April 28, 2021
Commonly seen as one of the more difficult science subjects as a result of its combination of mathematics and scientific knowledge, VCE chemistry is often chosen by those wishing to pursue science-based university courses (such as medicine, science and biomedical science) as it lays an effective groundwork of scientific understanding. The course ranges broadly across the field of chemistry with emphasis placed on electrochemistry, organic chemistry, the properties of water, biochemistry and environmental science as well as an interspersion of stoichiometry. While the terminology of these topics may seem convoluted and intimidating, in reality, each of these topics are much simpler than they appear and are merely composed of a few core concepts that, when understood, provide solid scientific grounding. Chemistry is occasionally seen as a prerequisite for some science-based courses given its effectiveness in providing a strong base of scientific knowledge.
Chemistry is a topic that requires patience and a willingness to consolidate knowledge of the core principles of the course prior to application of the content, it is not a subject that can be rushed through. Students must be able to take their time in achieving a very sound understanding of the key concepts of the topic, and chemistry in general, before attempting to progress to often confusing exam questions.
The Unit 1&2 Chemistry study design highlights the fundamental theories of Chemistry. It also encompasses the extensive background knowledge which is required to move forward onto more complex topics in the following years.
The current Unit 3&4 Chemistry study design has a clear focus on the various forms of energy and how we as a society interact with them. VCAA wishes to educate a generation of young people who value and understand the importance of clean and renewable energy production, as well as innovation within this field, exemplified through the fuel cell, electrolysis and biofuel topics.
The end of year exam is a two-and-a-half-hour exam comprised of 30 multiple choice questions and 90 short answer questions. Furthermore, students are provided with a Databook, which they will be taught how to consult and understand throughout the year. Students will encounter questions requiring them to both analysis and draw diagrams, complete calculations, and also provide written answers with a final extended response question worth approximately 10 marks.
Students often forget to use significant figures within their mathematical answers and lose marks that are easily attainable as a result. Always be careful to use the correct number of significant figures in your answer for the particular question that you are answering. Also, easy marks are lost when states of species are not included in chemical equations such as combustion reactions and redox reactions. If these two areas are not considered carefully when answering questions, a large number of marks will be lost during exams, despite the level of understanding a student has of the relevant content.
Given the pace of the course, it is commonplace for many students to forget topics taught earlier in the year come exam time, in order to prevent this some form of spaced practice of prior topics would be beneficial. Many students also make the mistake of moving too fast through the work without enough of a base of knowledge to tackle harder content later in the unit, as such a strong knowledge of core principles is recommended. In an exam context, a typical pitfall is a lack of attention to detail when answering questions which results in the loss of marks as a result of a lack of concentration rather than a lack of knowledge.
A positive and self-motivational mindset is essential to the completion of VCE Chemistry. Due to the difficulty of the content that is expected to be learned, mistakes and wrong answers are inevitable along the way. A positive outlook will maximise the learning experience that results from making errors, and a negative perspective will result in the student becoming overwhelmed and intimidated. This does not allow progress or learning to occur, so, a constructive perspective is essential to the completion of Year 12 Chemistry.
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