<- Past papers

NSWPhysics2021

HSC Physics 2021

Walkthrough of the 2021 HSC Physics paper. Section structure, calculation strategy, and common errors flagged in the NESA notes from marking centre.

Marks
100
Time
180 min
Authority
NESA
Updated
Open the official PDF ->Official marking notes

What this paper assessed

HSC Physics 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 2021 paper covered Modules 5 to 8: Advanced Mechanics, Electromagnetism, The Nature of Light and From the Universe to the Atom.

Section strategy

Section 1 in 30 minutes. Section 2 at roughly 1.8 minutes per mark. State the relevant principle or equation explicitly before substituting values. For derivation questions, write each algebraic step on its own line.

Common errors flagged

The 2021 NESA notes from marking centre flagged confused application of the right hand rule, unit errors in projectile motion calculations, and shallow extended responses on the standard model that listed particles without explaining interactions.

What to do with this paper

Sit Section 1 in 30 minutes, then Section 2 in 150 minutes. Mark with the official guidelines. Rebuild every calculation question that lost more than half its marks.

Use this paper well

  1. Sit the paper under exam conditions (180 minutes, 100 marks).
  2. Mark yourself against the official NESA marking notes.
  3. Compare against the Physics hub to find the syllabus dot points this paper tested.

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