Whats the secret to doing well? Stop trying to memorise the textbook word for word. HSC Chemistry isn’t about regurgitating facts; it’s about understanding how concepts works so you can apply it when NESA throws a practical question at you in the exam.

Year 11 was all about the basics, figuring out the periodic table and understanding the concept of the mole (I would argue most of the oxidation stuff you learnt will never show up in year 12). Year 12 takes those tools and throws you into the deep end with four big modules; equilibrium, acids and bases, organic chemistry, and more complicated applications of chemistry.

In exams the questions won’t just ask you to define a term. They’ll ask you to connect the dots between an abstract formula and a real world reaction. You have to practice breaking down those long response questions and writing clear, logical answers.

For the specific modules:
Mod 5: I’d focus on being able to comprehensively explain shifts in equilibrium, for normal reactions and precipitation reactions using both LCP and Collision Theory. After that you should probably focus on the calculation questions, specifically to do with common ion effect, Ksp, Keq and all else.

Mod 6: Understand the premise and practicality of acid-base and precipitation titrations. Practice all the calculation questions over and over, theres no way around it really.

Mod 7: Unfortunately there is a lot of memorisation to be done here. Simply put, theres no way around memorising the reaction pathways and identifying organic molecules. Don’t forget polymers and soaps too.

Mod 8: A small portion of this module (Industrial processes etc) isn’t worth spending too much time on, a lot of this can be memorised relatively quickly, especially if you are struggling to find time to study for chemistry. Otherwise I’d prioritise practicing the 7-10 markers that are pretty common in trials and HSC exams, (the cryptic ones that give you HNMR CNMR)

Matthew Kuskoff