QCAA exams cheat sheet: AI analysis reveals common questions, mistakes and themes in Queensland year 12 assessments
AI analysis spanning five years of QCAA exams reveals the common questions, topics and traps in Queensland’s most popular courses. Here’s the inside info to give year 12s an edge.
Exclusive AI analysis by The Courier-Mail has revealed the common questions, mistakes, themes and topics of the five most popular QCAA general exams.
Using the latest technology recommended by teachers and tech experts, a thorough analysis of the most recent English, general mathematics, mathematical methods, biology and chemistry exams and reports was performed.
The aim – to determine what students need to know before they sit their final exams, based on what’s likely to be included and common errors in previous years.
QCAA exams begin on October 27 with the majority of students sitting their first exam, English, on October 28.
This is what the technology of the future recommends year 12 students do to prepare for the grand finale, including specific tips for the exams and how to use AI to ace their studies.
AI EXAM INSIGHTS: New South Wales HSC | Victoria VCE (coming soon) | South Australia SACE (coming soon)
QCAA English tips
According to an AI analysis of the past five years of QCAA English exam reports, students made a range of common, but costly errors.
AI found students frequently reproduced pre-written response without tailoring their essay to the question asked.
“The core danger is failing to meet the assessment requirements for authentic analysis and flexibility,” the AI said.
“The external assessment demands that you demonstrate a nuanced understanding that is flexibly used to respond to the given question.”
The AI analysis also identified students relied on generic quotes and summarising the text too often.
To ace the exam, AI advised students to “dive deep” into their text.
“High-level responses delved deeply into the text as they addressed each of these elements in their analysis (perspectives, cultural ideas, and stylistic effects) in a harmonious, interrelated manner,” the AI said.
“Know your text deeply and intricately so you can confidently draw on the most pertinent and relevant evidence.”
QCAA general mathematics tips
An analysis of the past five years of QCAA general mathematics exams using AI found students made many simple mistakes.
For example, AI identified common errors such as failing to include units (e.g. cm, $, etc) and crucial rounding errors.
Students were also reminded to show their working out for questions worth more than one mark.
“Don’t just calculate; communicate,” the AI said.
“For every mark earned, let your logical steps, reasoning, and written justification guide the marker to your conclusion.”
Across the past five years of exams, AI identified questions relating to networks and matrices were the most common, asked 46 times in total.
Second was bivariate data analysis problems – tested 28 times across the five years.
“The analysis of the provided papers reveals that networks and bivariate data analysis are the most frequent topics, appearing in almost every section and paper across all years reviewed,” the AI said.
Questions relating to financial mathematics were the third most common asked.
QCAA mathematical methods tips
Maths can sometimes seem like a foreign language, especially when algebra and calculus are part of the equation.
To those sitting the maths exams, these terms will be familiar, to parents and families, ask your kid and (hopefully) they can explain it for you.
The AI tools identified students consistently struggled with algebra in the technology-free paper one.
“This is the most frequently highlighted deficiency, especially in technology-free environments,” the AI said.
“Students consistently struggle with basic numerical and algebraic procedures.
“Many students are unable to correctly manipulate equations and expressions that involve fractional and negative coefficients.”
Another frequent error related to the purpose of the second derivative.
“Students struggle with consolidating their understanding of the use of the second derivative to explore concepts of concavity, points of inflection, and finding local maxima and minima.”
Across the past five years, AI found the two most common topics asked related to calculus differentiation and calculus integration and area.
In technology-free paper one, differentiation questions were the most frequent and in paper two, it was normal distribution problems.
QCAA biology tips
A comprehensive AI analysis of the past five years of QCAA biology reports identified students commonly made simple mistakes relating to question comprehension.
“A major error is failing to understand or address the cognitive (action) verb used in the question, such as misinterpreting what ‘explain’ requires,” AI said.
“Furthermore, students often fail to use the number of marks as a cue for how many key points or pieces of information are required.”
AI found biological terminology was also an issue for students, particularly in genetics concepts.
“Ensure you are using fluent and concise scientific language to communicate ideas,” it said.
Across the past five years of exams, AI identified questions relating to phylogeny and cladistics as the highest frequency, along with sampling and data calculation, ecological succession and population dynamics questions.
“High-frequency topics often require application, calculation, and detailed comparative knowledge,” the AI said.
“To ace these, you must move beyond basic recall.”
QCAA chemistry tips
AI identified a range of common mistakes students made across five years of QCAA chemistry exams, including simple comprehension errors and gaps in subject-specific knowledge.
AI found students frequently made mistakes relating to application of IUPAC rules for naming organic molecules as well as balancing half-equations.
It also identified students often failed to respond to what the questions was asking them to do.
“A major mistake is providing generic information or describing data when the question demands a specific action like explaining or applying,” the AI said.
An analysis of the past five years of chemistry papers using AI found questions relating to acid-based equilibrium and titration were “the most frequently tested area”.
Questions relating to redox and electrochemistry were also “high frequency”.
“Every mark is earned by precision — in nomenclature, in balancing, and in your final answer,” the AI said. “Details matter.”
How to use AI to ace your exams
Practice makes perfect.
Teachers and experts say AI can be harnessed to produce the perfect practice exams and questions as well as provide targeted feedback.
Australian Professional Teachers Association president and principal Karen Yager said AI has revolutionised the way students can prepare for exams.
Ms Yager suggested students use free AI tools like Google’s Notebook LM to generate relevant practice questions.
To do this successfully, students should load QCAA curriculum documents, past exams and reports to programs such as Notebook LM to familiarise the program with exam content and prompt practice questions, Ms Yager said.
Murdoch University associate professor of education Dr Natasha Rappa said large language models (LLM) could be used to provide targeted feedback to students in the style of a real QCAA marker.
She also encouraged students to use AI to “consolidate and organise” their notes.
“If students are visual learners, they could get the LLM to organise the notes in different formats such as tables and mind maps,” Dr Rappa said.
“If they find it easier to learn through listening, they could get the LLM to read their notes to them (Notebook LM can even generate a podcast from your notes).”
“LLM can be used to identify general patterns in exam questions, so that once the general types of questions are identified for a given topic, students can ensure that they get sufficient practice completing these different types of exam questions.”
Dr Rappa did caution students to check for accuracy of AI responses with their teacher.
Do you have any exam tips for Year 12 students across the country? Email education@news.com.au to share your wisdom.
More Coverage
Originally published as QCAA exams cheat sheet: AI analysis reveals common questions, mistakes and themes in Queensland year 12 assessments
Read related topics:Year 12 exams
