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VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Chemistry => Topic started by: VCE123456789 on May 30, 2010, 11:46:27 pm

Title: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: VCE123456789 on May 30, 2010, 11:46:27 pm
How many practice exams have youse done?
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: olly_s15 on May 30, 2010, 11:50:49 pm
i've done around 10.. i don't know i'm not keeping track so that is just a rough estimate

i still dont feel ready
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: vexx on May 30, 2010, 11:52:37 pm
so not ready >< only done a few exams and not doing that amazing on them eeeeek making soooo many stupid mistakes:(

stress,stress,stress
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: vexx on May 31, 2010, 12:18:00 am
114/146 got you an A+ on chem midyear '09 lol...

well i won't be able to comment on if that's a good or bad thing until i do the exam haha! i'll do it on the weekend or the days before.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on May 31, 2010, 12:20:19 am
To answer the question, that depends if the exam is going to have AAS/UV-vis questions on it.  God those questions scare the shit out of me.

I think I've done around 8 or so exams so far.  It will be around 20 by this time next week haha...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kenhung123 on May 31, 2010, 12:28:07 am
I can only say..I envy those who have 1 mid year......you guys better get an A+...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Akirus on May 31, 2010, 12:57:35 am
I have four; you guys have no right to complain if I don't.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Ilovemathsmeth on May 31, 2010, 01:09:59 am
I hope you all have a better exam than last year...that was a nightmare.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kyzoo on May 31, 2010, 02:45:51 am
10, still need to perfect exam technique though.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: TrueTears on May 31, 2010, 02:52:57 am
last years chem midyear was hell, i pray to god u guys dont get it!!
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: happyhappyland on May 31, 2010, 08:06:38 am
I liked last years exam... But i guess you '09ers werent expecting it after such easy '08 exam. Ive done around 20 chem practise exams. Im doing VCAA ones again.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: physics on May 31, 2010, 09:19:55 am
not ready! :'( i hope we get an alrighty exam :]
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: azn_dj on May 31, 2010, 10:54:48 am
Done 8 so far.
Annoyingly, EVERY exam Ive done has given me the same result - 88%.
Well, at least its consistent, but you would think the more you do, the higher you'd get?
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Intronaut on May 31, 2010, 04:17:17 pm
Done 8 so far.
Annoyingly, EVERY exam Ive done has given me the same result - 88%.
Well, at least its consistent, but you would think the more you do, the higher you'd get?

We're almost the same guy, I swear. Same thing seems to happen to me.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: cameron_15 on May 31, 2010, 04:20:56 pm
I haven't been marking them as such, just looking at questions i struggled with and learning where i went wrong. I don't believe trial or past exam results are anything to go by at all. I'm just making sure I can do all of the kinds of questions that are likely to be on the exam.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: andy456 on May 31, 2010, 04:39:22 pm
No where near ready.... I keep getting the same result and its not what I want >(
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Blakhitman on May 31, 2010, 04:47:22 pm
Definitely not ready...I hope to be by next week though.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kyzoo on May 31, 2010, 05:40:56 pm
I haven't been marking them as such, just looking at questions i struggled with and learning where i went wrong. I don't believe trial or past exam results are anything to go by at all. I'm just making sure I can do all of the kinds of questions that are likely to be on the exam.

The thing is...there's more to acing the exams than just being able to do all the questions. Being able to do all the questions is no where near enough for a 50, since VCAA exams aren't going to be so hard as to contain questions that will stump 99.5% of students. Acing the real exams is actually about avoiding losing marks to little stupid things like states, significant figures, wrong stoichemetric ratios, H2O as a product for esterification/condensation reactions, etc. And to do that you need actual practice under simulated exam conditions. Also consider that some of these trial exams and VCAA 2009 are challenging to finish within the 90 minute time-limit.

And lol I would say that trial/past exam results are a fairly accurate indicator. Most likely your real result will be equal or a little bit less than your best trial exam performance.

.......................

After doing each exam I go into really indepth analysis of the mistakes I made and record my marks and time I took. During analysis I figure out how to ensure I don't make the same mistakes in the future, so that if I repeated the paper I would get 100%. As well I list unfamiliar bits of theory that I have encountered in the exam, and figure out how to improve the explanations I made for any explanation questions in the paper.

It works la. I went from losing 13 marks on my first chem trial, to about 3 in the last few.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: minilunchbox on May 31, 2010, 06:25:28 pm
I AM READY ... for the other exam I have on that day.

I did the 2009 VCAA multiple choice yesterday and didn't actually stuff up as much as I expected. But the short answer are starting to freak me out.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: vexx on May 31, 2010, 06:36:54 pm
i realised that i haven't improved at all since i started doing exams because none of them i have done were similar, argh, my hopes of doing well in chem are fading.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Akirus on May 31, 2010, 06:42:01 pm
I improve every time I do a paper until a certain point, where it becomes more difficult to break any higher. For chem, that's about 95% for me at the moment and around 98%~ for physics/accounting. First chem paper was around 80%~, and I agree with Kyzoo; you should do them properly and seriously consider your performance, etc. If you aren't really improving, you're doin' it wrong.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: vexx on May 31, 2010, 06:50:35 pm
I improve every time I do a paper until a certain point, where it becomes more difficult to break any higher. For chem, that's about 95% for me at the moment and around 98%~ for physics/accounting. First chem paper was around 80%~, and I agree with Kyzoo; you should do them properly and seriously consider your performance, etc. If you aren't really improving, you're doin' it wrong.

i'm not improved with careless mistakes so yes i must be doing it wrong, but i have been coming across gaps in my knowledge (so many gaps xD) but they are being filled, it's a pity that these little things are so rarely asked after learning><
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: cindyy on May 31, 2010, 09:19:55 pm
you guys have all done so many D: Ive done 3! haha not good (N) need to get on that stuff!
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: iffets12345 on May 31, 2010, 09:38:22 pm
I haven't been marking them as such, just looking at questions i struggled with and learning where i went wrong. I don't believe trial or past exam results are anything to go by at all. I'm just making sure I can do all of the kinds of questions that are likely to be on the exam.

The thing is...there's more to acing the exams than just being able to do all the questions. Being able to do all the questions is no where near enough for a 50, since VCAA exams aren't going to be so hard as to contain questions that will stump 99.5% of students. Acing the real exams is actually about avoiding losing marks to little stupid things like states, significant figures, wrong stoichemetric ratios, H2O as a product for esterification/condensation reactions, etc. And to do that you need actual practice under simulated exam conditions. Also consider that some of these trial exams and VCAA 2009 are challenging to finish within the 90 minute time-limit.


Totally agreed, usually I could have only lost maybe 3-5 marks max, but I'm terribly careless T_T'''.
So in that sense, no, im not prepared!
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Richiie on May 31, 2010, 09:39:19 pm
Not enough...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Akirus on May 31, 2010, 09:41:34 pm
I improve every time I do a paper until a certain point, where it becomes more difficult to break any higher. For chem, that's about 95% for me at the moment and around 98%~ for physics/accounting. First chem paper was around 80%~, and I agree with Kyzoo; you should do them properly and seriously consider your performance, etc. If you aren't really improving, you're doin' it wrong.

i'm not improved with careless mistakes so yes i must be doing it wrong, but i have been coming across gaps in my knowledge (so many gaps xD) but they are being filled, it's a pity that these little things are so rarely asked after learning><

Personally, I don't think practice papers are the best way of filling knowledge gaps; sure, you might cover some of them, but chances are there will be something you overlooked because it's not on the paper.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: azn_dj on May 31, 2010, 09:42:26 pm
Quote
After doing each exam I go into really indepth analysis of the mistakes I made and record my marks and time I took. During analysis I figure out how to ensure I don't make the same mistakes in the future, so that if I repeated the paper I would get 100%. As well I list unfamiliar bits of theory that I have encountered in the exam, and figure out how to improve the explanations I made for any explanation questions in the paper.
Sounds like my technique. I keep a spreadsheet of every thing I do in each subject, record what questions I do (e.g. Heinemann Chemistry 2, Chapter 6, q 1-5) something like that, list the questions I got wrong and then analyse why I got them wrong.

Now Im getting out of the 88% cycle =] Now Im stuck on 93%. (well, the past two exams Ive done)
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kyzoo on May 31, 2010, 10:49:20 pm
Is everyone else losing marks for states and sig figs and shit question wording? Omfg pissing me off...

Lol I am losing marks from not being able to figure out the right speed to go through the exam. So far I have been going too slow, so that I finish just on time even when spending the last 30 minutes rushing. And in those 30 minutes of rushing I am like a robot and don't think, so it causes 1 or 2 avoidable mistakes.

Sounds like my technique. I keep a spreadsheet of every thing I do in each subject, record what questions I do (e.g. Heinemann Chemistry 2, Chapter 6, q 1-5) something like that, list the questions I got wrong and then analyse why I got them wrong.

You are way mroe thorough than me, I don't even bother to treat textbook questions seriously, I just rush through them.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Akirus on May 31, 2010, 11:14:43 pm
Is everyone else losing marks for states and sig figs and shit question wording? Omfg pissing me off...

Lol I am losing marks from not being able to figure out the right speed to go through the exam. So far I have been going too slow, so that I finish just on time even when spending the last 30 minutes rushing. And in those 30 minutes of rushing I am like a robot and don't think, so it causes 1 or 2 avoidable mistakes.

Sounds like my technique. I keep a spreadsheet of every thing I do in each subject, record what questions I do (e.g. Heinemann Chemistry 2, Chapter 6, q 1-5) something like that, list the questions I got wrong and then analyse why I got them wrong.

You are way mroe thorough than me, I don't even bother to treat textbook questions seriously, I just rush through them.

Neither, I just use textbook questions to make sure I get the concepts thoroughly.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: iffets12345 on May 31, 2010, 11:20:23 pm
im correcting my lisachem 09 one, i just lost 5 marks on the multiple choice=='. im tossing up between ripping the paper up or calling it "gay".
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Akirus on May 31, 2010, 11:24:46 pm
im correcting my lisachem 09 one, i just lost 5 marks on the multiple choice=='. im tossing up between ripping the paper up or calling it "gay".

You won't really get anywhere with that attitude. Granted, it may be "gay", but you should still look at your errors.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: iffets12345 on May 31, 2010, 11:25:32 pm
Nah I know its my problem:) only kidding about the gay / tossing up bit.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: physics on June 01, 2010, 11:36:45 am
Nah I know its my problem:) only kidding about the gay / tossing up bit.
call it gay cause it wont hurt as much for the paper and for you (what if u get a papercut while ripping up the paper?) :) just a suggestion :D
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kyzoo on June 01, 2010, 03:22:16 pm
im correcting my lisachem 09 one, i just lost 5 marks on the multiple choice=='. im tossing up between ripping the paper up or calling it "gay".

I call it half-gay. Hahahahhahahaha knowing that oil prices fell in the economic crises gains you a mark in this trial exam.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Martoman on June 01, 2010, 05:06:54 pm
Lisa 09 was horrible.

And guys... all you have to do is re-read the question after you do it.. so you do'nt do anything stupid.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on June 01, 2010, 05:14:33 pm
I'll shall do this one tomorrow.  Already scared haha...

kyzoo, how long does it take you to get through multi choice usually?
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Akirus on June 01, 2010, 06:59:09 pm
im correcting my lisachem 09 one, i just lost 5 marks on the multiple choice=='. im tossing up between ripping the paper up or calling it "gay".

You won't really get anywhere with that attitude. Granted, it may be "gay", but you should still look at your errors.

lol dude, iffets12345 was just joking around :P.

Predisposed to assume the worst, most people are like that.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on June 01, 2010, 07:04:34 pm
Yeah between 15 and 25 minutes is good.  You can knock off all the non calculator questions in reading time. :)
I reckon getting all of the multi choice right is so important.  It is where they put all of the filthy tricks, and if they don't get you there, then your obviously switched on and poised to do really well.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: simonhu81292 on June 01, 2010, 07:11:27 pm
just a question...
what do you guys think of INSIGHT exams ???
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: cameron_15 on June 01, 2010, 07:12:38 pm
just a question...
what do you guys think of INSIGHT exams ???

Challenging for physics!

They're pretty good in my opinion. Lisachem ones were pretty terrible though.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kyzoo on June 01, 2010, 08:35:56 pm
I'll shall do this one tomorrow.  Already scared haha...

kyzoo, how long does it take you to get through multi choice usually?

25 minutes normally, I'm fairly slow in comparison to a lot of ppl at my school. I finished Methods Exam 2 with 5 minutes to go lol. But I think I got stuck on a multiple choice question for 5 mins on the Lisachem 2009 (the one where it gives you proton NMR, C1 NMR, and IR data).
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: olly_s15 on June 01, 2010, 09:54:17 pm
VCAA 09 burnt me... :/

i'm gonna do it this weekend - saving the best for last haha
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: tcg93 on June 01, 2010, 09:55:13 pm
VCAA 09 burnt me... :/

i'm gonna do it this weekend - saving the best for last haha

same!
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: cameron_15 on June 01, 2010, 10:10:19 pm
I reckon do it a bit earlier just to hone in the shit on it, it's a lil bit tricky

Yes, they were very sneaky, lots of questions contained traps and in general there was just a lot of calculations!

Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Akirus on June 01, 2010, 10:10:36 pm
I've been sick for a couple of days, haven't been able to get any papers done =S Was going to do VCAA 2009 tonight but that's not happening anymore.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Blakhitman on June 01, 2010, 10:14:29 pm
You have to remember that people like Mao do exist, so it could be true.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: darkphoenix on June 01, 2010, 10:44:10 pm
Nah not ready, most exams i do seem to give me questions i haven't revise properly on.

After all my SACs, im gonna go hc study chem.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kyzoo on June 01, 2010, 11:00:53 pm
VCAA 09:
While generally students were able to complete the examination, and some students achieved full marks, the overall
level of performance on some questions suggested that students were challenged by this exam.

I don't believe you VCAA :P.


James Lu lol, I don't know how fast he finished Chem exam in but he finished Methods exam 2 in 1 hour.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: m@tty on June 01, 2010, 11:08:53 pm
I finished last years exam 2 in 1 hr 20. One hours pretty fast ! 
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: olly_s15 on June 01, 2010, 11:18:04 pm
VCAA 09:
While generally students were able to complete the examination, and some students achieved full marks, the overall
level of performance on some questions suggested that students were challenged by this exam.

I don't believe you VCAA :P.


James Lu lol, I don't know how fast he finished Chem exam in but he finished Methods exam 2 in 1 hour.


James Lu is soooo intelligent - I did some english tuition with him.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Martoman on June 01, 2010, 11:19:12 pm
I finished last years exam 2 in 1 hr 20. One hours pretty fast ! 


pfft 48 i remember i was flying through it.

For vcaa 09 i remember there was a person who did the ICO who got full marks. Then again, he does that kind of stuff.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: m@tty on June 01, 2010, 11:32:30 pm
I finished last years exam 2 in 1 hr 20. One hours pretty fast ! 
How'd you go :P? I got 79% - so borderline A+ lol.. I thought I did wayy worse..


I was talking about 2009 Methods exam 2. On which I got 87%... I'm yet to do Chem ... Hope it goes alright =\

Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: samiira on June 02, 2010, 05:25:32 pm
what scores are u people getting for ur prac exams..?? my highest was 62%.. iam nt getting beyond dat.. i dnno y.. man i think iam gonna screw up badly..any one else doing as bad as me..?? so i can feel a bit better ..
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Stroodle on June 02, 2010, 05:28:04 pm
what scores are u people getting for ur prac exams..?? my highest was 62%.. iam nt getting beyond dat.. i dnno y.. man i think iam gonna screw up badly..any one else doing as bad as me..?? so i can feel a bit better ..

I'm sure there's heaps of people doing worse than that. I know in my class there definitely is...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: m@tty on June 02, 2010, 05:31:02 pm
Someone in my class thinks it's funny that he is getting ~7/53 for short answer...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Stroodle on June 02, 2010, 05:35:16 pm
strange sense of humour.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: samiira on June 02, 2010, 05:36:31 pm
HaHa LoL... yeh thnx dat does make me feel  better ..  :)
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on June 02, 2010, 05:44:03 pm
Someone in my class thinks it's funny that he is getting ~7/53 for short answer...

I find it funny lol ;p

Is everyone else losing marks for states and sig figs and shit question wording? Omfg pissing me off...

YES!  It is gay, especially sig figs!

Also, I still don't know.  DO we write alkanols and carboxylic acids as (aq) or (l)
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: superflya on June 02, 2010, 05:48:13 pm
i always deduct 2 marks for sig figs and states even before i do the paper so i cbf worrying bout them while i do the exam :P
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Stroodle on June 02, 2010, 05:50:07 pm
Yeah was wondering about organic chem states. Like if you made an ester from a pure alcohol and a pure carboxylic acid, do you write the ester as (aq) cause there's now water in there? And if it's a large ester it'll be insoluble, so do you then write it as (l)?
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on June 02, 2010, 05:50:33 pm
If that is the only two things I stuff up, then I will gladly deduct the 2 marks and couldn't care less.  But I can't afford to be throwing away marks on stupid shit like this, as it is just going to ruin my score even more...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: iffets12345 on June 02, 2010, 06:18:24 pm
Yeah was wondering about organic chem states. Like if you made an ester from a pure alcohol and a pure carboxylic acid, do you write the ester as (aq) cause there's now water in there? And if it's a large ester it'll be insoluble, so do you then write it as (l)?

The worst is Na2CO3, because u need to check the question as it might be in powder form OR solution....
grr.
And once they said 50ml ethanol...but I was so used to "in solution" I wrote (aq) instead of (l).....since I only really see H20 as (l)
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: vexx on June 02, 2010, 06:19:15 pm
i had a practice exam marked and my teacher marked a question wrong due to sig figs, and then later took a mark off another question for sig figs (used aq instead of l on two occasions >_>)..... are people actually 100% confident the sig fig rule hasn't changed?
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on June 02, 2010, 06:29:21 pm
so your saying this may not apply any more.  I just learnt it. :(

http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,17173.0.html
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: vexx on June 02, 2010, 06:33:57 pm
so your saying this may not apply any more.  I just learnt it. :(

http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,17173.0.html

apparently, i'll confirm either tomorrow or friday when i see her next about itt. hopefully not!
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on June 02, 2010, 06:39:50 pm
o0o0o0o  what could it have changed to...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kyzoo on June 02, 2010, 06:50:49 pm
personally id on't really see what's so hard about significant figures...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on June 02, 2010, 06:51:44 pm
There just seems to be a lot of confusion over what the rules are...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: vexx on June 02, 2010, 07:22:01 pm
personally id on't really see what's so hard about significant figures...

yeah this is what i thought- where i had never gotten them wrong before but after that exam apparently you have to use (l) in so many more reactions then just 'water' as we were told >__>
i think i've learned now so it's fine but it was just a shock haha.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: m@tty on June 02, 2010, 07:23:45 pm
There just seems to be a lot of confusion over what the rules are...

What, addition rules?

Addition = keep lowest number of decimal places.

Multiplication = keep lowest number of significant figures.

That's it.

EDIT:
personally id on't really see what's so hard about significant figures...

yeah this is what i thought- where i had never gotten them wrong before but after that exam apparently you have to use (l) in so many more reactions then just 'water' as we were told >__>
i think i've learned now so it's fine but it was just a shock haha.

Care to share? I am always unsure of what state is required...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kyzoo on June 02, 2010, 07:29:26 pm
And logarithm/exponential rules.

For logarithm, the result value must have the same number of decimal places as significant figures of the input value. For exponential, result value must have same number of significant figures as the decimal places on input value.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: m@tty on June 02, 2010, 07:32:05 pm
Haha, okay. Thanks. Now I see what you mean, stonecold. I have never heard of these rules before...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kyzoo on June 02, 2010, 07:33:32 pm
lmao I just laerned them 10 mins ago
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on June 02, 2010, 07:38:16 pm
for exponential, by input value, it means the base yeah?
don't worry.  misread it :(

and yeah, i suppose this stuff is trivial and easy, but only if you've had it taught to you.
all my teachers have ever told me is go to the same number of significant figures as in the question stem...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: iffets12345 on June 02, 2010, 10:00:49 pm
And logarithm/exponential rules.

For logarithm, the result value must have the same number of decimal places as significant figures of the input value. For exponential, result value must have same number of significant figures as the decimal places on input value.

If it requires more than one calculation, I just keep all my figures on my calc and then put the sig figs to the smallest of the numerical values provided in the question. Is that it?
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: m@tty on June 02, 2010, 10:18:02 pm
AHHH!! I just did VCAA 08 and lost the most stupid mark  :tickedoff:  But for this one small error, I would have done awesome. And it was a simple calculator problem. *vent* Ahhh.. So close... Wow, just realised that 1 mark lost =  99% :p


EDIT:
And logarithm/exponential rules.

For logarithm, the result value must have the same number of decimal places as significant figures of the input value. For exponential, result value must have same number of significant figures as the decimal places on input value.

If it requires more than one calculation, I just keep all my figures on my calc and then put the sig figs to the smallest of the numerical values provided in the question. Is that it?

Unless you added or log'd or powered, that should be right.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: vexx on June 02, 2010, 10:28:11 pm
personally id on't really see what's so hard about significant figures...

yeah this is what i thought- where i had never gotten them wrong before but after that exam apparently you have to use (l) in so many more reactions then just 'water' as we were told >__>
i think i've learned now so it's fine but it was just a shock haha.

Care to share? I am always unsure of what state is required...

what state is required?
it's pretty much just (l) for pure liquids such as all components of an esterification reaction, as two pure substances of an alcohol and carboxylic acid are needed, to form a pure esterification and water. all are (l), i just pretty much think about it like this, also with:
and (aq) is used for substances that have been dissolved and the ions formed/bonded, such as
Na(s) dissolved in water becomes Na+(aq) and then reacts with other compounds to form an aqueous NaCl(aq).
not the best explanation of mine but haha
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on June 02, 2010, 11:07:06 pm
vexx, when doing organic reation for 4 or less carbon molecules, do you write gas or liquid.

i.e.  C2H4 (g) + H2O (g) ---> C2H6O (g)

or                      conc. H3PO4 (aq)

      C2H4 (l) + H2O (l) ---> C2H6O (l)

     
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kyzoo on June 02, 2010, 11:12:40 pm
It's (g) for all reactants and products since you need a temperature of around 300C to carry out that reaction
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on June 02, 2010, 11:15:29 pm
Thanks.  What about addition reactions with lightweight alkenes?

Because normally 4 carbons or less means it is volatile.  Does that still apply in such reactions?
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kyzoo on June 02, 2010, 11:18:04 pm
Yea, especially since you don't carry out those reactions in "mild conditions"

--------------

I have a question of my own lol.

VCAA 2006 - Q2b Extended Response

Would I lose a mark for saying "decrease the flow rate of water eluent" even though that wasn't one of the "acceptable answers" in the assessor's report?

Sorry I would post a picture if I was on my other computer >.<
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on June 02, 2010, 11:25:02 pm
I remember doing this question too.  Wouldn't decreasing the pressure/flow rate make the separation worse?
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: vexx on June 02, 2010, 11:30:43 pm
Yea, especially since you don't carry out those reactions in "mild conditions"

--------------

I have a question of my own lol.

VCAA 2006 - Q2b Extended Response

Would I lose a mark for saying "decrease the flow rate of water eluent" even though that wasn't one of the "acceptable answers" in the assessor's report?

Sorry I would post a picture if I was on my other computer >.<

i just scanned this question, it says "further water was added periodically" and if you read it, this is just column chromatography, you can't decrease or increase the rate of water flow since there is no pump. i read this too quickly so apologies if i interpreted wrong.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: iffets12345 on June 03, 2010, 01:14:54 am
In insight 2010, it said the ester formed was (l) O_O.... but I thought the H2SO4 swimming around made it (aq)
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kenhung123 on June 03, 2010, 03:01:53 pm
solutions hang between (aq) and (l) for those products formed in organic pathways...I hope vcaa accepts both states I mean it would be gay if its wrong for a state that isn't clearly obvious like (aq) and (s)
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: kyzoo on June 03, 2010, 05:53:20 pm
In insight 2010, it said the ester formed was (l) O_O.... but I thought the H2SO4 swimming around made it (aq)

Esters should be (l) because they are they are primarily non-polar and hence insoluble
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: coletrain on June 03, 2010, 06:14:40 pm
not really relevant but do we need photo ID, or do we just need to know our VCAA student number?
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: iffets12345 on June 03, 2010, 08:20:41 pm
In insight 2010, it said the ester formed was (l) O_O.... but I thought the H2SO4 swimming around made it (aq)

Esters should be (l) because they are they are primarily non-polar and hence insoluble

Thanks, teacher verified today... sighs.

but fats are liquid?

and
not really relevant but do we need photo ID, or do we just need to know our VCAA student number?
Last year I just walked in with my student ID, but nobody really cared. I mean even the pencilcase/bound reference check was pathetic.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: darkphoenix on June 03, 2010, 09:19:52 pm
not really relevant but do we need photo ID, or do we just need to know our VCAA student number?

For our school you need to know your VCAA number to know where to sit. But it will have yours on the exam paper anyway. Just gotta look for it.

Yeah last year for accounting i brought 2 calculators into the exam, they didnt seem to care.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: m@tty on June 03, 2010, 10:21:10 pm
I finished last years exam 2 in 1 hr 20. One hours pretty fast !  
How'd you go :P? I got 79% - so borderline A+ lol.. I thought I did wayy worse..


I just did it... Lost the most stupid two marks  :tickedoff: One for using 10^4 to convert from L to ml... And addressing only one part of the easiest two part question ever... But I did quite well on the rest :P Finished the questions in 1 hr 5 mins then checked for 20 mins..
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: iffets12345 on June 03, 2010, 11:34:17 pm
When I do my practice exams I don't do the double check. If I finish in an hour I just stop and mark. I guess its accounting for the worse. Does everyone else do this? Matty you did that pretty fast :).
Got 83% for 2009 vcaa. Could have been way better =='. Bit silly here and there.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: m@tty on June 03, 2010, 11:42:40 pm
I normally just have a very brief check, cause i cbs going over it all. But since it is VCAA I sat for the whole 90 mins writing and 15 mis reading time.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: olly_s15 on June 03, 2010, 11:44:42 pm
I normally just have a very brief check, cause i cbs going over it all. But since it is VCAA I sat for the whole 90 mins writing and 15 mis reading time.

I'm yet to even sit an exam with reading time.... I cbs so far. Although I plan to sit VCAA '09 this weekend as if I were sitting the "real" exam. Reading time is so crucial...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: cindyy on June 04, 2010, 04:45:55 pm
When I do my practice exams I don't do the double check. If I finish in an hour I just stop and mark. I guess its accounting for the worse. Does everyone else do this? Matty you did that pretty fast :).
Got 83% for 2009 vcaa. Could have been way better =='. Bit silly here and there.

thats what i do !
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: physics on June 04, 2010, 08:57:13 pm
i dont bother with reading time at home . lol
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: happyhappyland on June 04, 2010, 09:01:04 pm
not really relevant but do we need photo ID, or do we just need to know our VCAA student number?

For our school you need to know your VCAA number to know where to sit. But it will have yours on the exam paper anyway. Just gotta look for it.

Yeah last year for accounting i brought 2 calculators into the exam, they didnt seem to care.

They did for me. So I put one on the ground and one on my desk.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: vexx on June 05, 2010, 03:30:04 pm
i dont bother with reading time at home . lol

ha i've never done a practice reading time o-o
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Blakhitman on June 05, 2010, 04:20:40 pm
I never even have a skim over my exam when I finish it at home, let alone sit there for 15 mins before going through it.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: stonecold on June 05, 2010, 04:21:57 pm
Reading time is awesome.  Knock over so many multi choice questions.  It rarely takes me more than 15 mins to finish them once I start writing.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Stroodle on June 05, 2010, 04:23:29 pm
I always intend to read the multichoice for 15mins, but just end up starting the exam after a min or two..
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: iffets12345 on June 05, 2010, 04:35:28 pm
In someways, I can't stand reading and finishing time...the eerieness of finishing early and wondering what the heck you did compared to others.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: matty.k on June 05, 2010, 04:56:11 pm
fingernailing ftw!
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Stroodle on June 05, 2010, 04:59:09 pm
Lol. It'd be so funny if vcaa caught onto this and made teachers clip all the students nails as they entered the exam room.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: Martoman on June 05, 2010, 05:00:06 pm
i'd then use my teeth.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: m@tty on June 05, 2010, 05:06:55 pm
Well, why don't we all just knife the papers? Seeing we can't use pens in reading time...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: menashiiii on June 05, 2010, 05:31:52 pm
more like hands up for who isn't? :P
so not gonna get my A grade :(
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: chansthename on June 05, 2010, 05:41:07 pm
Reading time is awesome.  Knock over so many multi choice questions.  It rarely takes me more than 15 mins to finish them once I start writing.

I'm loving this technique too, screw risking fingernailing, I'm all for letting your brain remind you of the answers though.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: iffets12345 on June 06, 2010, 09:03:35 pm
anyone got answers for the 2008 SAMPLE VCAA?
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: chansthename on June 06, 2010, 09:28:48 pm
http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,26135.0.html
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: iffets12345 on June 06, 2010, 09:40:55 pm
thank you.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: vexx on June 07, 2010, 06:18:21 pm
To update on what's happening this year with the states, my teacher who is marking the exams was informed that this most likely is occurring but not finalised to teachers.

For states and sig figs, what they are going to do is select a random question and check for sig figs and states, if both are fine you lose no marks on the paper for either even if you failed to do states or sig figs correctly on the other questions. So those of you who are not so good with sig figs and/or states, you have a chance of losing nothing for it ^^;
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: chansthename on June 07, 2010, 06:33:46 pm
Just did CSE 2010, probably my best exam yet, I think it may have been due to a much better preparation.

Personally it didn't seem that hard, but it was pretty nice.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: cindyy on June 07, 2010, 06:40:44 pm
To update on what's happening this year with the states, my teacher who is marking the exams was informed that this most likely is occurring but not finalised to teachers.

For states and sig figs, what they are going to do is select a random question and check for sig figs and states, if both are fine you lose no marks on the paper for either even if you failed to do states or sig figs correctly on the other questions. So those of you who are not so good with sig figs and/or states, you have a chance of losing nothing for it ^^;

thats what my chem teacher said too! so if two people said it, it must be true ;)
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: chansthename on June 07, 2010, 06:58:25 pm
I'm gonna get 50 in chem (quick someone else say it)
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: iffets12345 on June 07, 2010, 07:55:02 pm
No way, I'll lick the ground if I get even a 40.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: m@tty on June 07, 2010, 08:09:36 pm
I'm gonna get 50 in chem (quick someone else say it)

Lol, why?
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: chansthename on June 07, 2010, 09:18:17 pm
I'm gonna get 50 in chem (quick someone else say it)

Lol, why?

so if two people said it, it must be true ;)
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: m@tty on June 07, 2010, 09:19:16 pm
Ohhh, I fail x_x ...
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: samiira on June 07, 2010, 11:25:23 pm
Iam     soooooo         not          readyyy.........  :S...  dnno  wat 2 do..i didnt really memorize anyfin jst did a few  prac exams..     i believe iam screwed... :S
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: menashiiii on June 07, 2010, 11:38:44 pm
ill be over the moon with 35 kids, just too good for me you all are.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: menashiiii on June 08, 2010, 12:03:52 am
Dude, you just being on this site shows dedication :P I won't be surprised if you get 40+ :).

hahaha seriously are flattering me man, thanks :P
from getting D+'s (i had the worst teacher in chem teaching history, ever, period.) to getting a study score of 40
highly unlikely..

but I'm aiming for that 35, 35 in each subject gets me that 90+ although i need 95 now to get into my course (Damn RMIT), 40+ is dream land, trust me.
Title: Re: Whos ready for the June 9th exam?
Post by: menashiiii on June 08, 2010, 12:20:55 am
and after my pretty decent first semester it is! thanks for the motivation!
and you keep striving for that 40 :D