UniGeniusHSC Chemistry

HSC Chemistry

HSC Chemistry: the course and the exam

Four Year 12 modules with about equal weight, and one 3-hour paper in two sections, with a formulae sheet, data sheet and periodic table. The current syllabus is examined up to the 2028 HSC.

Weeks before your chemistry exam
Hours a week for chemistry
Module 5: Equilibrium and Acid Reactions
Module 6: Acid/Base Reactions
Module 7: Organic Chemistry
Module 8: Applying Chemical Ideas

26 weeks, 104 hours in all

Start with Module 5

Equilibrium and Acid Reactions: 24 of your hours. It is 5 of the 20 questions on our Section I practice papers, 25%.

Hours per module
ModuleYour hoursShare of the checks
Module 5: Equilibrium and Acid Reactions2425%
Module 6: Acid/Base Reactions2425%
Module 7: Organic Chemistry2425%
Module 8: Applying Chemical Ideas2425%

Week by week

  1. Week 1Module 5: Equilibrium and Acid Reactions
  2. Week 2Module 5: Equilibrium and Acid Reactions
  3. Week 3Module 5: Equilibrium and Acid Reactions
  4. Week 4Module 5: Equilibrium and Acid Reactions
  5. Week 5Module 5: Equilibrium and Acid Reactions
  6. Week 6Module 5: Equilibrium and Acid Reactions
  7. Week 7Module 6: Acid/Base Reactions
  8. Week 8Module 6: Acid/Base Reactions
  9. Week 9Module 6: Acid/Base Reactions
  10. Week 10Module 6: Acid/Base Reactions
  11. Week 11Module 6: Acid/Base Reactions
  12. Week 12Module 6: Acid/Base Reactions
  13. Week 13Module 7: Organic Chemistry
  14. Week 14Module 7: Organic Chemistry
  15. Week 15Module 7: Organic Chemistry
  16. Week 16Module 7: Organic Chemistry
  17. Week 17Module 7: Organic Chemistry
  18. Week 18Module 7: Organic Chemistry
  19. Week 19Module 8: Applying Chemical Ideas
  20. Week 20Module 8: Applying Chemical Ideas
  21. Week 21Module 8: Applying Chemical Ideas
  22. Week 22Module 8: Applying Chemical Ideas
  23. Week 23Module 8: Applying Chemical Ideas
  24. Week 24Module 8: Applying Chemical Ideas
  25. Week 25A Section I practice paper and a set of Section II items, then review every lost mark
  26. Week 26A Section I practice paper and a set of Section II items, then review every lost mark

Check your modules with the free test

The paper100 marks, 3 hours plus 5 minutes reading time
Section IObjective-response questions, 20 marks
Section II20 to 25 items, 80 marks
ProvidedFormulae sheet, data sheet and periodic table
Modules5 to 8, approximately equal weighting

The four Year 12 modules

Module 5 Equilibrium and Acid Reactions, Module 6 Acid/Base Reactions, Module 7 Organic Chemistry and Module 8 Applying Chemical Ideas. The exam gives them approximately equal weighting, Working Scientifically skills run through every module, and the Year 11 course is assumed knowledge.

The two sections of the paper

  • Section I, 20 marks: objective-response (multiple-choice) questions.
  • Section II, 80 marks: 20 to 25 items, which may contain parts. At least two items are worth 7 to 9 marks.
  • A NESA-approved calculator is allowed, and a formulae sheet, data sheet and periodic table are provided.

Which HSC this course is for

The Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus (2017) is the current syllabus, examined in the 2026, 2027 and 2028 HSC. NESA's curriculum reform timeline lists the new Chemistry 11-12 syllabus as taught in schools from 2028 and first examined in the 2029 HSC, so this course follows the 2017 syllabus.

Try 2 questions

Question 1
Keq for X(g) + Y(g) ⇌ Z(g) at three temperatures
Temperature (K)Keq
300820
40046
5006.3
The table gives Keq at three temperatures for a gas reaction X(g) + Y(g) ⇌ Z(g). Which conclusion is supported?
Question 2
Solubility of four alcohols in water at 20 °C
AlcoholSolubility (g per 100 g water)
methanolmixes in all proportions
butan-1-ol7.4
hexan-1-ol0.59
octan-1-ol0.054
The table shows the solubility of four alcohols in water at 20 °C. Which statement best explains the trend?

Next step

Take the free testTake the course tour

Questions people ask

Which HSC does this syllabus cover?

The 2026, 2027 and 2028 HSC, so students sitting the HSC next year use this syllabus. NESA's timeline lists the new Chemistry syllabus as first examined in the 2029 HSC.

Is Year 11 Chemistry in the exam?

The exam is set on Modules 5 to 8, and the Year 11 course is assumed knowledge, so moles, stoichiometry, gas volumes and enthalpy can appear inside Year 12 questions.

Can I use a calculator?

Yes, a NESA-approved calculator, with the formulae sheet, data sheet and periodic table provided in the exam.