have often seen students in tears after a paper, but to see experienced teachers in tears makes a real statement about just how stupid the exam was.
"It appeared to be designed to give the producer a chance to show off, and did not give the chance for students to show what they had learned during their mathematics courses," Mr Gargiulo said.
Karl Arnesen, head of calculus at Avondale College, said the Bursary paper was badly written and unfair. "It was a very academic exam and it would have been very difficult to gain marks if you were an average student."
Lydia Philpott, a sixth former at Avondale College, was shocked by how difficult the exam was and had not finished it.
"If you find it hard at the beginning you worry a lot more as you are going through it ... You wonder whether it's your fault or whether the exam was just unfair."
The head of maths at Hamilton's Fraser High School, Chas Paice, said the paper disadvantaged those who spoke English as a second language.
Authority spokesman Michael Steer said he had received two other complaints, which would be passed on to the chief marker.
Marks could be scaled if a paper was found to be too hard, he said.
"It's very difficult to set a paper that is exactly right."
