How to Answer 'Assess' Chemistry Questions | HSC Chemistry Key Verb Series Part 3

Answering ‘assess’ long response questions

Students find ‘assess’ Chemistry questions challenging and intimidating. Some students struggle to provide relevant and concise response while others just fail to answer the question specifically.

‘How to answer ‘assess’ Chemistry questions’ is a comprehensive guide for students on how to develop a structured scientific response that is logical, sequential, relevant, concise and specific.

In this article, we’re going to discuss;

• Types of ‘assess’ Chemistry questions
• The process for answering ‘assess’ Chemistry questions
• Sample ‘assess’ long response questions and answers using the IDEA Framework

Types of ‘assess’ long response questions in the HSC Chemistry Exam

Assess chemistry questions are considered one of the most difficult questions to gain full marks for.

In the 2019 HSC Chemistry Exam, there was one assess question worth 5 marks.

There are two main types of assess questions asked in HSC Chemistry exams:

1. Assess the accuracy of a prediction or a statement
2. Assess the impact of knowledge/applications on ……

Examples of ‘assess’ questions in Chemistry exams

Marks allocated for an ‘assess’ long response question can vary from 3 to 7 marks. Examples of assess questions with different marks are listed below.

What is the process for answering ‘assess’ Chemistry questions?

To answer ‘assess’ chemistry questions, you must first understand the meaning of the verb, ‘assess’.

The NSW Education Standards Authority defines ‘Assess’ as “making a judgement of value, quality, outcomes, results or size.”

When answering ‘assess’ questions, students are required to make an informed judgement explicitly/implicitly.

Informed judgement refers to a decision based on knowledge of a subject or facts.

-Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

One of the ways to make an informed judgement is using Learnable’s IDEA Framework^TM  to construct a concise, relevant and logical response. 

Learnable’s IDEA Framework^TM

The IDEA Framework helps you structure your answer easily and meet the marking criteria for ‘assess’ questions. View the 4 step process outlined in the table below:

Sample ‘assess’ Chemistry questions and answers using the IDEA Framework^TM

Let’s apply Learnable’s IDEA Framework to answer the two types of ‘assess’ Chemistry questions.

1. Assess the accuracy of {……………….}
2. Assess the impact of {……………….}

Solution

Step 1: Identify each part of the information for assessment.

Step 2: State the accuracy of each part of the information as being accurate or inaccurate.

Step 3 & 4: Provide supporting evidence for your decisions and make your informed judgement by stating whether the overall information is accurate, partially accurate or inaccurate. 

Step 5: Construct a concise, relevant and logical response.

A sample response to the question using the IDEA Framework is shown below.

Some chemical synthesis processes use toxic chemicals such as mercury. If these leak into the environment, it can harm organisms and cause deformations. Since mercury can bioaccumulate and persist in the food chain, mercury contamination in waterways is also a significant health risk for humans. Even in small concentrations, it can cause severe neurological damage and be fatal to humans. Therefore it is very important to monitor the environmental impact of chemical synthesis processes. Scientists can minimise the impact of toxic waste on the environment by designing processes which avoid using toxic chemicals or using analytical techniques such as AAS to monitor the area surrounding the plant and quickly detect any leaks.

Don’t forget to include the overall assessment.

Written by Varisara Laosuksri

Varisara is a 2019 St George Girls High School graduate who achieved Band 6 in her HSC Chemistry and Physics.