CONTENTS

Student Information and Advice

Part 1: Topic Tests:

i-v

Questions

Solutions

10

Test 2: Elemental & Environmental Chemistry

12

22

Test 3: Analytical Techniques

25

34

Test 4: Using & Controlling Reactions

37

50

Test 5: Organic & Biological Chemistry

54

69

Test 6: Materials

75

83

Test 1: Skills

Part 2: SSABSA Chemistry Examination:

Examination

Solutions

SSABSA 2003 Chemistry Examination

86

xx

SSABSA 2004 Chemistry Examination

xxx

xxx

SSABSA 2005 Chemistry Examination

xx

xxx

SSABSA 2006 Chemistry Examination

xxx

xxx

Part 3: Periodic Table

xxx

Please Note:
Students are strongly advised to read the 2006 Stage 2 Chemistry Assessment Report which can be
downloaded from the SSABSA website.

NOTE
The Essentials Chemistry Test and Exam Pack aims to give students:

access, in one booklet, to four Stage 2 Chemistry exams as they were published.

Those few parts of questions now longer examinable have been crossed out (Changes to the
Chemistry Curriculum statement occurred in 2007)

detailed solutions and comments written by two experienced Stage 2 Chemistry teachers who
have had extensive Stage 2 Chemistry exam marking experience.

while the answers are detailed, the answers given are not to be interpreted as the official
solutions to past examination questions.

the answers provided would score full marks but they are not the only answers that would score
full marks.

page references are relevant to the 6th Edition Chemistry Essentials Workbook

2003-2006 Chemistry Stage 2 Examination Papers SSABSA.

All past Chemistry Stage 2 examination questions are reprinted under license from SSABSA.
SSABSA takes no responsibility for any errors in this publication nor for any errors in the reproduction
of the past Stage 2 examination questions contained in this publication.
SSABSA does not endorse model answers prepared by or for, any publisher and accompanying the
past Stage 2 examination questions.

Student Information & Advice

1. Setting Up A Test / Examination Revision Timetable:
1. You should create a revision timetable with sensible work slots and breaks and then show it to
your parents to get their agreement.
Keep to this timetable!
Organise yourself well and it will help you to fulfil your potential.
If you have not prepared a revision planner yet, it is not too late to start.
2. Know where your exams are and when they start, how long they are and what equipment you are
allowed to take in (calculators etc) and what you are not allowed to take in (mobiles, notes, etc).
3. Make sure you have some free time when you don't do revision or think about exams - you'll come
back to it refreshed.
4. Tell your family about your revision time - and ask them for help if you need it - it may help make
them feel useful to you!
5. Use the Chemistry Curriculum Statement to guide your revision. A copy is available from the
SSABSA Website. (This is the document that the exam is based on)
6. Keep bullet points on crib cards highlighting main subject theories. Use these for quick revision
and for reading during "dead" times - e.g. when youre waiting for a bus. Use Mnemonics - using
initials of a word helps your memory.
7. Some people revise well by listening, so you could try talking your revision and recording it
onto your iPod or onto tapes. Listen to these while lying in bed, while travelling in a car, or
walking to the shops. This also takes the 'guilt' out of being out and about instead of in front of
your books.
8. Ensure you eat and sleep properly. Now is not the time to diet or stay up all night. Have an early
night before each exam.
9. Prepare items needed for the exam the evening before. Make sure you have the correct equipment
needed for your exam (calculators, rulers etc). Your exam invigilator should remind you of what
you are and arent allowed before the exam starts. Taking unauthorised equipment in can get you
disqualified from the exam.
10. Look after yourself during the exam period (good routine and healthy eating!). Be sure to cut
down on your weekend/evening job; most employers know that you need to commit time to the
exams and revision, but often try to get you to do extra hours anyway!
11. On the morning of the exam, have a good breakfast, stay calm and allow plenty of time to get to
the exam and remember that you can only do your best and even if you don't do as well as you
hope, your parents still love you just as much!

2. Suggestions: Before the Test / Examination

1. If you find that reading over revision notes just before an exam relaxes you, feel free to do so,

but
be aware that in most cases it could make you more nervous.
[any new information is not normally absorbed at this stage].
2. During your reading time find the extended response questions (usually two) and write notes on
your scrap paper.
3. Be positive and have confidence in your ability. Remember that the exams are not set to trip you
up, but are designed to allow you to demonstrate your knowledge of the subject
4. You should have an idea of how much time you are going to spend on each question by looking at
the total marks for each question. Work on slightly more than a mark a minute and aim to finish
each exam book in slightly less than an hour.
5. Take time to consider the question. Look at where the marks are to be gained and allocate time
appropriately (and stick to it). Too many candidates spend too much time earning and re-earning
small numbers of marks, thereby losing time for the heavier-tariff tasks. Remember, answering
three questions fairly well is better than answering one very well and leaving two badly done.
Underlining key words in the question may help to focus your mind and jog your memory.
6. Structure your answers by making an answer plan; writing this down will help.
7. Don't forget to refer back to the question to help ensure that you answer the question asked. The
examiner can't give you marks for your knowledge and understanding of a topic if you don't
answer the specific question properly, i.e. don't answer the question you wish you'd been asked
rather that the question in front of you. Read your answer through before moving on to the next
question.
8. Concentrate on your punctuation, spelling and grammar. Remember that, whilst you will not be
marked down for bad handwriting, if the examiner cannot read what you have said, then they can't
give you the marks you deserve.
9. Try and relax, and keep an eye on the clock without checking it every five minutes. You need to
leave time to complete each question and to read through your answers before the end of the
exam. Remember each booklet should take approximately one hour
10. Once you have finished the exam, don't worry about it and try to avoid comparing your answers
with other students.

3. Suggestions: During the Test / Examination

1. Read the question carefully:
o Be careful to only give the type of response requested in the question.
o The amount of space provided in the core answer book is a guide to how much you should
write or draw. The space provided is more than that needed to obtain full marks.
o Look for the command word; Describe, Compare, Explain, Suggest.

Describe use the information provided to say exactly what is happening.

Be Scientific and be Accurate.
Explain Use your chemical knowledge and understanding to give reasons.
Compare:
Do not just list similarities or differences.
Do always mention BOTH in ONE SENTENCE.
Think of linking them with but.

Suggest - Often refers to material you may not have met before.

You are expected to apply your chemical knowledge and understanding to give a possible
explanation of why.

2. Using the Mark Scheme

o Check the number of marks available.
o Filling the space does not mean you will get all the marks.
o If 3 marks are available, make sure you have made 3 distinct points.
3. Calculations
o Show all your working out (marks can be allocated even if the final answer is wrong).
o Include the correct units
o Use the unrounded answer for further calculations
o Include the correct number of significant figures
o Are often poorly done therefore very important that you show full working out!
4. Structured questions Basics
o Check instruction words.
o Check number of marks available.
o Try to use all the data provided.
o Check titles, headings and units.
o Try to get a general understanding about what the data shows.
5. Structured questions Trends and Patterns (describe)
o Description needs manipulation and overview not repeat of data.
o Start with simple similarities and differences.
o Be accurate when describing important points.
6. Common Faults
o Statements that do not answer the question asked, even if they may be correct in another
context, will not score marks.
o Dont provide multiple answers in the hope that one might be correct.
o Check that you havent answered merely by rewording information given in the question.
o Be careful not to provide any information that contradicts worthwhile information written
earlier. A contradiction cancels out the mark you might otherwise have been awarded.
7. Preparing the Equipment
o Be sure you organise all equipment needed for the examination well in advance and check
that it is in good order.
o Make sure you have spare pens and sharp pencils, eraser and a range of suitable measuring
and drawing equipment as measurements, diagrams and graphs are common elements in
chemistry examinations.
o If you make a mistake, do not waste time using white correction fluid. Clearly cross out what
you do not want the examiner to mark and rewrite your answer.
A GLOSSARY OF KEY WORDS
Analyse

Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate
implications

Apply

Use, utilise, employ in a particular situation

Calculate

Ascertain/determine from given facts, figures or information

Classify

Arrange or include in classes/categories

Compare

Show how things are similar or different

Deduce

Draw conclusions

Define

State meaning and identify essential qualities

Describe

Provide characteristics and features

Discuss

Identify issues and provide points for and/or against

Distinguish

Recognise or note / indicate as being distinct or different from; to note differences

between

Evaluate

Make a judgement based on criteria; determine the value of

Explain

Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide
why and/or how

Extract

Choose relevant and/or appropriate details

Extrapolate

Infer from what is known

Identify

Recognise and name

Interpret

Draw meaning from

Justify

Support an argument or conclusion

Outline

Sketch in general terms; indicate the main features of

Predict

Suggest what may happen based on available information

Recall

Present remembered ideas, facts or experiences

Summarise

Express, concisely, the relevant details

4. The SSABSA Chemistry Examination:

each year the Stage 2 Chemistry examiners set a different paper with questions that are different
from those given in the past.

the same curriculum statement is being examined for each examination paper so that some
similarities with past questions may occur.

the content of a topic can only be examined in so many ways.

students will be better equipped for their Stage 2 Chemistry examination if they practise doing as
many questions under examination conditions as practicable.

5. SSABSA Chemistry Examinations 2003-2006:

In order to save space and printing costs:

Blank pages have been removed.

Extra pages which are found at the end of each book have also been removed.

The Periodic Table which is always present has been removed and students will need to use the
Periodic Table found at the end of the book.

The metal activity table changes according to the exam (depends on which metals are examined)
and SI prefixes table is present for each relevant exam.

Content which was relevant to earlier curriculum statements but is no longer

included in the current curriculum statement has been marked with a: