Year 12 HSC Chemistry study tips

With the HSC Examinations just around the corner, we tackle some of the most popular queries students like you have.

One of which we see year after year is how to study better for the Chemistry HSC Exam – and with good reason! Chemistry is a theoretically dense subject which uses memory and problem solving skills to formulate an answer.

We show you how you can maximise your time and get a Band 6 in HSC Chemistry:

Start from the syllabus

As suggested in our HSC Biology post, the Chemistry Syllabus from NESA should be your bible – it will tell you everything you need to know, including all the content you need to cover throughout the year. When in doubt, always cross reference everything with the content available in the HSC Chemistry Syllabus. Keep a close eye on the syllabus and this will make your HSC study so much easier.

Memorise the key phrases

Learning the basic terms will make it that much easier for you to understand the topics you need to study. Write up a list of terms at the end of each school week, then make them part of your study sessions so you’ll never forget them.

Look for patterns in past papers

We always recommend having past HSC papers as part of your study routine. Not only do they translate theoretical content really well into an exam format, but they’re also free! Once you get into the zone and start doing more past papers, you will start to notice some patterns that emerge in relation to topics and question structures.

Keep tabs on this, and you could be right about guessing what’s in the 2019 Chemistry HSC!

Revise the topics that are most difficult

Rather than focusing on the topics that you have already mastered, dedicate more of your time to those which need a little extra TLC.

Make time to revise after each week when the content is fresh in your mind, so it’s easier to pick to up in a few weeks time to revise.

Focus on the wording of short answer questions

The best piece of advice we can give you in regards to short answer questions is that you should focus on the verb:

Questions from the 2018 Chemistry HSC Paper

If you know the difference between these words, you already have an advantage over other students.

Take a holiday course

Use the StuVac to your full advantage and sign up today to our Chemistry EXP course taking place during the October School Holidays. This is your last chance to prep before the HSC, and make sure that you have covered all the syllabus dot points before sitting the final exam.

Here at Talent, our comprehensive Chemistry EXP course reviews all the content from the new HSC Syllabus and prepares you for every type of question you will face in the final HSC Exam. You will receive:

Replica HSC Exams & Solutions: 3 x3 hour replica exams and revision papers curated on the New HSC Syllabus. This is the ideal preparation for what you will face in your trial and HSC examination.

Full Course Revision: Revise all the topics covered over the course to ensure no theory is not understood.

Q&A Exam Reviews: Review the exam solutions provided for mock exams 1, 2 and 3. Review every question to a full marks standard with your Mentor so you can understand where marks are gained and lost.

Click here to find out more about our Chemistry EXP Course, and start preparing for the upcoming HSC Exam today! Good luck to all students sitting the HSC Chemistry Exam this year, we hope our tips have been helpful, and will allow you to obtain your desired score.