I agree, essays were fair although I loathed the short answer questions... especially Vertical exaggeration.
It's so unfair, i think the 2002 HSC was SO much easier. MC, Short answer and essays were ALL easy with the exception of the ecosystem biodiversity question.
I wish the Board of Studies were more consistent with their difficulty levels instead of working in cycles. Don't they realise they're affecting one whole forms results in a subject??!
And one more thing, i think the topics covered should be a bit more comprehensive. What a waste to have studied urban dynamics when not one question required knowledge of it.