Raffles Institution 2025 JC2 H2 Chemistry MYE
- Yao Le Chen
- Aug 5
- 2 min read
This is the short summary of the Prelim Paper Review I've done for
RI 2025 JC2 H2 Chemistry MYE
My 3 matrices:
Relevance: 6/10
Insightfulness: 5.5/10
Difficulty: 5/10
Overall: 3/10
Expectation: 75%
Key questions to consider:
Question 2 - Nitrogen compounds, Chemical Bonding, Acid Base Equilibria
Question 3 EITHER - Carbonyl compounds, Synthesis, Unknown mechanism
Short writeup:
Why the 2025 RI JC2 H2 Chemistry Mid-Year Exam Fell Short of Expectations
The 2025 RI JC2 H2 Chemistry Mid-Year Exam is, quite frankly, a letdown. For those familiar with my Prelim Paper Review series, you’d know I often sing praises of RI’s chemistry papers. Historically, they have struck a fine balance between creativity and rigour — offering questions that stretch thinking without veering into unfairness. But this time? They played it too safe.
This paper feels more like a mid-tier school’s term test than the typically high standards RI is known for. Most questions were straightforward, predictable, and, for lack of a better word — bland. Students who are even half-serious about their revision would likely have encountered similar questions in tutorial sets, school notes, or the occasional topical revision paper.
This is not to say that the paper is devoid of all value. It still includes a few noteworthy elements. There’s the anchor question involving an unknown mechanism, which is a consistent feature in A level Chemistry year after year. There's also the use of “parts per billion” in an analytical chemistry context — likely a subtle nod to last year’s A level question on seawater analysis. These questions offer minor glimpses of what makes a good paper — but they’re fragments, not the full picture.
As a diagnostic tool, this paper serves best for students who are still trying to consolidate their foundation. If you struggle with core concepts or need reinforcement without contextual complexity, this is a paper worth attempting. But for stronger students hoping to stretch their understanding or test themselves under exam-level pressure, this simply won’t cut it. There was minimal application, no real surprises, and definitely no eyebrow-raising moments. It lacked the intellectual tension we expect at this level.
To put it bluntly, this is a paper for students who are still catching up — not those aiming to surge ahead.
📍 If this paper left you unsure of where you stand, let’s fix that.
At VANTAGE TUTOR, located at 1102A Serangoon Road, Level 2, we help JC1 Chemistry students sharpen their exam skills and build confidence through weekly classes and open class revision sessions. Whether you’re struggling to finish papers on time or finding it hard to understand what markers really want—we teach you how to study smarter, not just harder.
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