CHEMISTRY · HKDSE
CHEMISTRY/11
(Compulsory Part)
Chemistry · 2022 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA)
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
160
210 min
Chemistry of Carbon Compounds and Practical Analytical Techniques
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
160
Duration
210 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Level 5**
~93% of max
Level 5*
~88% of max
Level 5
~81% of max
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The 2022 HKDSE Chemistry paper maintained a high standard of academic rigor, combining core fundamental concepts with demanding analytical questions. Paper 1B featured several experimental contexts, requiring candidates to explain observations rather than merely state facts. Pape
High-scoring candidates distinguished themselves in the structured essay questions: Question 8 on the comparison of tin-plating and galvanising, and Question 13 on the acid-base properties of Period 3 oxides.
Significant marks were lost in basic representation tasks, such as drawing the electron diagram of potassium iodide with brackets and showing all outermost shell electrons.
In Paper 2 Section A (Industrial Chemistry), many failed to use the dotted lines on the logarithmic graph to deduce the order of reaction, losing easy computation steps.
In kinetics calculations, failing to convert Celsius to Kelvin was another common pitfall.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Graphical Analysis
Weight: 8100%Mathematical & Calculation
Weight: 675%Scientific Communication
Weight: 563%Experimental
Weight: 338%Structural Representation
Weight: 225%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Reporting source
HKEAA Subject Examination Report — comments on candidates’ performance with marking schemes
Level 5**
Outstanding — competitive JUPAS programmes (medicine, law, top faculties)
Level 5*
Excellent — strong JUPAS profile for selective programmes
Level 5
Good — meets most university entrance requirements
Level 4
Satisfactory — foundation programmes or less selective routes
Level 3
Pass threshold for many sub-degree and vocational pathways
Admission context
Levels feed JUPAS and non-JUPAS university applications; 5** and 5* are most selective
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “Deduce” questions.
Apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; concise, practical points score best.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.3
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Reactions and Inter-conversions of Carbon Compounds
13 marks this session
Enthalpy changes; Hess’s Law; energy cycles
12 marks this session
Synthetic polymers; plastics, liquid crystals, nanomaterials
10 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Enthalpy changes; Hess’s Law; energy cycles
Redox Reactions, Chemical Cells & Electrolysis
Reactions of Carbon Compounds (Inter-conversions)
Isomerism & Chemistry of Carbon Compounds
Homologous series; naming; addition polymerisation
Metals (Reactivity, displacement, extraction)
Reactions and Inter-conversions of Carbon Compounds
Instrumental analytical methods (Analytical Chemistry)
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1 (Section A & B):
Paper 2 (Electives):
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Reactions and Inter-conversions of Carbon Compounds
13 marks this session
Practise in RevuiEnthalpy changes; Hess’s Law; energy cycles
12 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSynthetic polymers; plastics, liquid crystals, nanomaterials
10 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The 2022 HKDSE Chemistry paper maintained a high standard of academic rigor, combining core fundamental concepts with demanding analytical questions. Paper 1B featured several experimental contexts, requiring candidates to explain observations rather than merely state facts. Pape
- 2Message
High-scoring candidates distinguished themselves in the structured essay questions: Question 8 on the comparison of tin-plating and galvanising, and Question 13 on the acid-base properties of Period 3 oxides.
- 3Message
Significant marks were lost in basic representation tasks, such as drawing the electron diagram of potassium iodide with brackets and showing all outermost shell electrons.
- 4Message
In Paper 2 Section A (Industrial Chemistry), many failed to use the dotted lines on the logarithmic graph to deduce the order of reaction, losing easy computation steps.
- 5Message
In kinetics calculations, failing to convert Celsius to Kelvin was another common pitfall.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2022 2022
Chemistry
High-scoring candidates distinguished themselves in the structured essay questions: Question 8 on the comparison of tin-plating and galvanising, and Question 13 on the acid-base properties of Period 3 oxides. Significant marks were lost in basic representation tasks, such as draw
The 2022 HKDSE Chemistry paper maintained a high standard of academic rigor, combining core fundamental concepts with demanding analytical questions. Paper 1B featured several experimental contexts, requiring candidates to explain observations rather than merely state facts. Pape
High-scoring candidates distinguished themselves in the structured essay questions: Question 8 on the comparison of tin-plating and galvanising, and Question 13 on the acid-base properties of Period 3 oxides.
Significant marks were lost in basic representation tasks, such as drawing the electron diagram of potassium iodide with brackets and showing all outermost shell electrons.
- Total marks
- 160
- Duration
- 210 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
- Level 5**
- ~93% of max
- Level 5*
- ~88% of max
- Level 5
- ~81% of max
Session analysis
High-scoring candidates distinguished themselves in the structured essay questions: Question 8 on the comparison of tin-plating and galvanising, and Question 13 on the acid-base properties of Period 3 oxides. Significant marks were lost in basic representation tasks, such as drawing the electron diagram of potassium iodide with brackets and showing all outermost shell electrons. In Paper 2 Section A (Industrial Chemistry), many failed to use the dotted lines on the logarithmic graph to deduce the order of reaction, losing easy computation steps. In kinetics calculations, failing to convert Celsius to Kelvin was another common pitfall.
Updated Jun 11, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1 (Section A & B):
Paper 2 (Electives):
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
80% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Conventional
(Short / Long Questions)
84·13·53%
Elective Conventional
(Structured)
40·6·25%
Multiple Choice
(MC)
36·36·23%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Section A (
0.80 m/minPaper 1 Section B (
0.80 m/minPaper 2 (Electives)
0.67 m/minTotal marks
104
Total time
140 min
Avg pace
0.74
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Chemical Equilibrium (ICE calculations & Kc)
90%90%
Transition Metal Complexes and Colour Chemistry
80%80%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Redox half-equations in alkaline cells: Many candidates incorrectly wrote the acidic version of the anode half-equation for the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, using H+ \text{H}^+ H+ instead of OH− \text{OH}^- OH− in an alkaline medium.
- Intermolecular vs. Intramolecular forces: When explaining boiling point trends, candidates often confused covalent bonds within molecules with the intermolecular forces (Van der Waals' forces or hydrogen bonds) that must be broken during boiling.
- Oxide reactions with water: Candidates often claimed that aluminium oxide reacts with water to form amphoteric species, whereas it is actually insoluble and unreactive in water.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 2h 30min
- Total marks
- 122
- Weighting
- 60%
- Question types
- Multiple Choice (MC), Short Answer Questions (SAQ), Structured/Calculation Questions
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.