This is where students commonly miss out on marks in exams. Whether it be balancing equations or naming molecules, students assume they have an excellent grasp of these basics and race on ahead to more difficult concepts, only to lose easy marks in the exam because they did not spend enough time practicing and learning their basics.

Using past papers is an excellent way for students to understand the structure of how they will be tested on content. However, it is also really important that they mark their answers using the marking schedule. This will give them insight into exactly what examiners will be looking for, so they can model their answer to best suit NCEA examination. This will also give them a good understanding of what level they are at, and what extra information they might be missing in their answers to secure those top grades.

Almost every student shudders to hear the word organics. However, this is one of the most straightforward topics in the subject. The key to mastering a topic is to take the time to break down each reaction in the reaction map and ensure students have a solid understanding of it, and practice drawing and naming molecules to familiarise themselves with the structure and properties that frequently appear in exam questions.