VCAA Chemistry Performance

Overall average 54.5%33,459 questions answered2026 data

Score by Unit & Topic

Full study design

How can design and innovation help to optimise chemical processes?

54.1%
What are the current and future options for supplying energy?
55.1%
How can the rate and yield of chemical reactions be optimised?
52.6%

How are carbon-based compounds designed for purpose?

55.1%
How are organic compounds categorised and synthesised?
59.3%
How are organic compounds analysed and used?
49.1%
How is scientific inquiry used to investigate the sustainable production of energy and/or materials?
58.6%

Score by Past Paper

2026 data

2025
58.7%
2024
50.2%
2023
54.7%
2022
56.3%
2021
53.6%
2020
50.4%

Score by Question Type

2026 data

Extended Response
47.2%
Multiple Choice
54.2%
Short Answer
56.8%

Cognitive Verb Performance

2026 data

Analyse
37.5%
Apply
61.2%
Calculate
50.8%
Compare
65.5%
Deduce
52.7%
Define
63.6%
Describe
54.5%
Determine
58.8%
Discuss
49.1%
Distinguish
0%
Draw
59.7%
Evaluate
100%
Explain
49.8%
Identify
49.7%
Justify
59.6%
Name
71.4%
Predict
56.9%
Provide
45.5%
Sketch
53.1%
State
61.2%
Write
70.7%

Study Guides

VCE Chemistry Hardest Topics: Where Students Lose the Most MarksAverage scores in VCE Chemistry by past paper, topic, question type and command verb, plus the high-weight low-score revision list.VCE Chemistry Most Tested Topics: What the VCAA Exams CoverMarks by topic and dot point across 9 VCAA Chemistry external papers, 2020 to 2025, plus the question type and cognitive verb mix.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hardest VCAA Chemistry topics?
Based on student performance on AusGrader in 2026, the hardest VCAA Chemistry topics are How are organic compounds analysed and used? (49.1%), How can the rate and yield of chemical reactions be optimised? (52.6%), What are the current and future options for supplying energy? (55.1%). Focus your revision on these areas for the biggest score improvement.
What are the easiest VCAA Chemistry topics?
Based on student performance on AusGrader in 2026, the highest-scoring VCAA Chemistry topics are How are organic compounds categorised and synthesised? (59.3%), How is scientific inquiry used to investigate the sustainable production of energy and/or materials? (58.6%), What are the current and future options for supplying energy? (55.1%).
What are the most common command words in VCAA Chemistry exams?
The most frequently tested command words in VCAA Chemistry are Explain, Determine, Identify, Write, Draw. Practising responses to these verbs is a high-impact study strategy.

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