So, you’ve hit the 90-day mark before your Chemistry WACE exam. Feeling a little nervous? Totally normal. The good news is: three months is plenty of time to get yourself organised, nail down the content, and practise the kind of questions that actually show up in the exam. Think of this as your roadmap from now until exam day.
What is the Chemistry exam actually like?
The exam is one paper, split into 3 sections.
- Section One is multiple choice – there are always 25 multiple-choice questions. Interestingly, it’s also one of the trickier sections for a lot of questions. Sometimes, many answers could be correct – but it’s up to you to decide which is the best answer.
- Section Two is short-answer style. This involves short definitions, explanations, drawing of chemical structures.
- Section Three is the extended response section. It comprises the greatest number of marks in the exam and consists of calculations like empirical formula calculations (which are easy marks if you practise them!) and extended explanations of concepts you’ve been taught.
You’ll have just over 3 hours and 10 minutes in total (10 minutes for reading time, 3 hours for working time) and about 200 marks up for grabs.
What you can take in:
- A scientific calculator (not programmable).
- Pens (blue/black preferred), pencils, sharpener, correction fluid/tape, ruler, eraser, highlighters.
- You’ll also be given your trusty Chemistry Data Booklet (your best friend for formulae, constants, and the periodic table).
What’s actually assessed on the WACE Chemistry exam?
The exam covers Units 3 and 4 – so basically everything from:
- Unit 3: Equilibrium, acids and bases, and redox reactions.
- Unit 4: Organic chemistry and chemical synthesis.
Importantly, studying chemistry is not just about memorising – it’s about understanding concepts so you can apply them in unfamiliar contexts. “Discriminator” questions are often found at the end of individual sections, which distinguish the highest marks from the rest.
Your 90-day roadmap
Here’s how to break your study down into manageable chunks:
Day 90 (3 months to go):
Start broad. One of my favourite techniques for organising my study is the traffic light system. Write down all key concepts from your syllabus and colour code them – red for “no idea whatsoever”, orange for “a bit shaky” and green for “all good!”. Start making flashcards for definitions, and mind-mapping concepts to see how they might connect.
Day 60 (2 months to go):
Start working through textbook questions, starting with ‘red’ questions, before they move to orange and green – then move to orange, until everything is green. Have a go at explaining concepts to your peers.
Day 30 (1 month to go):
It’s crunch time. Do 2–3 past papers a week and actively review mistakes. Notice patterns in your weaknesses, and revise your traffic light system, now for time-constrained understanding of concepts.
Day 5:
Sit one more full exam paper. Then review your most common mistakes – like sig figs, units, or missed keywords in explanations.
Day 1:
Whatever you do today study-wise doesn’t really matter. What is most important, is getting a proper night’s sleep.
Exam techniques that actually help
- Timing is everything. Don’t get stuck on questions. If you can’t solve them immediately, move on and come back.
- Workings > Answers. Even if you don’t land the final number, showing your process can earn you marks.
- Highlight key words in questions. An easy way to lose marks, for example, is forgetting to express answers to the correct number of significant figures.
- Use the Data Booklet. Don’t waste brainpower on constants or equations that are already provided.
Final words of advice
Chemistry isn’t about memorising every single fact—it’s about recognising patterns, applying principles, and being confident in your reasoning. Stick to your plan, practise under timed conditions, and don’t underestimate the basics (like units, sig figs, and definitions).
Remember: exam day isn’t about perfection – it’s about maximising marks with the knowledge you already have.
Good luck!
