Biology vs Chemistry vs Physics

The New Year 11 & 12 (Stage 6) Science syllabus

The new Year 11 & 12 (Stage 6) Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics Syllabus was introduced from the 2018 Year 11 cohort. The syllabus introduced new content not taught in the previous syllabus. In 2019, the Extension Science course was introduced and allowed Year 12 students to take an additional unit of science for the first time.

In this post, we answer some frequently asked questions from Year 10 students about choosing the right Science courses for Year 11.

• What are the differences between Biology, Chemistry and Physics?
• Should I choose Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics?
• Which science course should I study if I am interested in studying Health, Medicine or Dentistry at University?
• Is it true that there is an overlap between Chemistry and Physics?

Introducing the  Year 11 Biology, Chemistry and Physics syllabuses

Year 11 Science is the first year of Stage 6 Science. Stage 6 refers to years 11 and 12.  Year 9 and 10 Science is known as Stage 5 Science.

Stage 6 Science offers three different science courses – Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. More details about Stage 6 can be found on the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) website.

Year 11 Biology, Chemistry and Physics courses are split into a skills component and four modules of study. The skills components will be covered within the four modules of study. The modules for the Year 11 curriculum are:

Please note that Year 11 students at Matrix start the course one term ahead of school. This means Year 11 students will start their studies in October of the previous year (when they are in Year 10 at school). Learn more about Matrix Year 11 courses.

Comparing Science courses: Biology vs Chemistry vs Physics

The Year 11 Science course structure is outlined in the table below:

Choosing the right Science course (Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics)

Students should consider the following when making a decision:

• What subjects they are interested in.
• What they are good at.
• How much time they may need to commit to each course, in the context of their entire Year 11 and Year 12 workload.
• What they would like to pursue at university.

Through the Year 9 and 10 modules – The Living World, The Chemical World, and The Physical World – students will have sampled Biology, Chemistry and Physics. These modules form a basis for the Stage 6 syllabus, and enable students to determine which of the science subjects they are interested in. Students should also consider how they performed in each of the modules and how challenging they found them.

The different science courses may be recommended courses or assumed knowledge for certain university courses. The flowchart below shows the general progression from high school to university courses.  More detailed information for specific university courses is provided in following sections.

Identifying recommended Science subjects for different university courses

Listed below are the minimum ATAR results needed for domestic students to have been accepted into some popular university courses in 2017, and each course’s assumed knowledge and recommended subjects. Students who do not satisfy the assumed knowledge requirements should undertake a bridging course prior to the commencement of their degree. (Bridging courses are intensive courses that attempt to cover large portions of the Stage 6 syllabus over short periods of approximately 10 days.)

University of New South Wales

 University of Sydney

Macquarie University

University of Technology

* ATAR + additional selection criteria

Scaling of Biology, Chemistry and Physics Courses

Scaling is the process of converting HSC marks into scaled marks for comparison across different subjects. This is required as students undertake different courses, and a certain mark in one course may not equate to the same mark in another course, e.g. if courses differ in difficulty. Essentially, comparing the marks of students studying different science courses is not accurate in terms of comparing students to one another.

A different level of scaling is applied to each subject, as this reflects the different demands of the subject.

As a general rule, the “harder” the unit of study, the better the scaling it receives.

Chemistry and Physics scales better than Biology.

For example,

• • A student in 90th percentile (top 10 percent in the state) in Chemistry and Physics will receive a scaled mark of 41.5/50 and 42/50 which equates to 83/100  and 84/100 respectively.
  • A student in 90th percentile in Biology will receive a scaled mark of 39/50 which equates to 78/100, whereas a student in the 96th percentile will receive a mark around 84/100. A biology student will need to be ranked in 96th percentile to obtain the same scaled mark as a Chemistry and Physics student ranked in the 90th percentile.

Please note that students should not be choosing subjects based on scaling. Instead, scaling graphs should be used as the tool for determining your required position/rank in the state for you to obtain your desired ATAR. The scaling graph should tell you how well you would need to do in a certain subject, which can be considered along with the student’s abilities and workload. Consider the following examples:

• A student is interested in and has been performing well in Physics, and Physics scales quite well. The student is likely to get good “value” for their effort if they study Physics.
• A student is not interested in Physics and finds it difficult. They perform better in Biology and find it more interesting, but are considering Physics as it scales better. The student will be required to work harder if they study Physics, which will consume time they could be devoting to other subjects. The student should consider how well they could do in either Physics or Biology, and their other subjects, with the time they would devote to each.

Scaling is a complex idea. If you would like to know more you should read All About ATAR Scaling

Similarities between Chemistry and Physics

Chemistry and Physics both appeal to students with stronger logical thinking as both subjects involve calculations, conceptual understanding and explanations of processes. However, is there really any overlap between the two? The short answer is no.

Whilst there is some small overlap in the Stage 6 content such as energy transfer and the structure of atoms, the details, context, approach and emphasis differ between Chemistry and Physics.

Popular combinations

Some students take multiple science subjects depending on their interests, strengths and future plans. Here are popular subject combinations undertaken at Matrix:

Extension Science

Extension Science has been available as an option to Year 12 students since 2019. It is a 1-unit course and can be taken in Biology, Chemistry or Physics in addition to the regular courses.

The extension unit is not like traditional courses. Whilst it contains some theory content (mostly based on analysing data and statistics)  it is instead more like a research project. Students must perform their own research or data analysis and write a research report that reviews the scientific literature and also their own results. The investigation can be in collaboration with a university research group, depending on what arrangements the student/school are able to make. Students can refer to the NESA website for more information.

Want to take your Science marks to the next level?

Matrix offers term and holiday courses for Biology, Chemisty, and Physics to help you refine your knowledge and understand complex issues. Our science courses run one term ahead of school to give you the edge in class. Book a free trial lesson and find out how Matrix helps thousands of students each year!