Assessment Summary

Assessment in this unit consists of:

• Quantitative Analysis Task – Principles of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences – 20%
• Practical Competency (Hurdle Assessment) – 30%
• Final Examination – 50%

To successfully pass this unit you must:

• achieve an overall unit mark of 50% or greater; and
• achieve a minimum mark of 50% (15/30) for the Practical Competency assessment, which is a hurdle requirement.

Practical Competency (Hurdle Assessment) (30%)

The Practical Competency assessment consists of:

• Prelab exercises – 5%
• In-laboratory performance and practical reports – 25%

There will be five experiments (equally weighted) and your average mark across the five practical classes must be 50% or greater (15/30) to satisfy the hurdle requirement.

Practical Assessment Schedule:

• Prelab exercises (5%) – completed online in iLearn and submitted at least 48 hours before your scheduled practical class. A minimum score of 90% is required to gain entry to the laboratory.
• In-laboratory performance and practical reports (25%) – practical reports must be submitted to your demonstrator before leaving the laboratory.

The practical assessments are designed to progressively develop your laboratory knowledge, practical skills and data analysis throughout the semester.

Preparing for and Participating in Practical Classes:

Attendance at all five practical classes is expected.

If you are unable to attend a practical class, you must submit a Special Consideration application through Connect (https://connect.mq.edu.au) as soon as possible and immediately notify the Unit Convenors:

• A/Prof. Koushik Venkatesan – koushik.venkatesan@mq.edu.au
• Prof. Joanne Jamie – joanne.jamie@mq.edu.au

A make-up practical is not automatically available and will only be offered where feasible. You may attend only the practical class in which you are enrolled unless prior approval has been granted by the Unit Convenors.

To participate in each practical class you must:

• complete the online prelab quiz in iLearn with a minimum score of 90% at least 48 hours before your scheduled practical class;
• review the experimental procedures, theory, hazards and safety requirements;
• bring your laboratory manual or notes to the laboratory;
• wear appropriate personal protective equipment (lab coat, safety glasses and enclosed shoes); and
• arrive prepared to work safely, ethically and collaboratively.

You will be given three attempts for the prelab quiz. Failure to complete the prelab quiz or achieve the required score by the deadline will result in denial of entry to the laboratory, as the prelab ensures that you have prepared adequately for the experiment and understand the associated hazards and safety requirements.

For each practical you will be assessed on your:

• preparation for the laboratory;
• laboratory technique and practical skills;
• safe and ethical conduct;
• engagement with the practical activities; and
• completion of the in-class practical report.

Why are practical classes a hurdle requirement?

Practical classes are an essential component of your learning and are designated as hurdle assessments because they provide hands-on experience that cannot be replicated through theoretical study alone. They enable you to develop laboratory techniques, experimental design, data analysis, safe laboratory practice, teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills while applying theoretical concepts in an authentic scientific setting. Successful completion of the practical program also ensures that students meet the practical competency standards expected of chemistry, biomolecular and medical sciences and biotechnology graduates and satisfies the accreditation requirements of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI).

If you receive a fail mark for any of the in-lab practical reports, for which a reasonable attempt was made (30% or above), resubmission of the report will be available following consultation with the convenors.

Quantitative Analysis Task (20%; In-Class)

Due: Week 6 (face-to-face during your registered workshop class)

This invigilated assessment consists of a selection of real-world problems designed to assess your understanding and application of concepts from lectures, workshops and practical classes. If you can not make your registered workshop class for this task, please contact Joanne Jamie (joanne.jamie@mq.edu.au) as soon as possible.

Final Examination (50%)

Due: University Examination Period

The final examination assesses your understanding of all topics covered in the unit and your ability to apply this knowledge to unfamiliar problems.

You are expected to present for examination at the time and place specified in the University Examination Timetable. Students must remain available until the final day of the official examination period, as examinations may be scheduled on any day within this period. Macquarie University does not schedule early examinations for individuals or groups of students.

Supplementary exam

If you are unable to sit the examination because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption, you should apply for Special Consideration through Connect (https://connect.mq.edu.au). Where approved, a supplementary examination will normally be scheduled between the end of the examination period and the commencement of the next teaching session. Please note that pre-existing commitments will not be accepted as grounds for a further special consideration application for the supplementary exam. Please ensure that you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application.

Late Assessment Submission

Late assessments are not accepted in this unit unless a Special Consideration has been submitted and approved.

Final Grade

Your final grade will be determined by the combined marks achieved in:

• Quantitative Analysis Task (20%);
• Practical Competency (30%); and
• Final Examination (50%).

Provided the Practical Competency hurdle requirement has been met, the aggregated mark from these assessments will determine your final grade.

Your marks will be displayed via Gradebook on iLearn. It is your responsibility to regularly verify that the records displayed at iLearn (Tools>Grades) are correct.

Special Considerations

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through https://connect.mq.edu.au/. 

If you have difficulty attending and participating in an assessment task, please contact the Unit Convenor immediately (in ADVANCE if possible) as there may be alternatives available to make up for a missed task.

Communication

During the semester, the CHEM1002 iLearn site will be used to communicate important information to you. In addition, emails will be sent to your student email account. Please check your messages frequently.

Please feel free to communicate directly with the unit convenors Koushik and Joanne by email or vist them at their office. Questions about the unit content and administration that may be of general interest will be best posted in the Student Q&A on the iLearn site so that everybody can see the answer.

Recommended Learning Resources

Brown and LeMay, Chemistry: The Central Science – Global Edition

OpenStax resources These are open-access and Free and include OpenStax Chemistry 2e, by Flowers et al and OpenStax Organic Chemistry - A Tenth Edition, by McMurry. 

Relevant sections of the above textbooks will be identified throughout the semester to support lecture content, workshops and practical classes.

Pushing Electrons: a Guide for Students of Organic Chemistry by Daniel P. Weeks, Fourth Edition, 2014, Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. (https://au.cengage.com/c/isbn/9781133951889/)

Other general and organic chemistry textbooks may also be useful.

Lectures (Twice a Week, In Person)

Lectures and workshops commence in Week 1, with practical classes commencing in Week 3. Please refer to iLearn for the detailed timetable and schedule.

Lectures will be delivered in person and are an important component of your learning experience. Attending lectures provides opportunities to engage with teaching staff, ask questions, participate in discussions and work through examples that reinforce key chemical concepts.

Lecture recordings through iLearn ECHO and supplementary summary materials will be available via iLearn. PowerPoint slides (in pdf format) and supporting resources will also be provided through iLearn.

Learning chemistry requires active engagement. You are strongly encouraged to:

• review lecture materials before and after each lecture;
• read the relevant sections of the textbook;
• attempt example problems and follow worked examples presented in lectures; and
• use additional resources provided through iLearn to strengthen your understanding.

Workshops (Weekly, In Person)

Weekly workshops are designed to consolidate and extend the concepts introduced in lectures. They provide opportunities to apply your knowledge, work through problems and receive guidance from teaching staff.

To gain the maximum benefit from workshops, you should attempt the questions before attending each session and identify areas where you require further assistance. Teaching staff may ask students to contribute to discussions and work through solutions during workshops.

Previous student feedback has identified workshops as a highly valuable component of the unit. Active participation and preparation are strongly encouraged and will support your success in this unit.

Laboratory Classes (5 Experiments, Hurdle)

Practical classes are designed to develop essential laboratory skills, safe laboratory practices, experimental techniques and critical and analytical thinking.

Before each practical class, you must complete the pre-practical questions available through iLearn. These questions are designed to ensure that you are prepared for the laboratory session, including understanding the relevant theory, experimental procedures and safety requirements.

Please check the iLearn site for the most up-to-date Unit schedule

Following Session 2, 2026, the 5% post-lab assessment component, previously submitted online as a single assessment item, has been removed. Students’ theoretical understanding of practical concepts will continue to be assessed through the Problem-Based Task (as in 2025), the In-Lab practical reports (increased from 20% to 25%), and the Final Examination (remaining unchanged at 50%). This integrated assessment approach strengthens the connection between practical skills, theoretical knowledge and problem-solving, providing students with more authentic opportunities to demonstrate their learning.