Chemistry is one of the most popular subjects in the VCE as it is one of the subjects that is a pre-requisite for some popular university subjects. It is considered one of the harder subjects in the VCE and consistently gets marked up a little bit.
What score did you achieve in VCE Chemistry?
I scored an ATAR of 99.80. I earned a raw study score of 50 in VCE Chemistry.
How did you study for VCE Chemistry? What techniques did you use to study?
The most important thing I did was choose subjects I was genuinely passionate about. When you truly enjoy a subject, studying becomes much easier. You’ll find yourself thinking about the content outside of class, and that curiosity really adds up.
I have also used Cambridge Checkpoint (which is a book with lots of practise questions) to study, I personally found the questions to be very helpful.Mindset also plays a huge role. It’s easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to others, but that just leads to unnecessary stress. There will (almost) always be someone who scores higher—after all, only a handful of students out of tens of thousands achieve a perfect ATAR.
Focus on your own progress, and try to enjoy the journey. You’ll perform much better when you’re not overwhelmed by comparison.
What is your advice for VCE Chemistry students for the SACs?
For Chemistry, the most effective way to prepare for SACs is consistent practice. There are only so many ways the content can be tested, so the more questions you do, the more familiar you’ll become with the patterns, phrasing, and problem-solving approaches. I highly recommend doing practice questions your teacher provides before each SAC, as they oftenreflect what you’ll be assessed on and reveal the typical structure expected in your answers. If you’re already confident with certain types of questions (like writing half equations), don’t spend too much time practising them. Instead, focus on the areas you find more challenging to make the most of your study time.
What is your advice for VCE Chemistry students for the end of year exams?
Past VCAA exam papers are your best friends. They show you exactly how content is assessed and train you to work within time constraints. The Chemistry exam is quite long (2 hours and 45 minutes), so it’s important to train yourself to maintain focus for the entire duration. These days, with short-form content like TikTok reducing attention spans, many students underestimate how mentally demanding a full-length exam can be.
Also, don’t start using all the past papers too early in the year, or you might run out of quality resources during peak revision periods. On the flip side, don’t leave them all to the last minute either. In fact, you should not do any exam papers the day before the actual exam, because it is already too late!
Most importantly, focus on understanding, not just repetition. You should be able to explain why an answer is correct, not just get to the right number or phrase. For Chemistry, in particular, each year they will (guaranteed) give you a battery or fuel cell that you have never seen before, so having a strong grasp of the content, and how to apply those contents, is really important.
How did you balance study with the rest of your life during VCE?
Looking back, I genuinely enjoyed my Year 12 experience. One of the best things I did was give myself one full day off each week. That rest day helped me stay refreshed and it didn’t negatively affect my performance at all. In fact, it made me more productive and focused on the other six days. No one can study 10+ hours every single day and stay mentally sharp. Balance is key.
As for general tips: listen actively in class, do your homework, and stay consistent. You don’t need fancy tricks—just showing up and engaging makes a huge difference.
Any other comments you would like to share?
Don’t underestimate the power of mindset, balance, and consistency. You don’t need to be perfect, but you do need to be persistent. Find your own interests, stay curious, and believe in yourself! When looking back, most of my friends think VCE is the happiest and most fulfilling period of life they have ever had.
