Had enough dealing Acids and Bases? Thinking about dropping HSC Chemistry? Well, we are here to make sure you’ve got all the facts before you make the big decision!
We’ve looked at the stats from over the past few years, crunched the numbers from UAC’s scaling data and the NSW public school course enrolment figures and now we present the ultimate fact sheet for those considering dropping Chemistry! We cover the drop rates, percentage of Band 6 achievers, the top ATAR you can score and more!
Interested?
Let’s get started.
But first…
What to consider when dropping a subject
What are the few key things you should consider before dropping HSC Chemistry?
- Will dropping Chemistry actually help you get a better mark?
- Is Chemistry a prerequisite for a university course you want to study?
To help you figure out whether or not you should drop a HSC subject, check our article here!
Or check out our video on it below!
How many students drop Chemistry?
Between 2019 and 2020, 33.16% of people who took HSC Chemistry ended up dropping it. This is around one in 3 students or a total of 2907 people!
Looking at the historical data across the past 8 years, we found that on average, 33% of a cohort taking HSC Chemistry will eventually drop it.
Are more or less people dropping HSC Chemistry?
Over the past 8 years, the number of people dropping Chemistry seems to fluctuate between 30% – 35%. So, over the past few years, the number has remained relatively steady.
Are more girls or boys dropping HSC Chemistry?
There is only a small difference between boys or girls who drop Chemistry. On average, 31.74% of boys drop Chemistry, compared to 34.29% of girls.
Before you decide to drop Chemistry, why not let our team of experienced HSC Chemistry tutors support you in mastering the Chemistry course and acing your HSC exam!
Is HSC Chemistry a popular subject to drop?
Chemistry is often considered one of the most difficult subjects in the HSC. Making sure you are doing the right type of science subject is one of the biggest considerations students have when selecting their HSC subjects. It’s not surprising to see Chemistry as one of the most dropped HSC Subjects.
In fact, HSC Chemistry is the second most dropped subject in the entire HSC with 3,088 students, on average, dropping it each year!
What’s the average mark for people who take HSC Chemistry vs Biology and Physics?
Ah yes! What everyone wants to know. So, what is the average HSC mark students get doing Chemistry?
Well, we’ve crunched the numbers and the average mark for students who’ve taken Chemistry across the past five years is 77.2, or a Band 4. Actually, the average mark for Chemistry has been between 77 and 78 since 2016!
Looking to get into into the Band 6 range? Use these 5 HSC Chemistry Study Techniques to get ahead!
But what about Biology and Physics? The average mark for Biology is 74.8, or a Band 4. And the average mark for Physics is 75, also a Band 4. Meaning the average mark for Chemistry, Biology and Physics lies within the Band 4 range.
What else do you need to consider before deciding to drop HSC Chemistry? Use our HSC Subject Decision Tree Tool to find out today!
How likely is it that I’ll get a Band 6 in HSC Chemistry?
Now that we know the average mark is 77.2, you might be wondering what is the likelihood of you scoring that Band 6? We’ve looked into it and found that over the past five years, typically 11.6% of students who take Chemistry get a Band 6. This is a little over 1 in 10 people!
Keen to get a Band 6? Start with Module 5! Check out our study guide for HSC Equilibrium and Acid Reactions to improve your notes!
What about the other Bands?
Interestingly, despite the average mark being a Band 4, the majority of people actually receive a Band 5 in HSC Chemistry! Around 31.4% of people who take Chemistry get a Band 5! The next largest group is Band 4 with 27%, followed by Band 3 with 20.2%.
You can view the entire HSC Chemistry Band breakdown below!
Want to know what the most dropped subjects are for the HSC? Check out our ultimate guide here!
What’s the top ATAR I can get with HSC Chemistry?
Technically the highest ATAR you can score with any subject is 99.95 – since that’s the highest ATAR you can achieve in the HSC! For HSC Chemistry, the highest ATAR achieved for a student taking the subject has always been 99.95.
Even though 99.95 is the highest ATAR possible, it hasn’t always been achieved in every subject. Interestingly, among the languages we see that it has been difficult to achieve that top ATAR, for example, the average top ATAR for students who take Armenian has been 96.40. For students taking Portuguese, the average top ATAR is 82 for Portuguese!
Curious about the drop rates for other subjects?
Check out the stats and figures we’ve compiled for the following subjects:
Losing motivation in school? Check out these 4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Drop Out of School to remind yourself where the HSC can take you!
Looking for extra help with HSC Chemistry?
Art of Smart is here to help with inspirational HSC Chemistry mentoring and tutoring.
Whether or not you decide to drop or keep Chemistry, our tutors and mentors can help you feel confident in the subject! Learn the entire Chemistry Syllabus, how to write a Band 6 responses, and ace your depth studies with 1 on 1 tutoring in your own home, online or at one of our campuses in Hills or Hornsby!
Over the past 10 years, Art of Smart has a proven track record of helping over 8,000 students feel confident and improve their marks by 20.7%!
To find out more and get started with an inspirational tutor and mentor get in touch today!
