I can at least safely say AoS is easy, perhaps the most redeeming part of the English HSC syllabus as it AT LEAST requires students to convey simple ideas using sophisticated language.
But the modules are literary diarrhea. There is absolutely ZERO consistency in how these 40 minute essays are marked. If yours is a decent essay, it can range anywhere from between 12 - 17 / 20, depending on how petty the marker is.
Also, I'm getting really sick and tired of those markings on essays that are like, "Why didn't you include this?", "You should have given further evidence here" blah, blah, blah... Literally I feel like saying, "And you expect me to write all that, at the top of my head, in 40 minutes, do you?"
I think it is only fair that students are given the opportunity to mark a HSC markers' 40 minute essay, that way when they're done we can say, "A closer evaluation is needed here!!!" or "This is awkward expression" and award them a generous 12/20.