Timber › Notes › The exam, the question bank and where the marks are
The exam, the question bank and where the marks are
Written exam: Wednesday 4 November 2026, 1:55–3:30 pm (5 min reading + 1 h 30 min). 40 marks, worth 40% of the HSC exam mark; the Major Project (product + design, management and communication folio) is the other 60% and is marked separately. Confirm the date and room on your Students Online personal timetable.
| Section | Format | Marks | Suggested time | What it tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Q1–10 multiple choice | 10 | 20 min | Tools, joints, conversion, boards, adhesives, fittings, finishes, simple calculations |
| II | Q11–15 short answer (1–5 marks each, total 15) | 15 | 35 min | Timber focus-area content; usually one calculation |
| III | Q16 (a) 3–5 marks + (b) 10–12 marks | 15 | 35 min | Industry Study (common to all focus areas), answered with timber/furniture examples |
Question bank: Sections II and III, 2015–2025 (official NESA papers)
| Year | Q11 | Q12 | Q13 | Q14 | Q15 | Q16(a) | Q16(b) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Drawer measuring step (2) | Carcase joint characteristic (2) | Band saw vs table saw use (2) | Bending process for curved legs (4) | Machinery set-up/start-up/maintenance (5) | Legislation, sustainability, environment (5) | Historical developments + manufacturing advances, analyse (10) |
| 2024 | Feature adhesive: epoxy (1) | Minimise waste strategy (2) | Mitre vs compound mitre saw (3) | Router feature (4) | WHS risks of recycled timber (5) | Marketing: hierarchical vs flat firm, compare (5) | Structure, production + efficiency, analyse (10) |
| 2023 | Cabinet fittings category (1) | Environmental benefit of boards (2) | Finish cost calc (3) | Cutting veneers (4) | Air seasoning, explain (5) | ONE new technology (3) | Mass production + automation, discuss (12) |
| 2022 | Machine to dress timber (1) | Why EMC matters (2) | Stool cost calc (3) | Recycling/reusing vs shortages (4) | Knock-down fittings benefits (5) | WHS legislation role (5) | Safety strategies, explain (10) |
| 2021 | Identify tool: sliding bevel (1) | Kiln vs air seasoning (2) | Cutting list + cost (3) | Plywood from log (4) | Environmental factors, furniture (5) | Industrial relations issues (5) | Career + training opportunities (10) |
| 2020 | Outdoor Australian hardwood (1) | Rounded edges, reasons (2) | Cutting list (3) | Joint for cross support (4) | Outdoor finish + steps (5) | Environmental factors, new site (5) | Strategies to minimise environmental impact, discuss (10) |
| 2019 | Plywood property (1) | Sketch carcase joint (2) | Sheets needed calc (3) | Plywood log to sheet (4) | Corner rebate joint process (5) | New/emerging tech benefits (5) | Overcome resistance to new tech, discuss (10) |
| 2018 | Tool for glass rebate: router (1) | Check frame square (2) | Board for bathroom cabinet, justify (3) | Inlaying technique (4) | Drawer runner advantages (5) | Land costs + transport (5) | Changes in resource management, evaluate (10) |
| 2017 | Tool for internal curve (1) | Recycled timber benefits (2) | Environmental practices in finishing (3) | Dovetail drawer benefits (4) | Laminated rocking-chair part (5) | Training importance (5) | Technical factors + efficiency, analyse (10) |
| 2016 | Purpose of face mark (1) | Widening joint with power tool (3) | Oil vs water finishes, compare (3) | Restore chisel edge (3) | Boards vs solid for table top (5) | Risk assessment purpose (5) | Historical developments, explain (10) |
| 2015 | Dry cramping purpose (1) | Alternate growth rings (3) | Alternative to traditional joints (3) | Quarter-sawn for fine furniture (3) | Laminated veneer stool steps (5) | Restructuring and quality control (5) | New technology, production + efficiency, assess (10) |
Gap and priority analysis
Section III topics by year (Industry Study dot points):
| Dot point | Years examined | Last seen | Priority for 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structural (organisation, management, marketing, production/efficiency, restructuring, QC) | 2015, 2024 | 2024 | Medium: learn S10/S11 |
| Technical (mechanisation, specialisation, mass production, automation, new technology) | 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023 | 2023 | High: most-examined; S4/S5 |
| Environmental and sociological (alternative resources, waste, pollution, sustainability, rehabilitation of sites) | 2018, 2020 | 2020 | High: not seen for 5 years; S9 |
| Legislative requirements | 2025 (with environment) | 2025 | Medium: S7 |
| Location | 2018, 2020 | 2020 | Medium: S8 |
| Personnel (industrial relations, EEO, unions, contracts, careers, training, multi-skilling) | 2017, 2019, 2021 | 2021 | High: due again; S12/S13/S14 |
| WHS (legislation, standards, policing, risk assessment, training, culture, communication) | 2016, 2022 | 2022 | High: S1/S2/S3 |
| Historical developments (processes, materials, work practices) | 2016, 2025 | 2025 | Lower, but S6 doubles as a technology essay |
| Never directly asked 2015–2025: rehabilitation of commercial sites; alternative power; workplace culture; WHS communication; specialisation vs multi-skilling; group vs individual contracts | – | – | Know one paragraph on each (see Section 2 notes) |
Priority is a judgement from past frequency, not a prediction. NESA can examine any dot point.
Section II pattern: every year has one 1-mark identify question, one or two 2–3 mark questions, a calculation at Q13 every year 2019–2023 (none in Section II in 2015–2018 or 2024–2025, though 2016 had one in multiple choice), one 4-mark process question, and one 5-mark explain/describe question. Repeat topics: laminating/bending (2015, 2017, 2025), plywood/veneers (2019, 2021, 2023), seasoning/EMC (2021, 2022, 2023), manufactured boards (2016, 2018, 2019, 2023), finishes (2016, 2017, 2020), environment/recycling (2017, 2021, 2022, 2024), WHS (2024, 2025), joints/fittings (2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2025). Never asked in Section II, so worth one paragraph each: turning, carving, marquetry/parquetry/intarsia, upholstery and allied materials (glass, metal, polymers), shellac/French polish process, economical sheet layout, adhesive selection (5 marks), hinges/catches/table clips, tree structure.
Common reasons students lost marks (NESA marking feedback 2021–2025): listing instead of describing; answering "advantages/disadvantages" when the question asks for "impact"; general WHS answers instead of risks specific to recycled timber; describing plywood manufacture when asked only about cutting veneers; describing what saws look like instead of their uses; not addressing both parts of a two-part question (e.g. "historical developments and advancements", "sustainable practices and environmental impacts"); no focus-area examples; not showing working and units in calculations.
Key verbs: identify (name it), outline (main features), describe (features + characteristics), explain (cause → effect, "because… therefore"), compare (similarities and differences), analyse (identify components, relationships and implications), discuss (points for and against), evaluate/assess (make a judgement of value with criteria), justify (support with reasons and evidence), recommend (give a course of action with reasons).
Section III notes: the Industry Study (timber products and furniture): overview →