<- Past papers

NSWPhysics2024

HSC Physics 2024

Walkthrough of the 2024 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 2024 paper covered Modules 5 to 8.

Section strategy

Section 1 in 30 minutes. Section 2 at roughly 1.8 minutes per mark. For long-response questions, plan a short sequence: define the relevant principle, apply it to the named scenario, evaluate any assumptions.

Common errors flagged

The 2024 NESA notes from marking centre flagged confused descriptions of motor and generator effects, weak handling of binding energy calculations, and shallow extended responses on the development of the standard model.

What to do with this paper

Sit Section 1 in 30 minutes, then Section 2 in 150 minutes. Mark with the official guidelines and rewrite one extended response per study session.

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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