Investigating Science exam trends & analysis (2019–2025)
Across 2019–2025, Scientific Investigations is examined most (124 questions), ahead of Science and Society (56 questions) and Fact or Fallacy? (45 questions). By topic, Data analysis, error and uncertainty, Variables and experimental design and Reliability, validity, accuracy and precision come up most, with Evaluating evidence and claims and Evidence-based policy in Australia also recurring.
Based on 230 questions across 7 official NESA exam papers, their marking guidelines and marking feedback.
Work in progress
These exam-trend insights are an early release. The frequencies, mark ranges and figures are still being verified against the official NESA past papers and may change. Treat them as a study guide, not a guarantee of what will be examined.
Most-examined dot points
By module
Every dot point, by exam frequency
Click any dot point for the full verbatim syllabus wording, worked answers and past questions.
Showing 27 of 27 dot points
| Dot point | Times | Marks | Years | Most common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data analysis, error and uncertaintyM5 Poor axis scales obscured the trend | 38× | 1–4 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Poor axis scales obscured the trend |
| Variables and experimental designM5 Missed that a large sample is needed for cause-and-effect | 28× | 1–7 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Missed that a large sample is needed for cause-and-effect |
| Reliability, validity, accuracy and precisionM5 Described rather than explained the variable relationship | 25× | 1–9 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Described rather than explained the variable relationship |
| Evaluating evidence and claimsM7 Did not read all graph information correctly | 22× | 1–7 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Did not read all graph information correctly |
| Evidence-based policy in AustraliaM8 Did not provide supporting examples | 21× | 1–7 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Did not provide supporting examples |
| Peer review and reproducibilityM5 Lacked specific peer-review examples | 18× | 1–7 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Lacked specific peer-review examples |
| Science communication and the publicM8 Did not link the project to the public image of science | 15× | 1–7 | 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Did not link the project to the public image of science |
| Risk assessment and ethics in scientific investigationM5 Weak on the role of the ethics committee | 9× | 1–4 | 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Weak on the role of the ethics committee |
| Correlation versus causationM7 Could not define correlation/causation or identify confounding variables | 8× | 1–4 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025 | Could not define correlation/causation or identify confounding variables |
| Logical fallacies and cognitive biasM7 Outlined celebrity status rather than a critical argument; confused with Hawthorne | 8× | 1–4 | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Outlined celebrity status rather than a critical argument; confused with Hawthorne |
| Conflicts of interest in researchM8 Generalised about smoking instead of detailing misrepresentation or suppression | 7× | 3–7 | 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025 | Generalised about smoking instead of detailing misrepresentation or suppression |
| Indigenous knowledge and Western scienceM8 Did not identify a clear, specific partnership | 7× | 1–4 | 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Did not identify a clear, specific partnership |
| Science versus pseudoscienceM7 Generalised rather than using relevant terms | 7× | 1–3 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Generalised rather than using relevant terms |
| Research ethics and the NHMRCM8 Did not link the code to specific ethical standards | 6× | 3–4 | 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025 | Did not link the code to specific ethical standards |
| Inquiry questions and hypothesesM5 Confused experimental aim with a hypothesis | 4× | 1–2 | 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 | Confused experimental aim with a hypothesis |
| Cochlear implant and Graeme ClarkM6 Described diagnostic tools generally rather than specific applications | 3× | 2–6 | 2019, 2023, 2024 | Described diagnostic tools generally rather than specific applications |
| Limitations of scientific technologyM6 Suggested changing the independent variable, altering the experiment | 2× | 3–7 | 2021, 2023 | Suggested changing the independent variable, altering the experiment |
| Primary and secondary dataM5 Did not distinguish primary and secondary source reliability | 2× | 2–3 | 2020, 2021 | Did not distinguish primary and secondary source reliability |
| ANSTO OPAL research reactorM6 | — | — | not yet | — |
| Climate denial and the scientific consensusM7 | — | — | not yet | — |
| CSIRO Wi-Fi developmentM6 | — | — | not yet | — |
| Flying Doctor radio and telehealthM6 | — | — | not yet | — |
| Global climate science and the IPCCM8 | — | — | not yet | — |
| Homeopathy and alternative medicineM7 | — | — | not yet | — |
| HPV vaccine and Ian FrazerM6 | — | — | not yet | — |
| Polymer banknotesM6 | — | — | not yet | — |
| Wakefield's MMR vaccine claimM7 | — | — | not yet | — |