A-level exam question 'copied from book'

The Examinations Authority was criticised yesterday for apparently copying a question and graphic from a reference book for this year's physics A-level exam paper.

The South China Morning Post has found that the question in the paper is similar to one in Physics Beyond 2000, which is widely circulated among candidates. The graphic below the question is identical to one in the book.

This is the second case of alleged copying of questions from reference books for this year's A-level papers. Another question, a calculus problem in which (6-x) was mis-typed as (x-6) in an equation, was apparently duplicated from a maths textbook.

The physics question - which candidates were set in their exam on Wednesday - requires them to explain circular motion under artificial gravity in space. In the question, astronauts live at the periphery one kilometre from the centre of a space station - the figure in the reference book is 1.5km.

Setters of questions in open exams are not allowed to copy from books sold on the market.

One physics teacher at a secondary school said the authority had made a serious mistake. 'Though there are minor differences between the two questions, the duplication of the graphic leaves the impression that the exam paper copied from that reference book,' he said. 'Besides, the authority may have infringed the copyright of the publisher.'

Cheung Kwong-yuen, head of subjects division at the Examinations Authority, said the matter was being investigated. He disagreed that the setter had copied the question from the book and said it was not unusual for exam questions to 'have some relation' to questions in textbooks and reference works.

'We are not trying to set rare and unfamiliar questions,' Mr Cheung said. 'Circular motion is a common physics theory and the formula required to explain it is quite simple.'

But the physics teacher said the question concerned was not a classical situation and not widely taught. 'It is obvious the setter copied the situation,' he said.

Au Pak-kuen, vice-president of the Professional Teachers' Union, said setters in open exams should adapt questions printed in textbooks.

Mr Cheung denied the authority had infringed the copyright of the publisher concerned. He said the copying of printed material for exam purposes was exempt under the revised Intellectual Property Ordinance.

Cheung Man-kwong, the legislator representing the education sector, said he would ask the authority for an explanation.

Graphic: HKA27GET