The last question of the pure mathematics examination at intermediate level was not in the syllabus, Matsec admitted yesterday.

The Opposition called on the authorities and the Matsec board to immediately look into the matter after receiving several complaints from students and parents regarding the pure mathematics exam at intermediate level and on the physics exam at advanced level.

In a statement, Matsec said the process of drafting an examination paper involved a panel of people. Such panels would consist of at least two individuals, one of whom would be tasked with reviewing the paper. The panels drafting the maths and physics examination papers had been doing so for years and had the extensive, necessary experience expected by students of the subjects, it said.

The reviewer’s task, Matsec continued, was to ensure that the paper was of the desired level, that it could be worked out by the students and that there were no questions that deviated from the syllabus.

However, question 10 of the pure maths paper, which carried six marks, was not in the syllabus, Matsec confirmed.

“The Matsec examinations board apologises for this error and will be taking the necessary steps to ensure that the candidates are not disadvantaged.” However, in the case of the physics exam, the panel of examiners confirmed that all the questions were covered by the syllabus, Matsec said.

A mathematics teacher, who preferred not to be named, said he was as frustrated as his students by the final question.

“The last topic centres on matrices, which is an easy subject, so many teachers advise their students to start from the last question.

“So imagine starting off with the last question, which is supposed to be easy, and finding it impossible to figure out. It throws the students off balance, demoralises them and also makes them waste a lot of time needlessly,” he said.

The syllabus also needed to be clearer because there were times when it was rather ambiguous.

“I think the Matsec system needs to be overhauled. You need to have a person tasked with drafting the paper, another with working out the paper and yet another with ensuring that everything is according to syllabus. Someone should take responsibility for negligence,” the teacher said.

Meanwhile, physics students told Times of Malta that according to the new syllabus, there should not be any questions on thermometers. However, the paper contained two of them.

A physics lecturer said thermometers were no longer in the syllabus, adding he had complained to Matsec.