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Free guides for HSC, QCE and VCE Chemistry students and parents

• Spectroscopy and chromatography in VCE Chemistry, explained

  Mass spectrometry, IR, NMR and chromatography are the analytical techniques of VCE Chemistry Unit 4. Here is what each one tells you and how to combine spectra to determine a structure.

  Published 2026-05-26

• Rates and equilibrium in VCE Chemistry, explained

  Reaction rates and chemical equilibrium are central to VCE Chemistry Unit 3. Here is how collision theory, catalysts, dynamic equilibrium, Le Chatelier's principle and the equilibrium constant K fit together.

  Published 2026-05-26

• Organic chemistry and reaction pathways in VCE Chemistry, explained

  Organic reactions and reaction pathways are the heart of VCE Chemistry Unit 4. Here is how functional groups, the core reaction types, and pathway planning fit together, plus yield, atom economy and green chemistry.

  Published 2026-05-26

• Galvanic and electrolytic cells in VCE Chemistry, explained

  Galvanic cells, fuel cells, rechargeable cells and electrolysis are core to VCE Chemistry Unit 3. Here is how the electrochemical series, cell polarity, Faraday's laws and electrolysis products fit together.

  Published 2026-05-26

• VCE Chemistry SACs: how they work and how to prepare

  VCE Chemistry SACs make up half your study score. Here is what a SAC is, what the Unit 3 and Unit 4 SACs cover, the four prescribed task types, the scientific poster, and how to prepare.

  Published 2026-05-26

• The VCE Chemistry exam: structure, timing and question types

  The VCE Chemistry exam is worth 50 per cent of your study score. Here is the structure (Section A and Section B), timing, what is examinable, the question types, and how to prepare.

  Published 2026-05-26

• QCE vs VCE vs HSC Chemistry compared

  How Year 12 Chemistry is structured and assessed in Queensland (QCE), Victoria (VCE) and New South Wales (HSC). The units, the internal and external split, the instruments, and what is actually the same.

  Published 2026-05-26

• Redox and electrochemistry in QCE Chemistry, explained

  Redox reactions, galvanic cells, electrolysis and electrode potentials are the back half of QCE Chemistry Unit 3. Here is how oxidation numbers, half-equations, cells and Faraday's law fit together.

  Published 2026-05-26

• Equilibrium and Le Chatelier's principle in QCE Chemistry, explained

  Chemical equilibrium and Le Chatelier's principle are the heart of QCE Chemistry Unit 3. Here is what dynamic equilibrium means, how each disturbance shifts a system, and how Kc and Q actually work.

  Published 2026-05-26

• Chemical synthesis and design in QCE Chemistry, explained

  Unit 4 of QCE Chemistry treats synthesis as a design problem. Here is how reaction pathways, the Haber and Contact processes, yield optimisation, atom economy and green chemistry fit together.

  Published 2026-05-26

• The Chemistry topics common to every Australian syllabus

  HSC, QCE and VCE Chemistry use different names and structures, but the core science is shared. Here are the topics that appear in every Australian Year 12 Chemistry course, and where each one lives.

  Published 2026-05-26

• How ATAR is calculated for Chemistry: QLD vs VIC vs NSW

  Your Chemistry result feeds the ATAR differently in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales. Here is how QTAC, VTAC and UAC each turn your marks into a rank, and what that means for Chemistry students.

  Published 2026-05-26

• How to ace the QCE Chemistry IA3 (Research Investigation)

  The QCE Chemistry IA3 Research Investigation is worth 20%. It is secondary research, not a lab. Here is what each of the four criteria rewards, a worked example, and how to plan it.

  Published 2026-05-25

• The QCE Chemistry External Assessment (the 50% exam), explained

  The QCE Chemistry External Assessment is worth 50%, the single biggest piece of the course. Here is the two-paper format, what is examinable, the conditions, and how to prepare.

  Published 2026-05-25

• How to ace the QCE Chemistry IA2 (Student Experiment)

  The QCE Chemistry IA2 Student Experiment is worth 20%. Here is what each of the four criteria rewards, a worked modification example, and how to plan your report.

  Published 2026-05-24

• How to ace the QCE Chemistry IA1 (Data Test)

  The QCE Chemistry IA1 Data Test is 10% of your result, sat on unseen data in 60 minutes. Here is exactly what it marks, a full worked example, and how to prepare.

  Published 2026-05-24

• Year 11 to Year 12 Chemistry: what actually changes

  Year 12 HSC Chemistry is harder than Year 11, but not in the way most students expect. Here is what changes, where the real jump is, and how to prepare over summer.

  Published 2026-05-09

• The new HSC Chemistry syllabus: what NSW students and parents need to know

  There is a new NESA Chemistry syllabus, but no NSW student sits an HSC exam under it before 2029. Here is the actual timeline, what changes, and what to do until then.

  Published 2026-05-09

• How to use the NESA Chemistry data sheet in the HSC exam

  The NESA Chemistry data sheet contains every formula, constant and table you need in the HSC exam. Most students do not know what is on it. Here is a section by section walkthrough.

  Published 2026-05-09

• HSC Chemistry marking criteria, explained simply

  Most HSC Chemistry students lose marks they did not need to lose because they do not know what markers actually look for. Here is how the rubric really works.

  Published 2026-05-09

• The 10 most common mistakes in HSC Chemistry (and how to fix them)

  These are the ten errors that show up in NESA marking notes year after year. Each one is small, each one is fixable, and together they are the difference between a Band 5 and a Band 6.

  Published 2026-05-09