End of year examples

[blacksanta62]

This is long but please read

Hello all, this is a question(s) but also an explanation for those doing sciences (bio&chem) on how I did and why I did that way. After finishing my examinations last week I felt great. I had studied well (smarter as well as harder) the previous week and wanted to do the exams. those around me put off their studying until the night before each individual exam and performed "poorly". I however performed, eehhh. Though not all my marks for each subject I did were given in chem I got 60%+ (the teacher marked the multi choice horriby. A guy in my class got 16 out of 20 when he only got 12 or 13). While actually doing the exam I felt I had an easy 80% but little thing like forgetting states, not balancing some equations fully and forgetting stimulus words when explaining bonding etc cost me 23 marks from the short answer  . It was out of 82. Though saddened I would rather make these silly mistakes this year and correct them now then next year when it "mattered".

For bio I did well in unit 1 (A,A,B,A) resulting in an overall A for unit one. In the unit 1 exam I finished with an 85%. Now we head into unit 2 (ecosystems and adaptions). For the first SAC I got a D (this was an application task where we researched Australian fauna adaptions) but I was sick and missed the in class visit from a company which explained clearly how a number of animals adapted. I also did poorly in the test SAC scoring a 66% (C) but picked up again in the third and fourth SAC with 24/25 and 75% (highest in the class) respectfully. Through out the year the SAC tests got harder and harder which stopped people from easily scoring 90%. Some tips I have, stay consistent with the bio work your teacher requires. This not only helps with staying on top of things but also in class discussions which allows knowledge to be passed on and gained. The SAC marks lost will mostly come from a misunderstanding of biological concepts rather than silly mistakes (there's not many calculation in this class .

Now if you've read this far what else can I do during the holidays (I'm thinking of starting my work early but the textbooks are changing for next year for bio as chem stays the same for one more year I believe) to get a head start on year 12? Do you think I should finish the holiday homework which is quite alot and then relax my brain  for the year it's endured? Please answer if you've had experience in VCE or haven't. All viewpoints will be respected and taen into consideration! Now, onward to the maths section of the forum 

[mtse]

Now if you've read this far what else can I do during the holidays (I'm thinking of starting my work early but the textbooks are changing for next year for bio as chem stays the same for one more year I believe) to get a head start on year 12? Do you think I should finish the holiday homework which is quite alot and then relax my brain  for the year it's endured?

I think first and foremost, you need to go through your exams and sacs, and see why you lost the marks you did. Perhaps you could make a notebook of these errors, or use post-it notes to stick around your room. As you said, you felt confident in the chem exam and it was the silly mistakes that cost you... it happens to everyone and if you can minimise this you have a much higher chance of doing well. As for bio, after learning the concept, I think spending some time teaching someone or doing practice questions (from past papers etc that have sample answers) can really help consolidate your knowledge.

As for what to do in the holidays, first of all of course you need to relax (like completely relax, forget about school) and then do your holiday homework. Some find it easier to get it all done at the start of the holidays, but I personally liked to do it at the end, as I didn't want to forget everything I did by the time school started. Other than the set homework I'd spend some time familiarising myself with the study design (especially for biology if the study design is new) and have a flick through of any copy of the textbook (despite study design changes, the course won't be completely different). And if you're feeling ambitious, you can even try some of the unit 3 papers for bio and chem. I found that doing the papers and comparing my answers to the ones in the exam report or in checkpoints really helped me, especially with what you need to include in worded questions (e.g. keywords, clear step-by step explaining).

Hope this helps

[blacksanta62]

This was the answer I was looking for. I see that you've finished your VCE and are doing the same subjects as me. All the tips you gave me I can start utilizing and like you said I'll take a break first 

[mtse]

All good
If you want any extra advice or have questions regarding your subjects just PM me. Happy to help

[blacksanta62]

Anyone have tips/videos/notes that can really explain empirical & molecular formulas? Chem class did it in term one and got it then but not much making much sense now  and might come up next year in functional groups (?).
Cheers

[@#035;3]

Empirical formula- The formula of a compound that indicates the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound.

Molecular formula- A formula that indicates the actual numbers and kinds of atoms in a molecule.
 
eg: question-
A sample of blue copper (II) sulfate crystals weighing 2.55 g is heated and decomposes to produce 1.63 g of anhydrous copper (II) sulfate.
Show that the formula of the blue crystals is CuSO4*5H2O.

so here we have 2.55 g of CuSO4*5H2O crystals (but we have to show this)
so we'll say we have 2.55 g of CuSO4*XH2O and 1.63 g of CuSO4 (an hydrous just means without water)
so we have to show X =5

the crystals (CuSO4*XH2O) is heated until it produces anhydrous CuSO4
Therefore mass(H2O)=mass(CuSO4*XH2O)-mass(CuSO4)
= 2.55-1.63
 = 0.92 g
Now we have the mass(H2O)=0.92 g and the mass of (CuSO4)=1.63 g
To work out the value of X, we must find the ratio of n(CuSO4) : n(H2O) (the simplest whole number ratio- the EMPIRICAL FORMULA)

n=m/M
Therefore n(CuSO4)=1.63/159.6 =0.0102 mol
n(H2O)= 0.92/18 =0.0511 mol
n(CuSO4) : n(H2O)=  0.0102 : 0.0511 (dividing by smallest mol) --->>> 1 : 5 ---> X=5

Hopefully I was helpful.

[blacksanta62]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. And if you've done 3/4 chemistry will these types of Q's come up next year? It came up in the holiday homework but that chapter seemed like more of a review of unit 1/2 stuff like mol, PV=nRT etc.

[@#035;3]

I'm doing 3/4 chem this year.
If you're using the Heinemann textbook (like I am) the first 5 chapters are pretty much a review of 1/2 chem..
There isn't many of these types of questions in the texbook, however it may come up in an exam.

[blacksanta62]

My chem class is using heinemann too but I don't have a copy of the textbook so I can't really get ahead or see other Questions but thanks for answering. And what else would the be reviewing for us in the further chapters?

[keltingmeith]

Fun fact: 1/2 isn't as standard as what people think, and what you call "revision" others call "new content". Make sure to look in your own book to check if what someone else thinks is revision is revision for you. (personally, when I did 3/4 with the Heinemann book, only chapter 1 was revision)

Importantly, a lot of revision content from 1/2 in terms of what you're referring to, blacksanta, is essential not because you'll be tested on it - but because you need to be able to do it for what you will be tested on.

[blacksanta62]

Awesome, thanks for the info Euler. Yeah I probably should always take that into consideration. And yeah  by the look of the 2015,14,13... exam you should know that stuff back to front 

[blacksanta62]

Anyone know if the UMAT is required to enter biomed at UoM? I'm going to still do the test but just wanted to have a clear answer 

[Callum@1373]

Anyone know if the UMAT is required to enter biomed at UoM? I'm going to still do the test but just wanted to have a clear answer 

Not for biomed at UoM. Otherwise a waste of time (believe me)

[blacksanta62]

Do any other unis use this as a way entry?

[blacksanta62]

Looking for someone to lead me on the path to answering this:

Pyrolusite, an ore of manganese, contains manganese in the form of MnO2. A sample of pyrolusite from a newly
discovered deposit is analysed to determine the degree of purity of the deposit.


To determine the amount of Mn in the pyrolusite sample, 1.25 g of dried pyrolusite was heated with 100 mL of
0.150 M oxalic acid (H2C2O4). The oxalic acid was in excess, so that all of the MnO2 reacted according to:


                                        MnO2(s) + H2C2O4(aq) + 2H+(aq) → Mn2+(aq) + 2CO2(g) + 2H2O(l)

20.00 mL of the resulting solution is then titrated with an 0.0510 M solution of the triiodide ion

                                         I3–(aq) + H2C2O4(aq) → 2CO2(g) + 2H+(aq) + 3I–(aq)

22.00 mL of the 0.0510 M triiodide solution was needed to react with the remaining oxalic acid.

a) Calculate the amount in mol of oxalic acid remaining original 100ml of solution after the pyrolusite had been reacted with the oxalic acid.

b) Calculate the amount in mol of oxalic acid used to reduce the MnO2 n the 1.25g of pyrolusite

c) Calculate the amount in mol of MnO present in the original 1.25g of pyrolusite and hence the percentage of MnO2 by mass present n the pyrolusite

Just a bit of guidance is required, but if your keen show some of the working .