Dragonmaster262
Unorthodox top student
What are the hardest papers for sciences (Physics, Chemistry or Biology) ? CSSA, Independent, James Ruse etc?
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A question for all science nerds (1 Viewer)
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annabackwards
<3 Prophet 9
CSSA are the hardest i've come across.
Independent have some really random questions and some of them are wrong eg H2O does not have a coordinate covalent bond >.>
Haven't done a Ruse paper yet so i can't compare though.
Independent have some really random questions and some of them are wrong eg H2O does not have a coordinate covalent bond >.>
Haven't done a Ruse paper yet so i can't compare though.
gurmies
Drover
A company called Exam Choice also release some fairly difficult exams.
GUSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Active Member
well i'm no science nerd...but IMO the past HSC papers are the hardest to do =S
kaz1
et tu
Sadly not smart enough to be a science nerd but CSSA/Ruse Chemistry was hardest for me and HSC/Independent Physics.
Aquawhite
Retiring
Well I've only done the Preliminary practice papers about 2 each for chem and physics...
I did a CSSA prelim and a ruse chem paper... they were both fairly hard - but got through them.
In physics - Idependent I did in the actual exam which I thought was weak, the CSSA paper was harder.
I did a CSSA prelim and a ruse chem paper... they were both fairly hard - but got through them.
In physics - Idependent I did in the actual exam which I thought was weak, the CSSA paper was harder.
hollaholla
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NEAP.
nuff said.
nuff said.
kaz1
et tu
CSSA made prelim papers? Never knew that.
the-derivative
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I wouldn't say CSSA is harder, but I think CSSA lacks clarity - which makes it difficult to gain marks. They're too vague in the wording of their question, yet are highly specific in their marking criteria (for example the Ideas to Implementation question in this year's paper).
With most subjects however, the variations in difficulty cannot be that great, because most questions are based on the syllabus points anyway - and there's only so many ways you can manipulate a syllabus point.
Btw - I'm not a science nerd. I only do one science and I enjoy my social sciences more.
untouchablecuz
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chem screwed me, but physics was easy
study-freak
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This year's:
CSSA Phys- not difficult
Independent Chem (I didn't have any chance to look at the options and so just the core + the paper I saw could have been edited before) - Not difficult and there was a 5 marker question that is partly out of the syllabus.
Exam choice Phys - I didn't see this paper but I am pretty sure that my teachers got superconducting disk question from it (which, IMO, is out of the syllabus). Can't comment any more on this paper though.
But generally Independent>CSSA (prob because independent makes papers for money)
and NEAP is not bad. Exam choice- can't comment on it due to lack of exposure to their papers.
CSSA Phys- not difficult
Independent Chem (I didn't have any chance to look at the options and so just the core + the paper I saw could have been edited before) - Not difficult and there was a 5 marker question that is partly out of the syllabus.
Exam choice Phys - I didn't see this paper but I am pretty sure that my teachers got superconducting disk question from it (which, IMO, is out of the syllabus). Can't comment any more on this paper though.
But generally Independent>CSSA (prob because independent makes papers for money)
and NEAP is not bad. Exam choice- can't comment on it due to lack of exposure to their papers.
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Aquawhite
Retiring
Well the teachers say they buy the 'catholic schools' paper or 'independent paper' and then either use the whole thing or edit it in some parts...
I assume that catholic schools paper = CSSA.
NEAP are good for practice, same with Grammar trials simply because they're quite easily and straight forward, without the vague wording that is so common in CSSA exams. However they still suffer from the 'mystery' marking scheme where if you miss out on a random thing they wanted in the answer - bad luck.
Sarah182
Herpes Member
Why do independant papers say that!! It drives me insane!!
And for Bio and Chem I'd say that independant is the hardest (but they usually have a fair few wrong answers too for some reason??).
annabackwards
<3 Prophet 9
Yeah it really gets on my nerves too. I mean, if they're getting paid for it they should be doing a thorough job!
I agree.