2019 Cambridge Chemistry Challenge

I heard rumours that some schools had teachers who would take a quick look at the papers beforehand and then give students "hints" about what would come up. Have any of you come across this?

As for the paper itself, I thought it was slightly easier in difficulty compared to the 2018 and 2017 papers. In many ways it seemed similar to the 2nd question in the 2011 paper. I am eager to found out the grade boundaries and see if they rise this year.

The last two questions seemed very tricky though.

Yeah I panicked and choked during exam conditions

What a common feeling. Tentatively, I might even say I found it more difficult than the Olympiad earlier in the year. As a L6 student the pressure during that exam was refreshingly minimal.

Yeah a lot of people did. ukcho went from 40 to 28 for a gold which is 15% drop and historically c3l6 boundaries can rise or decrease by like 15%. Do you think 42.5 can be rg? This would be 7% decrease or something

I mean, while the standard mark for Rg is around 47-50 out of 60, it did drop to 42 for the 2014 season, if I remember correctly. At this point though, I've put it out of my head that I have any chance at Rg.

Yeah it went between 70 and 83%. What mark you think you got?

I am utter trash at that sort of stuff, but can say with fair confidence that I think I got >50%. I didn't even notice the total number of marks oof

Bigger than 50?

No way lol, I mean greater than 50 percent so around at least 30 marks.

So around 50% I meant? So should be a gold. Do you think boundaries will go down?

I should think so, yes. The whole theme of the paper was just odd and the questions were not the standard for C3L6. My teacher is marking ours over the weekend, so I should know my mark by Monday.

By how much? Like UKCHO? The sryle was different for the actual round 1 and boundaries dropped massively as a result. So you think 66% may be Rg? As it was 75 last year.

For reference UKCHO went from 50% to 35% for gold

Honestly, I wouldn't be so generous. I'd say more like a drop to 70%. I can't wait to discuss the paper, because I really have no idea what the national consensus was. What happened with the Olympiad was incredibly rare and very lucky for any L6 that sat it. I cannot see an event of such magnitude being replicated here.

Right now, I would place Rg at 42-44 marks but very much hope I am proved wrong.

So you think it may be lower than that? I got 42.5 I think so I'm HOPING it's 41 or 42. Also why wouldn't it repeat? Also boundaries sometimes fluctuate by 15 or so. It dropped to 70% but back then thr too students did very well hence high Rg an low gold hit this year even the top students struggledba lot I think. I'm. Hoping low Rg but high gold situation