What the HSC Chemistry Exam Will Look Like

Worried about what to expect from the HSC Chemistry Exam? I know I definitely was! 🫣

While it’s impossible to predict the exact questions that will come up, I’ve compiled my TOP insights taken from my 3+ years of Chemistry tutoring and teaching experience. 

I’ll share the key strategies that turned my marks around to a Band 6, and help you navigate the HSC Chemistry exam paper to do the same 💯

We’ve got step-by-step explanations for each type of question you can anticipate in your exam, complete with top tips for answering them  👀

Let’s dive in!

Structure of the HSC Chemistry Exam 

Necessary Calculations, Formulae and Maths Skills

Section 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Section 2: Modules

How to Ace a 5-9 Mark Question

Structure of the HSC Chemistry Exam 

Chemistry Sample Paper Sourced From NESA

Note: Section I is entirely multiple choice questions while Section II consists of short answer and extended responses.

A  few things regarding the format jump out straight away:

1. You’ve got 1.8 minutes per mark on average. This is the same as the past HSC Chemistry exam papers.
2. The multiple-choice section is 20% of the paper (in marks and time). This is the same as before.
3. The 80% extended response section is the rest of the paper and it’s the same questions or everybody (there is no “option” topic part to this).

So, let’s have a look at these sections!

Necessary Calculations, Formulae and Maths Skills

But before we get started on specific sections, who here is worried about the mathematical component of the chemistry content?

Although it can be daunting, practice, practice and more practice means you’ll have this in the bag by the time the HSC comes around. 

I also happen to be a mathematics tutor (and fanatic), so keep scrolling for the tips and tricks that will help you nail this section ✅

The concepts that need calculating…

Here are the whole lot of calculation concepts over the two years: 

Here’s what the top of your formulae sheet will look like from the HSC Chemistry exam:

Chemistry Formulae Sheet Sourced from NESA05

These formulas might not seem like a lot, but rearranging them is key to expanding the number of situations we can apply them to and simplifying everything!

Rearranging Chemical Formulae

If you’re looking to brush up on useful maths and calculation skills, then this section is for you!

These techniques have simplified further practice questions for my students and I promise will for you too 💪

Now, for trickier equations: 

Steps and Tips on Answering Maths Heavy Questions

Let’s take this question as our example:

Section 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Everyone thinks multiple choice questions are easy, and compared to some of the extended response questions they can be.

But they’re also designed to catch you off guard 👀

As 1.5 minutes of working time are allocated per mark, you have 35 minutes to complete this section.

That being said, if you can finish the multiple-choice section in 30 minutes, you’ll have an extra five minutes to plan longer responses in Section II.

During the reading time, I read the multiple choice questions and determined which I would be able to answer easily, and which would require more time.

Once the writing time started, I sped through the easy MCQs and moved straight to Section II- leaving the tricker multiple choice questions for later.

This was the most efficient and mark maximising process that worked for me! It allows you extra time for the back of the paper where more answer-planning and deep-thinking come into play.

If you’re running something like the -10% model, where you aim to finish the exam with 10% of your time spare, this can be a great place to win time. 

💡Note: Try not spend two minutes on any of these multiple-choice questions until you’ve made your first pass through the rest of the paper. If you’re exceeding time, come back to them. 

If you do the paper in order and start with the MCQs, remember:

1. Your chemistry brain (and your brain chemistry) is still warming up
2. You’re at your highest anxiety level at the start – you’re still worrying about the rest of the paper.

Got 5 minutes? Use these 3 quick steps to ace HSC Chemistry!

Types of Multiple Choice Questions in the HSC Chemistry Exam

Roughly speaking, there are three types of questions you’ll get in MCQs:

1. Fact Checking
2. Concept Checking
3. Calculation

Tips for Multiple-Choice Questions

Statistically, when you change your answer, you’re more likely not to gain a mark (or even lose one) than you are to gain a mark. 

What does this mean? Trust your gut!

Most multiple choice questions are designed to be easy, but expect a difficulty gradient with the last couple of MCQs aimed at a Band 6 level.

(This is where I would recommend moving on to the Section II questions, and attempting the challenging MCQs during your second run of the paper).

💡Note: The options often involve 1 correct answer and three “trap” answers, which NESA created by guessing at common ways to trip over the question.

How to Answer a Fact-Checking Question

Fact-checking types are the easiest marks in the HSC Chemistry exam.

All they require is that you recall a fact, and pick the right answer out of the four.

Consider Question 3 from NESA’s sample HSC Chemistry exam:

2019 Chemistry Sample Paper Sourced From NESA

This question tests your understanding and ability to interpret the information given on the formula sheet.

By using the information on the formula sheet, you can match up the peaks of the IR spectrum shown with their corresponding functional groups and eliminate incorrect options.

The broad peak on the spectra sitting between 3250-3500 identifies the compound analysed as an alcohol.

Therefore the correct answer is B.

How to Answer a Concept-Checking Question

Multiple-choice questions also include concept-checking questions. 

These are a little bit harder because they require you not just to recall, but to think.

Take a look at Question 2:

2019 Chemistry Sample Paper Sourced From NESA

You’ll have to bring a deep understanding of concepts to this one as this one cannot be won by glancing at it and knowing.

For this question, you will need to understand the difference between static and dynamic equilibrium.

Static equilibrium: The stable state of the system emerges because none of its constituents change – for this reason they stay in fixed relative amounts.

e.g. a system that completely depletes one of its reactants and none of the product molecules fall apart.

Dynamic equilibrium: The stable state of the system emerges because the system rate-matches its interconversion of products and reactants, keeping their relative amounts the same overall.

e.g.  A system that rate-matches the forwards and backwards reactions, so therefore must have stores of both available at equilibrium.

Based on this logic:

• D cannot be the answer as both panels depict static equilibrium
• C cannot be the answer as the right panel depicts dynamic equilibrium (the reaction will still be turning reactant in to product, since both reactants are still present in quantity)
• B cannot be the answer as each panel depicts the opposite type of equilibrium
• A is the answer (confirm this to yourself as a way of checking the logic applied to the other answer options)

See how, in this type of question, there’s a lot more than just picking out one essential fact.

It takes some active thinking on your part.

Looking for more Equilibrium and Acid Reactions Practice Questions?

Calculation Questions

The concept-checking question is similar to the calculation question. But these are generally a bit easier.

This is because there are not many different calculations you can be asked to do. So, you can study and get ready for all of them!

Let’s have a look at another example:

2015 HSC Chemistry Exam Sourced From NESA

Note: This question is of a Band-6 Level. Expect Q19 & Q20 to be at about this level in the real exam.

This is a calculation question, but it is quite involved. The key to calculation questions is to make every mistake possible in handling them prior to the exam.

By the time you arrive at this HSC question, you should be highly experienced in solving these types of problems. All the mistakes you could have made have already been made!

But, you can actually solve this one without a calculator (what a time-saver!)

Remember, since pK_a = – logK_a, a high pK_a flags an acid as dissociating to a lesser extent. If you zoomed into the solution, you’d still find intact acid molecules all over the place when the pK_a is high.

But why?

Weak acids leave behind pretty strong conjugate bases that are really good at picking those H⁺ ions back up and re-building the acid as it tries to fall apart (even ripping protons off passer-by water molecules in the solvent).

Then, a solution of a salt of a strong conjugate base will remove hydrogen from water (as it does in a solution of its conjugate acid), forming OH– in solution.

This will be the solution with the highest pH: The one with the strongest base (associated with an acid with the highest pKa)

Answer: C

Some questions (not all) are calculation-based but can be won with raw logic. Other questions are just purely computational.

So, use them to help you work backwards.

1. If there’s an answer that’s definitely wrong, cross it out.
2. If there’s one that’s the odd one out of the other four, it’ll either be the right answer or very, very, wrong!
3. If you can narrow down your choices, you may even be able to find the right answer by taking out three wrong ones, or at least narrow your chances to take an educated guess between the two.

💡Tip: You just need to identify the most correct answer out of the four provided.

Section 2: Modules

Offering 80 marks, the modules are the bulk of the HSC Chemistry exam paper – give yourself more than two hours for them.

Because it runs on well-thought-out, well-phrased answers, I always recommend smashing out your MCQs and getting 2 and a half hours. 

Like with the MCQs, it is often helpful to “speed-run” Section 2 of the paper, answering all the questions that you can confidently answer before doubling back and tackling some of the harder ones.

This is beneficial because it allows you to get all the marks you can, instead of getting stuck and losing time trying to answer a trickier question earlier in the exam.

It’s also super helpful because it allows your brain to warm up into its chemistry mindset- like at the gym, where you warm up with something lighter than your rep weight. Similarly, get your chemistry brain going by starting with easier questions and then cycle back to the harder ones.

Just like we subdivided the MCQs, this section is best divided:

• 1-2 Mark Questions
• 3-4 Mark Questions
• 5+ Mark Questions

1-2 Mark Questions

These questions are just asking you to regurgitate information that you have been taught. These questions will use verbs like “explain”, “identify” and “demonstrate”.

The mark break-down for any of these questions will look similar to this:

2023 HSC Exam Marking Guidelines

1 mark is always given for some relevant information, and the full two marks can only be achieved by correctly answering the question.

Are your marks a little shaky in HSC Chemistry? Practise these 6 tips to turn your Chemistry marks around!

3-4 Mark Questions (Mid-Range Questions)

3-4 markers take a bit more work.

They tend to come in two varieties:

• Skill questions, involving things like graphing or experiment design
• Word questions, where you need to write a little diatribe.

Vocabulary in 3-4 Markers

3-4 markers tend to use verbs like “describe”, “explain” and “justify”. 

These are verbs that involve not only recall of facts but ask you to draw connections between several facts, often cause-and-effect.

Often these require you to draw links between the fundamental chemistry (i.e. what’s going on at the atomic level) and the effect that we actually observe.  

Here’s a stack of marking criteria from NESA’s sample HSC Chemistry exam for the new syllabus, with a clear verb pattern:

Example ‘Skills’ Question

Let’s take a look at skills questions first. This one here involves an IR spectrum.

If you’re super switched on, you’ll notice this is kind of a concept-checking version of Question 3 we looked at from the MCQs, where all you had to do was ID the compound.

This time you have to “justify” two possible answers as the question asks; and this also requires you to know some facts (absorbance wavelengths).

2019 Chemistry Sample Paper Sourced From NESA

While the criteria doesn’t spell it out,  you get one mark for each of the 4 requirements.

For example, in this case, it’s likely a mark for the right answer (two structures) and then 3 marks for correctly justifying the structure from each of the three absorbances (shown or conspicuously absent from the spectrum).

2019 Chemistry Sample Paper Criteria Sourced From NESA

Leading up to the HSC Chemistry Exam? Follow the ultimate 7 Day HSC Chemistry Study Plan!

5-9 Markers: The Heavyweights

5+ markers are what separate the Band 6s from the 5s.

Basically, they involve the high-order verbs such as:

• Discuss: Provide pros and cons
• Assess: Make a judgement as to the value of
• Evaluate: Make a judgement based on criteria

Make sure to spend some time planning your answer before jumping in.

You only have limited space to convey lots of information!

As an example:

2019 Chemistry Sample Paper and Criteria Sourced From NESA

Notice the quality gradient in the marking criteria above for high-end scorers.

See how the verb slips downwards:

• Explain: Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide why and/or how
• Describe: Provide characteristics and features)
• Outline: Sketch in general terms; indicate the main features of

Check out the rest of the NESA terms and definitions!

For the full 9 marks, you have to not only know the meanings of accuracy, validity and reliability and how they’re different. But, you also had to include experimental methods that would enhance each of these (i.e. all three).

Slip down to 8 marks, and you only addressed two terms from accuracy, validity, and reliability.

💡Tip: As a general note for this section, try not to go over the allotted number of lines for your answer — particularly if the rest of the page is blank.

The exam writer allocated that number of lines for a reason, and that reason was to try and keep your answer concise.

If you go wildly over the line-space, you haven’t treated other questions with adequate time somewhere in the rest of the paper.

How to Ace a 5-9 Mark Question

Simply put, your answer here is like a mini-essay.

You have to address the question directly and quite methodically.

Imagine you’re having a conversation with someone who you really don’t like but you have to get your point across.

As someone who was not very good at English (the subject!), I created my own “formula” for answering long response questions that enabled me to score in the top range. 

Step 1: Outline the Main Aspects of the Question

First, dot point any relevant information near the question (but avoid trying to use the lined space for this).

Collecting the information in dot-points helped me gather the aspects I wanted to talk about, without stumbling over my sentences. It also gives you a good overview.

Step 2: Use the PEEL acronym 

Next, I loved the PEEL acronym, as much as it may be overused. 

If you’re like me and the written side of the exam is more challenging, I promise it will save you time.

5 and 6 Markers

For 5 and 6 markers you only need to use the PEEL structure (but ensure you repeat the EE’s for all points the question is asking for). So, it’ll end up being the ‘PEE…EEL’ structure.

7+ Markers

These heftier questions will often require two separate PEEL paragraphs with an introductory sentence right at the start (before your first PEEL paragraph) and a concluding sentence right at the end (after your last PEEL paragraph).

💡TIP:  Just because it is a written question, doesn’t mean that you can’t weave chemical equations, diagrams or charts throughout your response. – in fact, it’s almost always better to include them!

So that’s the HSC Chemistry Exam in a Nutshell!

We know the HSC Chemistry exam will look like a lot.

But, knowledge is power.

With this guide on hand and more HSC Chemistry resources below, practice and go into this exam with bulletproof confidence:

• HSC Chemistry Module 7: Organic Chemistry Practice Questions
• HSC Chemistry Past Papers Master List
• HSC Chemistry: The Ultimate Guide to a Band 6
• HSC Chemistry Data Breakdown: Drop Rates, Band 6 Distribution & more
• How Should I Study for HSC Chemistry?

Looking for expert Chemistry tutoring near you? 

Explore our Tutoring Locations to find high-quality tutoring services in your area, including areas all over NSW.

We can help you master the HSC Chemistry syllabus and ace your upcoming HSC Chemistry assessments with personalised lessons conducted one-on-one in your home or at our state-of-the-art campuses in Chatswood, Hornsby or the Hills!

We’ve supported over 12,000 students over the last 10+ years, and on average our students score mark improvements of over 20%!

To find out more and get started with an inspirational HSC Chemistry tutor and mentor, get in touch today or give us a ring on 1300 267 888!

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Miriam Nelson graduated in 2021 with a Band 6 in Chemistry and is currently studying a Bachelor of Science with a Masters in Secondary Education. However, Miriam has never really left high school, having supported students in Chemistry and Maths for 3+ years while also teaching at a school in Sydney’s CBD. If she’s not studying or learning something new you can find her hunched up over her latest project or at the beach.

Adrian Wendeborn is a qualified science and maths teacher with a physics/chemistry double-major degree from USYD and a GDipEd from UQ. Adrian has taught in QLD and NSW and has worked with Art of Smart Education as a campus teacher, tutor, resource developer and Head of Faculty.