HSC Exam to Syllabus Mapping
Question Coverage Analysis 2019-2025
Mapping of HSC Physics exam questions to syllabus modules and outcomes
Overview
This page provides a comprehensive mapping of HSC Physics examination questions to syllabus modules and outcomes. Use this analysis to:
- Identify frequently tested topics
- Understand outcome coverage across years
- Plan strategic revision focus areas
Module 5: Advanced Mechanics
Question Coverage by Year
| Topic | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Projectile Motion | Q3 | Q5 | Q2 | Q4 | Q9 | Q9 | TBD |
| Circular Motion | Q8 | Q12 | Q7 | Q1 | Q21a | Q1 | TBD |
| Gravitational Fields | Q15, Q27 | Q22 | Q24 | Q25 | Q31 | Q13, Q25, Q31 | TBD |
| Orbital Mechanics | Q22 | Q27 | Q28 | Q32 | Q27 | Q25 | TBD |
Outcome PH12-12 Coverage
PH12-12: describes and analyses qualitatively and quantitatively circular motion and motion in a gravitational field
This outcome consistently appears in: - Section I: 2-3 questions per year - Section II: 1-2 extended response questions (typically 5-8 marks)
Module 6: Electromagnetism
Question Coverage by Year
| Topic | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charged Particles in Fields | Q6 | Q3 | Q11 | Q7 | Q4 | Q6 | TBD |
| Motor Effect | Q14 | Q8 | Q14 | Q12 | Q14 | Q21 | TBD |
| Electromagnetic Induction | Q21, Q29 | Q28 | Q22 | Q28 | Q28 | Q27 | TBD |
| Transformers | Q10 | Q15 | Q9 | Q16 | Q11 | Q12 | TBD |
Outcome PH12-13 Coverage
PH12-13: explains and analyses the electric and magnetic interactions due to charged particles and currents
High-frequency topics: - Motor effect calculations - Electromagnetic induction (Faraday’s law) - Transformer principles
Module 7: The Nature of Light
Question Coverage by Year
| Topic | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wave Properties | Q4 | Q6 | Q5 | Q3 | Q6 | Q4 | TBD |
| Photoelectric Effect | Q16, Q30 | Q29 | Q29 | Q29 | Q29 | Q28 | TBD |
| Special Relativity | Q17, Q31 | Q30 | Q30 | Q30 | Q30 | Q29, Q32 | TBD |
| Light Models | Q11 | Q10 | Q13 | Q11 | Q12 | Q10 | TBD |
Outcome PH12-14 Coverage
PH12-14: describes and analyses evidence for the properties of light and evaluates implications for modern physics
Consistently tested concepts: - Photoelectric effect calculations - Special relativity (time dilation, length contraction) - Wave-particle duality
Module 8: From the Universe to the Atom
Question Coverage by Year
| Topic | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stellar Spectra | Q13 | Q11 | Q12 | Q10 | Q10 | Q11 | TBD |
| Nuclear Reactions | Q18, Q32 | Q31 | Q31 | Q31 | Q32 | Q30 | TBD |
| Atomic Models | Q19 | Q17 | Q16 | Q15 | Q15 | Q15 | TBD |
| Mass Defect/Binding Energy | Q20, Q33 | Q32, Q33 | Q32, Q33 | Q32, Q33 | Q33 | Q33 | TBD |
Outcome PH12-15 Coverage
PH12-15: explains and analyses evidence supporting the relationship between astronomical events and nucleosynthesis
Key topics appearing annually: - Nuclear binding energy calculations - Mass-energy equivalence - Stellar nucleosynthesis processes
Mark Distribution Analysis
Marks by Module (2019-2024 Average)
Module 5: Advanced Mechanics - ~22 marks (22%)
Module 6: Electromagnetism - ~26 marks (26%)
Module 7: The Nature of Light - ~24 marks (24%)
Module 8: Universe to the Atom - ~28 marks (28%)Question Type Distribution
| Type | Marks | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice (Section I) | 20 | 20% |
| Short Response (2-4 marks) | ~30 | 30% |
| Extended Response (5-9 marks) | ~50 | 50% |
High-Yield Topics
Based on 6-year analysis (2019-2024), these topics appear most frequently:
- Electromagnetic induction - Every year, typically 6-8 marks
- Special relativity calculations - Every year, typically 5-7 marks
- Nuclear binding energy - Every year, typically 4-6 marks
- Gravitational field problems - Most years, typically 5-7 marks
- Photoelectric effect - Every year, typically 4-6 marks
Study Recommendations
- Master electromagnetic induction concepts and calculations
- Practice special relativity problems (time dilation, length contraction, mass-energy)
- Ensure confident nuclear physics calculations (binding energy, mass defect)
- Review gravitational field and orbital mechanics
- Understand all forms of the photoelectric effect equation
Data Source
This mapping is generated from the knowledge graph at: - Entities: kg/entities.ndjson - Relations: kg/relations.ndjson
Question-to-outcome mappings are added as ASSESSES relations when exam questions are extracted and categorised.