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Need Help with Higher Chemistry Nat 5 Questions
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Hey guys,
I was going through some old Higher chemistry past papers and it seems that in the first section(multiple choice), the morons at SQA place in a few National 5 Chemistry questions. Having come from the IGCSEs, some of the stuff we did is different to National 5/Standard Grade Chemistry.
If anyone knows or has a rough idea of the topics in which these questions are from, I would like to know so I can revise them for my finals this May.
I would also like to thank the SQA for going the extra mile to make students' lives harder as they sit their exams this May.
Lol but seriously, I would be grateful for any help.
I was going through some old Higher chemistry past papers and it seems that in the first section(multiple choice), the morons at SQA place in a few National 5 Chemistry questions. Having come from the IGCSEs, some of the stuff we did is different to National 5/Standard Grade Chemistry.
If anyone knows or has a rough idea of the topics in which these questions are from, I would like to know so I can revise them for my finals this May.
I would also like to thank the SQA for going the extra mile to make students' lives harder as they sit their exams this May.
Lol but seriously, I would be grateful for any help.
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#2
This section is a bit annoying. Do the last 15 years worth of pastpapers Q1-10 (you'll find them on the internets somewhere) and memorise how to do them. The questions repeat.
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#3
Why is it wrong that they put in a few questions from Standard Grade? The SQA are not going to consider your specific circumstances, coming from GCSE.
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(Original post by Ecasx)
Why is it wrong that they put in a few questions from Standard Grade? The SQA are not going to consider your specific circumstances, coming from GCSE.
Why is it wrong that they put in a few questions from Standard Grade? The SQA are not going to consider your specific circumstances, coming from GCSE.
Perhaps if the questions they asked required standard grade knowledge COUPLED with some Higher level knowledge, that would make more sense.
If I wanted to answer Standard Grade type questions(which I don't), I would have sat Standard Grade chemistry. Yes, I know that Nat 5/SG level is needed for Higher, but my point is if you are going to ask Standard Grade questions, at least design the questions so they are at least remotely related to the topics covered in Higher - something which in this instance the SQA royally failed to do so.
That is why I don't expect such downright idiocy from an exam board.
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#5
(Original post by gwagon)
I'm not asking anyone to consider my circumstances. The multiple choice questions they ask in section one are related to Standard Grade ONLY. Perhaps if the questions they asked required standard grade knowledge COUPLED with some Higher level knowledge, that would make more sense. If I wanted to answer Standard Grade type questions(which I don't), I would have sat Standard Grade chemistry. Yes, I know that Nat 5/SG level is needed for Higher, but my point is if you are going to ask Standard Grade questions, at least design the questions so they are at least remotely related to the topics covered in Higher - something which in this instance the SQA royally failed to do so.That is why I don't expect such downright idiocy from an exam board.
I'm not asking anyone to consider my circumstances. The multiple choice questions they ask in section one are related to Standard Grade ONLY. Perhaps if the questions they asked required standard grade knowledge COUPLED with some Higher level knowledge, that would make more sense. If I wanted to answer Standard Grade type questions(which I don't), I would have sat Standard Grade chemistry. Yes, I know that Nat 5/SG level is needed for Higher, but my point is if you are going to ask Standard Grade questions, at least design the questions so they are at least remotely related to the topics covered in Higher - something which in this instance the SQA royally failed to do so.That is why I don't expect such downright idiocy from an exam board.
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(Original post by Ecasx)
In studying Higher Chemistry, ideally no-one should forget the knowledge that came before - the basics. The basics are the most important component of any subject in academia. I know, it is annoying that you are required to know - retain - a little extra Chemistry rather than focusing purely on what gets you through the exam. But by no means is it wrong for that to happen.
In studying Higher Chemistry, ideally no-one should forget the knowledge that came before - the basics. The basics are the most important component of any subject in academia. I know, it is annoying that you are required to know - retain - a little extra Chemistry rather than focusing purely on what gets you through the exam. But by no means is it wrong for that to happen.
What is the real point in placing a question which could have been in a SG/Nat 5 question paper? What real progress would the paper indicate?
It could very well be that for some students, the mark gained/lost by this type of question is the difference between an A or a B, a pass or a fail.
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#7
(Original post by gwagon)
Should the Higher Chemistry exam not contain topics which are covered in the Higher course? Of course, include SG if you so wish, if that is the case, the questiosn should also complement the Higher course as we are studying Higher - NOT Standard Grade anymore.
What is the real point in placing a question which could have been in a SG/Nat 5 question paper? What real progress would the paper indicate?
It could very well be that for some students, the mark gained/lost by this type of question is the difference between an A or a B, a pass or a fail.
Should the Higher Chemistry exam not contain topics which are covered in the Higher course? Of course, include SG if you so wish, if that is the case, the questiosn should also complement the Higher course as we are studying Higher - NOT Standard Grade anymore.
What is the real point in placing a question which could have been in a SG/Nat 5 question paper? What real progress would the paper indicate?
It could very well be that for some students, the mark gained/lost by this type of question is the difference between an A or a B, a pass or a fail.
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(Original post by Ecasx)
The Higher Chemistry exam may well contain topics which are covered in the Higher course itself and the course that directly leads to the Higher course. By way of progression, anything that is in the Standard Grade course is intended - assumed - to be known by Higher candidates (of course, the reality is different, because many people tend to focus solely on passing exams; not retaining knowledge for the sake of knowledge). Placing questions from Standard Grade in a Higher exam paper tests a more wide-ranging scope of Chemistry knowledge not bounded specifically by the Higher Chemistry course arrangements. I am playing it up a bit here, since the mere ability to answer Standard Grade questions does not suddenly make one adept at Chemistry, but that's the gist of the idea. In fact, it is more of a gift to candidates than a hindrance that basic Standard Grade questions comprise the first section of the exam. The questions are very easy.
The Higher Chemistry exam may well contain topics which are covered in the Higher course itself and the course that directly leads to the Higher course. By way of progression, anything that is in the Standard Grade course is intended - assumed - to be known by Higher candidates (of course, the reality is different, because many people tend to focus solely on passing exams; not retaining knowledge for the sake of knowledge). Placing questions from Standard Grade in a Higher exam paper tests a more wide-ranging scope of Chemistry knowledge not bounded specifically by the Higher Chemistry course arrangements. I am playing it up a bit here, since the mere ability to answer Standard Grade questions does not suddenly make one adept at Chemistry, but that's the gist of the idea. In fact, it is more of a gift to candidates than a hindrance that basic Standard Grade questions comprise the first section of the exam. The questions are very easy.
Which is exactly the point of the SG/Nat 5 exam.....
" Placing questions from Standard Grade in a Higher exam paper tests a more wide-ranging scope of Chemistry knowledge not bounded specifically by the Higher Chemistry course arrangements. "
No, what you are referring to are the problem solving questions. In every paper, you get these questions about things such as zwitterions, nomenclature standards and so forth. These are outwith the Higher syllabus but these questions asked by the SQA require you to input knowledge gained from the Higher course as well as general problem solving skills to answer these questions.
I give credit where credit it is due and in this case the SQA have successfully tested the students' knowledge of a "more wide-ranging scope of Chemistry knowledge not bounded specifically by the Higher Chemistry course arrangements. " (as quoted by you).
"In fact, it is more of a gift to candidates than a hindrance that basic Standard Grade questions comprise the first section of the exam. The questions are very easy."
No. Whether it is easy or not, that depends from student-to-student. It would be less of a hindrance then if the questions which are asked are actually what you have studied for the past year and not two years ago...
" I am playing it up a bit here, since the mere ability to answer Standard Grade questions does not suddenly make one adept at Chemistry, but that's the gist of the idea."
You yourself said it, so what's the real point of these questions? These pointless questions can be replaced with questions relevant to the Higher syllabus which test the student's knowledge of what he/she have recently studied.
The whole 'idea' you're on about is quite possibly the most ill thought out idea conceived from within the SQA.
You're fighting for a lost cause.
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#9
Who cares 
Stop moaning and answer whats infront of you. Even if you get Q 1-10 wrong you can still drop another 20 marks and get an A. When you consider that nearly every question that is in the 2015 paper will have come up in some variant or another in the last 15 years, it isn't difficult to get an A.
Stop moaning and answer whats infront of you. Even if you get Q 1-10 wrong you can still drop another 20 marks and get an A. When you consider that nearly every question that is in the 2015 paper will have come up in some variant or another in the last 15 years, it isn't difficult to get an A.
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#10
Why do you think every question in this years paper may have come up before? Im so scared for Chemistry 
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#11
(Original post by Ed2015)
Why do you think every question in this years paper may have come up before? Im so scared for Chemistry
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Why do you think every question in this years paper may have come up before? Im so scared for Chemistry
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#12
Ah thats true. So do you recommend learning the past papers? I notice tons of questions repeated
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#13
(Original post by Ed2015)
Ah thats true. So do you recommend learning the past papers? I notice tons of questions repeated
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Ah thats true. So do you recommend learning the past papers? I notice tons of questions repeated
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#14
Ah okay I see 
Have you sat higher Chemistry? If so, did you notice that questions were repeated?
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Have you sat higher Chemistry? If so, did you notice that questions were repeated?
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(Original post by Ed2015)
Ah okay I see
Have you sat higher Chemistry? If so, did you notice that questions were repeated?
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Ah okay I see
Have you sat higher Chemistry? If so, did you notice that questions were repeated?
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#16
Thats true but every other year they have been so it's unlikely that for the last year of Higher SOME won't be repeated. I am learning all knowledge of the course anyway
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#18
(Original post by Ed2015)
Ah okay I see
Have you sat higher Chemistry? If so, did you notice that questions were repeated?
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Ah okay I see
Have you sat higher Chemistry? If so, did you notice that questions were repeated?
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#19
(Original post by Pennyarcade)
Yeah, last year. Not word for word, but I knew how to answer them all from questions I had seen in pastpapers.
Yeah, last year. Not word for word, but I knew how to answer them all from questions I had seen in pastpapers.
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#20
(Original post by WithoutMuchHope)
How far back did you go for Chemistry past papers last year? There's a site I've found which has all papers since 1978 online...
How far back did you go for Chemistry past papers last year? There's a site I've found which has all papers since 1978 online...
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