Author(s): Brett Drummond; Simon Maaser; Lauren Angley; Scott Fraser; Trent Lucas; Zhen Wang

Chemistry | Highschool Science

Cambridge Senior Science Chemistry VCE, the latest addition to our suite of exceptional science and maths resources for VCE, has been created by a highly experienced author team to guide your students to success in the new Study Design with an approach that builds essential skills and gives them all the assessment support they need to excel.

• The new Study Design is comprehensively covered without overwhelming students – content is signposted with explain icons that indicated need-to-know assessable material, with additional engage boxes exploring why a topic is important but not assessable.


• Extensive assessment and exam preparation support includes valuable advice on how to approach exam questions, tips for completing assessment tasks such as multi-modal and oral presentations, modelling of logbook entries and assessment samples, skills boxes, practice exams, and research and practical investigations.


• Essential chemistry skills are built through print and video worked examples with explanations, experimental and inquiry tasks, worksheets, formulas and equations, the combination of formative and summative check-in and section questions and unit reviews. As these skills are developed, students will be able to confidently and accurately apply Chemistry models, theories and concepts to describe, explain, analyse and make predictions about physical phenomena.


• The digital resources enhance the learning experience with interactive concept maps, videos explaining worked examples, concept videos, workspaces and self-assessment tools, downloadable suggested responses, rollover definitions and more.


• Teachers are supported by a range of tools in the Online Teaching Suite including a Test Generator, Task Manager and the Exam Generator which allows teachers to create custom practice exams drawing on past VCAA questions and VCAA-style questions and filter by Area of Study, key term, question type and level of difficulty.


• Teachers also have access to a range of editable and downloadable activities, practicals, and worksheets plus curriculum grids, curated weblinks and chapter tests.

Learn more at cambridge.edu.au/vcechemistry

About the Authors

Brett Drummond is a science communicator and co-founder of MStranslate, an organisation which communicates research summaries on multiple sclerosis (MS). He has been a private tutor for VCE Biology and Chemistry.

Simon Maaser is lead author of the VCE Biology and VCE Chemistry team and Head of Science at Melbourne Grammar where he teaches 7–10 Science, VCE Biology and VCE Chemistry.

Lauren has a background in biochemical research, particularly the characterisation of the structure and function of enzymes. She has been teaching VCE Chemistry since 2014 and is also involved in the STEAM extension program at her school.

Dr Scott Fraser has a wide-ranging set of experiences starting with a Biomedical Science Undergraduate, followed by a Grad. Dip. Chemistry and PhD in Chemistry. He has taught Chemistry and Biochemistry subjects across all levels of study, and also has his own private teaching company that helps guide and support students towards medical careers. His contributions to this text help to ensure that not only is the content relevant to real-world scientific pursuits, but that it also encourages students to grow and think independently at a time where STEM needs to cultivate future leaders who can communicate science effectively and empathetically for the betterment of society.

Trent Lucas is a VCE and IB Chemistry teacher who has worked across a range of Victorian secondary school settings. He has extensive experience as a VCAA and VCE external examination marker and has been involved in VCE Chemistry study design reviews.

Zhen (James) Wang is a dedicated educator who is passionate about teaching Chemistry to high school students. He holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry and previously worked as a post-doctoral fellow in multiple universities. He has extensive classroom experience in delivering VCE Chemistry and enjoys the challenge of communicating complex scientific concepts in an elegant manner. The Interactive Textbook is available as a calendar-year subscription. Your subscription term is defined as follows: if activation occurs between January and July of this year, subscription concludes on 31 December this year. If activation occurs between August and December of this year, subscription concludes on 31 December the following year.