The best way to Study for the QCAA Science External Exams?

QCAA Science external exams are coming up, but not sure how to start studying? Here is a guide by KIS Academics on how to begin revisions, and some study tips from a 99+ graduate. Learn how to get a band 6 in any Science exam in this article.

How are the Science Exams Assessed?

Physics, Chemistry and Biology have similar assessment structures. The external exam consists of 2 papers:

• Paper 1 contains 20 multiple-choice questions, and a few short response questions. You will be given a ‘question and response’ booklet, and a multiple-choice booklet.
• Paper 2 contains short response questions. You can use a QCAA-approved graphics or scientific calculator.

For each paper, you are given:

• The appropriate science formula book
• 5 minutes of perusal time
• 90 minutes of working time

Paper 1: Multiple Choice Questions

• Questions are relatively easier, and are done relatively quickly.
• Can require calculations, graph analysis, point-blank definitions, and more.
• Each question carries 1 mark.

Paper 2: Short-response Questions

• Questions are more extensive.
• May require you to answer using either single words, sentences or paragraphs.
• Each question will have ‘command’ words such as describe, calculate, list, determine, and discuss.
• Questions can be worth a range of marks and have multiple parts to answer (parts a, b, etc).
• The number of lines given, and the number of marks allocated for each question are indicators of how long the response should be.

How to start Revisions?

1. Understand the content

Download the course syllabus from the QCAA website, and thoroughly look through it. Annotate it by employing the "traffic light system":

• Green represents content you understand well, and can answer any questions relating to them.
• Yellow shows a ‘halfway’ understanding of a topic, and can only answer a few questions relating to them.
• Red displays a limited understanding of the matter, and have difficulty completing simple multiple-choice questions.

This will help target your revision and identify the topics you have to revise.  Below is an example of what an annotated syllabus may look like:

If this colour coding system does not work for you, you can find a different method. The point of this is just to organise and categorise the topics to identify the ones that you should revise first.

If your annotated syllabus turns out looking red, getting a tutor from KIS Academics can help you work on your foundations.

2. Collate your Resources

Collate all the resources that are available to you:

• Revision papers given by your school
• Official resources from your school
• Past external exam papers from 2020 onwards
• Past year papers from other states (e.g. Victoria) that fit the QCAA syllabus.

After that, create a week-by-week timetable of the question banks and exams you will complete leading up to your externals. This way, you are organized without feeling overwhelmed!

To use these resources efficiently, treat:

• Question banks as revision resources for the different types of questions you can be asked on different topics.
• Past exams as mock exams. Replicate the “in-exam experience” with
  • a timer
  • formula sheet
  • writing on paper
  • a silent room

This way, you get to practice questions, and also identify exam techniques that you need to work on. For instance, time management, or perhaps working under pressure.

3. Go through your Mock Exam

The actual mark you receive for the mocks doesn’t matter. However, it does allow you to practice with:

1. The exam format
2. Timing
3. The pressure of sitting in a hall
4.  Being comfortable with seeing a question you don’t know how to solve straight away

After getting your mock exam papers back:

• Identify the topics you had trouble with, and revise your study schedule to focus on those weaker topics.
• Scan the worded response questions that you lost marks in. Find out/ask what you were missing from your response that would make it full marks.

As long as you pinpoint your mistakes and learn from it, you will do far better in your actual exams.

Final Tips and Tricks

1. Always have a Printed Formula Sheet

It is important to be very familiar with your formula book, especially what formulas/content isn’t on it. Also, in your exams, the formula sheet can always give you that a “light bulb” moment for a question that you may have been unsure of.

2. Learn how to use your Calculator

Your graphic calculator can be a life saver if you know how to use it efficiently. This includes utilising tables, graphs, equation solver etc. to answer questions. For example, if you are doing simultaneous equations, it may be more efficient to graph both equations and find the intercept of the two.

3. Do not miss out on Marks

This could involve drawing a diagram, writing down the appropriate formula, completing certain calculations, or just “yapping” about the concept in paper 2.

For multiple-choice questions that you are stuck on, you can still guess the answer. Just do not leave it blank.

Conclusion

Science exams may not be fun to prepare for, but it will be worth it when you get that A. Pay attention in class, and revise consistently; constant hard work will pay-off. If you are really struggling to understand anything you are learning in class, getting a private tutor who can tailor the class to suit your needs will be beneficial. Hop on a free 30 minute trial with a KIS Academics tutor and see the difference yourself!

FAQs

Written by KIS Academics Tutor for QCE Specialist Mathematics and Mathematical Methods, Ragulan Gnanavel. He also provides assistance for Physics, English and Modern History assignments. Ragulan is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and a Bachelor of Commerce at UNSW. He has outstanding credentials as a tutor, and you can view Ragulan’s profile here and request him as a tutor.

Want more personalized study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor can make the biggest difference!