VCAA 2012 Chemistry Unit 3 Exam Discussion

[polkadot]

So do you think OH-(aq) + HCl(aq) ---> H20(l) + Cl- (aq) would be acceptable for question 8a?

[HERculina]

^ i wrote that too :O

[stephanieteddy]

I am not even joking. I really need to see the exam again! Where can I find it??

[illuminati]

I am not even joking. I really need to see the exam again! Where can I find it??

Page 4 of this thread.

[destain]

many mistakes, many uncertain questions, not a very standard exam...

[Shenz0r]

Would the Unit 4 exam be harder now so that they can differentiate between the students better?

[wallaced93]

Would really appreciate some answers to my questions on page 9! Cheers

[illuminati]

Wondering how many marks I'd lose for incorrect states.
Also 4a I wrote propanol instead of propan-1-ol
and for 4b I just wrote the chemical equations and names of the processes (ect oxidation) instead of wording it out. Will that be ok!?   

i think you can only lose one mark over the exam for incorrect states (someone correct me if i'm wrong)
You have to write propan-1-ol
It does say "describe the steps" so you might lose marks there.

[lukeim]

for the average mass of the tablet
would 36.2mg be ok? i didn't know what sigfig i had to put it to

[Sam_95]

Reading 90% of these comments makes me want to jump off the westgate 

[Fishyiscool]

Reading 90% of these comments makes me want to jump off the westgate 

NOOOOO dont say that!
For the record, i stuffed up the chem exam.
I didnt answer everything and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, that first sa question, i circled nothing. -.- i was confused and doubting myself through most of it.
But its onwards from here! You're not alone if you felt you didnt do as well as you hoped. An unnamed genius friend wisely told me that there are 10 000 something students who sat that exam... So just go out and 'kill' unit 4! And buy thushans book while you're at it xD (when it comes out)

[Somye]

Look guys, remember that people on ATARnotes are generally the people who are fairly keen about their VCE scores, generally the higher performers and I think to say that the A+ cutoff would comfortably be above 90% is a little crass. Remember how easy it is to make silly mistakes, especially under exam pressure.

I personally didn't find the exam THAT easy, there were definitely a few questions which required a good understanding of the course, ie. question about the alignment of the amide bonds, describing in detail the principles of  a particular spectroscopic technique etc. That said, multiple choice WAS a little too straightforward, with the exception of maybe question 5

So overall, it was a decent exam, which I believe was at least harder than 2010, and probably 2008 as well. I agree with thushan, cut off should be around 67/75, or around 86-87%

[charmanderp]

Look guys, remember that people on ATARnotes are generally the people who are fairly keen about their VCE scores, generally the higher performers and I think to say that the A+ cutoff would comfortably be above 90% is a little crass. Remember how easy it is to make silly mistakes, especially under exam pressure.

I personally didn't find the exam THAT easy, there were definitely a few questions which required a good understanding of the course, ie. question about the alignment of the amide bonds, describing in detail the principles of  a particular spectroscopic technique etc. That said, multiple choice WAS a little too straightforward, with the exception of maybe question 5

So overall, it was a decent exam, which I believe was at least harder than 2010, and probably 2008 as well. I agree with thushan, cut off should be around 67/75, or around 86-87%

This. I found it more challenging than any of the previous VCAA exams from this study design. By no means was the short answer section easy, it required you to be quite creative and precise with your answers, which not surprisingly at all is not a strength of chemistry students. It should be a standard A+ cutoff, it wasn't any more easy to gain marks on this exam than previous exams.

[destain]

whats the score for both exams mid and end of year to get around a 38...wondering if i get like a C+ should i just give up on chem

[datfatcat]

I made so many silly mistakes   What will 60/77 get me into?? T_T