Physics
Home > Physics > Introduction > A guide to the format of the Science NSW HSC Online pages > A guide to the format of the NSW HSC Online pages for Physics
A guide to the format of the NSW HSC
Online pages for Physics
Structure of a page
Each page of this node contains the NSW
HSC Online notes for a subsection of a module of the
HSC Physics syllabus.
Each page begins with a syllabus
reference. The syllabus reference is a copy of a
single syllabus subsection (e.g. 9.2.1) placed in light
violet-coloured box. The subsection is identifiable by its
column one statement that in turn relates to the column two
and column three points of the subsection.
You can use the syllabus reference for navigation —
click on a syllabus dot point and you are taken to the notes
written for that syllabus point. If you prefer, you can
scroll through the notes that start below the syllabus
reference. If you do this, you will be following the sequence
of syllabus points recommended by the Physics node writing
team. We expect this path to be of particular value to
teachers, as it reflects an intention of the syllabus, i.e.
students can often learn the content of column two through
the experiences described in column three.

What information is essential for the HSC?
The information that the writing team considers essential
for each syllabus point is presented with a bullet (•).
In places, other information such as background,
examples, and points of interest is
provided in clear boxes. Where relevant, links to information
on other web sites is provided. This extra information is
considered beyond the essential information required for the
syllabus point being addressed, and so, is not presented with
a bullet.

Other features of the science NSW HSC Online notes
- Links within the syllabus points
You may have noticed that each syllabus point within each
module begins with a verb, such as identify, describe,
perform. Column two points have verbs that are defined
in the NSW Board of Studies glossary for
HSC courses. The verbs that begin the syllabus points in
column three, provide links to the skills content
of module 9.1.
To assist you to recall the meanings of these verbs, each
column two syllabus point that is replicated within the
HSC Online notes has a link to the Board of
Studies glossary. Click on the link to activate a pop-up
box for the verb selected.
To assist you to identify which skills content statements
have been selected by the writing team for each column
three syllabus point, links are provided to the
skills content statements of Module 9.1. Click on the link
to activate another pop-up box. This will identify the
specific skills being addressed.
- Freehand diagrams and drawings
Sample freehand diagrams and drawings have been included.
THE WRITING TEAM CONSIDERS THESE TO BE EXAMPLES of the
diagrams and drawings that ARE acceptable TO USE IN
ANSWERING QUESTIONS IN THE HSC examination. Remember that
the Board of Studies recommends that, in the HSC
examination, diagrams should be drawn in pencil and
labelled using pen.
- Prior learning
Generally, each page provides references to the prior
learning expected. This will most frequently be to the
Preliminary course but may also refer to the Science Stages
4-5 Syllabus. The background information provided may
relate to prior learning or it may relate to the context of
the subsection.
