Structure & Properties of Matter
Atomic structure, periodic patterns, bonding and intermolecular forces, gases and solutions, nuclear chemistry. The biggest single block of points on the exam.
9–11 question clusters
Each cluster opens with a real-world phenomenon (a blueberry field, a smartphone battery) and asks 4–7 connected questions across the dimensions. Mix of multiple choice + short constructed response. How a cluster works →
Three dimensions, always together
Every item integrates a Disciplinary Core Idea, a Science & Engineering Practice, and a Crosscutting Concept. You're scored on chemistry and on how you reason. The 3 dimensions →
Required Investigations
Maria must complete the NYSED-required Investigations to sit the exam. ~15% of written items tie back to that hands-on work. Investigations overview →
The six claims
NYSED organizes the exam around six claims with official percent ranges. Open any claim for the outline, study guide, quiz, AI tutor, essay, cluster walkthrough, videos, and a listen mode.
Chemical Reactions
Reaction types, stoichiometry, rates and equilibrium, redox, acids & bases, organic. The largest weight band - predict products, analyze rate graphs, defend with evidence.
Energy
Energy transfer, q = mcΔT, heating/cooling curves, PE diagrams, and the electric/magnetic interactions of charged particles in matter.
Waves & EM Radiation
How electromagnetic radiation interacts with matter - emission spectra, absorption, frequency-dependent effects. Evaluate published claims from data.
Matter & Energy in Organisms / Ecosystems
Conservation of matter and energy in biological systems - photosynthesis and cellular respiration treated as chemistry: balanced equations, energy flow, particulate models.
Engineering, Technology & Applications
Evaluate chemistry-driven designs - batteries, fuels, materials, environmental solutions - against criteria, constraints, and trade-offs.
The 2025 Reference Tables
New edition built specifically for Physical Science: Chemistry. Different from the 2011 Physical Setting tables - know what changed. Open the table index →
Cluster & CR drills
Phenomenon clusters by claim plus AI-scored constructed-response practice on the actual NYSED rubric - since ~40% of points are now CR.
Claim-based daily plan
Day-by-day schedule between now and June 9: recall, cluster, CR, and Investigation rehearsal - weighted by each claim's share of the exam.
Why this site looks different now
The earlier version of this site was built for the legacy 10-topic Physical Setting / Chemistry exam. NYSED replaced that exam with the redesigned Physical Science: Chemistry starting June 2026 - NYC adopted in year one, so this is what Stuyvesant is administering. Same chemistry, very different test design.