Worked examples to financial ratios questions

I’m more interested in students’ processes than their answers.

To help with this, in my classroom, I try and extensively model how I would answer questions — particularly financial ratio questions — so that students can replicate my thinking, rather than focus on the correct answer.

The benefit here is that it doesn’t really matter what students get asked. If they apply a good quality process, they’ll be in a great position for success.

Here are some past HSC questions on Finance. I’ve sourced them from NESA. I’ve recorded two videos (below) that take students through my precise process for answering each question. You can play this however best you see fit — have the students try and answer them, and then compare their process with the video; have students watch part one and then attempt part two on their own. Whatever works best.

Process is the focus.

But this takes all too long!

One criticism you might get from students is how this all takes too long in the context of an exam.

I don’t disagree. In the HSC exam, I tell students to only spend around 1-2 minutes per multi choice question.

The point is that students will get faster. They'll recognise the patterns of questions and the connections will form more quickly. They'll only need to do an abridged process in the exam setting.

But it takes time to develop great habits and an excellent process. So, I push them to take all the steps even as they protest.

Trust the process.