HSC Chemistry 2023
Walkthrough of the 2023 HSC Chemistry paper. Section structure, calculation strategy, and common errors flagged in the NESA notes from marking centre.
- Marks
- 100
- Time
- 180 min
- Authority
- NESA
- Updated
What this paper assessed
HSC Chemistry is one paper of 100 marks across 180 minutes plus 5 minutes reading time. Section 1 is 20 multiple choice (20 marks). Section 2 is short and extended response (80 marks). The 2023 paper covered Modules 5 to 8 with several integrated problems that combined equilibrium and acid-base chemistry.
Section strategy
Section 1 in 30 minutes. Section 2 at roughly 1.8 minutes per mark. For extended-response questions worth 7 or more marks, plan a four part answer: claim, mechanism, calculation or evidence, evaluation.
Common errors flagged
The 2023 NESA notes from marking centre flagged confused understanding of buffer chemistry, careless mole ratio errors in stoichiometry, and weak analysis of qualitative test results that did not name the species responsible for each observation.
What to do with this paper
Sit Section 1 in 30 minutes, then Section 2 in 150 minutes. Mark with the official guidelines. Reattempt the integrated calculations after a 48 hour gap.
Use this paper well
- Sit the paper under exam conditions (180 minutes, 100 marks).
- Mark yourself against the official NESA marking notes.
- Compare against the Chemistry hub to find the syllabus dot points this paper tested.