SUCEEDING IN THE SCIENCES

Alex Stoynaov and Christine Zhang explain what it takes to score top marks in HSC Physics and Chemistry. Alex and Christine both scored UAIs of 100.00 and came 1st in NSW HSC in Physics (2007) and Chemistry (2008), respectively.

The greatest myth of HSC Physics and Chemistry is that you need to be a brilliant Physicist or Chemist to do well in these subjects. I can assure you this is far from the case. In fact, if you looked at the Australian Olympiad team – regarded as the brightest young minds in Australian science – no member of the Physics team ever achieved a state ranking, whilst only 3 members of chemistry were able to do so. Why is this the case?

The basic answer is that you needed to understand what the examiner is asking for and give them what they want to hear. The real key to succeeding in HSC Physics and Chemistry, is being able to answer HSC-style questions effectively.

You will lose marks for an inaccurate and unspecific response, with the number you lose depending on the verbosity. To draw an analogy, each HSC response can fall into two categories: a sniper response (in which a few carefully selected shots hit the target), or a machine gun response (where bullets are sprayed in every direction, hoping that at least one hits the target). Similarly, average students who ‘spray and pray’ can be marked down for verbosity, even if their answer is substantially correct, whilst top students understand, say, the five things you need to say to score full marks in a 5 marks questions.

In reality, the HSC is like a game; there are certain things you can do to prepare which can give you an advantage over those that may be more “knowledgeable” in the sciences. Here are 4 things I think can really help you improve your marks.

Know The Syllabus

Knowing the syllabus is undoubtedly the most important thing for a science student to know. In the HSC, the syllabus is your bible: EVERYTHING in the exam comes from the syllabus and NOTHING outside this Holy Book can be asked in an examination paper. It is amazing how many students do not know the syllabus and spend hours studying irrelevant information, whilst missing out key points in the syllabus. No dot point should be left unanswered. At Talent 100, in order to make your studies time efficient, our courses are strictly exam-relevant; every syllabus dot point has been answered to a full marks standard, so you will know exactly what your required to know.

Know Your Question Verbs

If you look at any question in a HSC sciences paper you will find that all of them start with a specific verb such as “describe”, “assess” or “explain” etc. The verb determines the depth of your answer and every verb has a specific marking guide. In order to blitz a HSC Exam, you must ANSWER THE VERB. A classic example that confuses even the best students is the distinction between the verbs:

• “Discuss”, which requires you to present benefits and disadvantages; and

• “Assess”, which requires you to present benefits and disadvantage AND give a judgement.

No matter how sophisticated your answer is, if you fail to give a judgement in an ‘assess’ question you will lose marks. Since these questions are worth 7-8 marks, the failure to appreciate exactly what each verb is asking of you is a costly mistake, and is probably the biggest pitfall of many good students (and even, Chemistry and Physics ‘Olympians’)

The best way to make sure you answer the verb is to practice. Our examination-style homework can help you to do that on a weekly basis, and is a great way to perfect your examination technique.

Be Able To Answer All The Question Types

If you look at the science exam carefully, you can see that it is composed of particular question types. Most average students tend to focus only on the explanations and calculations –considered the ‘real science’, whilst forgetting the ‘softer’ parts of the syllabus (how science is applied and impacts on society and the environment).

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The problem with this approach is that these ‘softer’ parts of the syllabus actually account for 35% of the exam. For instance, in the HSC Option Topic, students have been asked question such as ‘Asses the impact of the development of the atomic bomb and society and the environment’ (8 marks). Whilst there is very little physics behind this question, if you cannot answer this question properly, you can lose a significant number of marks very easily.

This is another pitfall of many students; they fail to engage with the holistic approach of the HSC Syllabus, which tests knowledge of social, historical and environmental impacts of science, rather than just the scientific theory.

Know Your Practicals And The Physical Principles Behind Them

Practicals make up a significant (~15%-20%) of all 3 science subjects. So, it is imperative that you know all your practicals, including how to carry them out, interpret the results and improve them.

You should be aware that the ‘hit and miss’ nature of practical exams can damage your school ranking significantly. My school chemistry rank was severely hurt by a single practical exam and it is important that you are well prepared for each one.

Also, know the physical principles behind each practical in order to explain and discuss them. The most common three questions that are asked in HSC exams are to evaluate the reliability, validity and accuracy of your results.

In the Talent 100 course, we provide all practical prescribed by the syllabus in full detail (Aim, method, apparatus, diagram and results) and also include ways to improve reliability, accuracy and validity

At Talent 100, we’ve designed a course that integrates all these principles in our learning system. We can help you understand what it takes to answer every syllabus dot point to a FULL MARKS standard, and perfect your examination technique so you can score top marks in Physics and Chemistry. For more information, please call 8003 6887 or go to www.talent-100.com.au

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