All 83 decoded questions of ESAT 2016, in paper order. · A question can reward more than one move, so the counts overlap.
ENGAA 2016 Section 1, Part B (Mathematics questions) 18 decoded 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 The paper at a glance, coloured by move. Click a square to open its question; empty squares are not decoded yet.
55 Natural selection edits pre-existing random variation, the environment never writes it Key method Biology Inheritance, Variation & Evolution 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
56 Osmosis moves water toward the more concentrated solution Pavlov Biology Membrane Transport, Cell Division & Reproduction 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
57 Prokaryote versus eukaryote: the defining feature contrast (wall, nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts) Pavlov Biology Cells 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
58 Denaturation is loss of the active-site shape, caused by heat, extreme pH or boiling Biology arithmetic reflexes: percentage over the original, rate as amount over time, area as radius squared An enzyme is a protein catalyst, not a living thing: eliminate options that contradict its nature Key method Biology Enzymes 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
59 Counting alleles across a pedigree: body cells are diploid, mind the sex chromosomes Tunnel Biology Inheritance, Variation & Evolution 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
60 Denaturation is loss of the active-site shape, caused by heat, extreme pH or boiling Rate follows collision frequency and concentration, not the total amount Key method Biology Enzymes 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
61 Plateaux and the compensation point: a level rate means another factor limits, a falling rate means denaturation Volume in a capillary tube is a cylinder: pi times radius squared times length, radius is half the diameter Key method Biology Ecology & Plant Physiology 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
62 What a light microscope actually resolves, and when chromosomes are visible Pavlov Biology Cells only this sitting Same method, other sittings
This one has only struck here so far.
63 Trace the auxin: shoots bend to light, roots to gravity, driven by uneven hormone from an intact tip Pavlov Biology Ecology & Plant Physiology 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
64 DNA base arithmetic: pairing rules bind the whole molecule, never a single strand Key method Biology DNA, Protein Synthesis & Gene Technology 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
65 Monohybrid cross Aa x Aa gives a 1:2:1 genotype ratio and a 3:1 phenotype ratio Probability of a specific sex and a specific genotype: multiply the two independent chances Tunnel Biology Inheritance, Variation & Evolution 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
66 Classify the interaction: same species or different, and who benefits Pavlov Biology Ecology & Plant Physiology 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
67 Mitosis keeps the chromosome number and makes two cells, meiosis halves it and makes four Separate chromosome, DNA molecule and strand, and watch for the replication doubling Key method Biology Membrane Transport, Cell Division & Reproduction 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
68 Read a tissue or organ from the difference between blood entering and leaving it Respiration signature in blood; hard exercise adds lactate and lowers pH Key method Biology Animal Physiology: Systems, Homeostasis & Disease 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
69 Counting alleles across a pedigree: body cells are diploid, mind the sex chromosomes Tunnel Biology Inheritance, Variation & Evolution 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
70 Oxygen sag below organic pollution: bacteria strip the oxygen, and indicator species track the curve Key method Biology Ecology & Plant Physiology 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
71 A rise-then-plateau curve means a factor is now limiting; plateau height is set by total substrate Key method Biology Enzymes 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
72 Read a coding strand in non-overlapping triplets from the left and translate with the table Substitution hits one codon; an insertion or deletion reframes everything downstream Tunnel Biology DNA, Protein Synthesis & Gene Technology 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
NSAA 2016 Section 1 Part B (ESAT Physics) 18 decoded 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 The paper at a glance, coloured by move. Click a square to open its question; empty squares are not decoded yet.
37 Read a nuclide symbol into protons, neutrons and electrons Pavlov Chemistry Atomic Structure, Bonding & the Periodic Table 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
38 Electron accounting: turn charge into moles, then read every amount off the half-equations Molten electrolysis always splits the compound into its two elements Tunnel Chemistry Electrolysis & Metals 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
39 Classify the structure and bonding, then read off the property Key method Chemistry Atomic Structure, Bonding & the Periodic Table 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
40 Screen an equilibrium with the three Le Chatelier levers Key method Chemistry Rates of Reaction & Energetics 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
41 Empirical formula: masses to moles to the simplest whole number ratio Tunnel Chemistry Quantitative Chemistry 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
42 Bound the relative atomic mass between the isotope masses to eliminate options Back out the element from a given electron count, undoing the ionic charge first Key method Chemistry Atomic Structure, Bonding & the Periodic Table 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
43 Rf equals spot distance over solvent-front distance Interpreting a chromatogram: purity, identity, mobility and phases Pavlov Chemistry Organic Chemistry, Separation & Analysis 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
44 Read a rate-time curve as two separate things: plateau and steepness Key method Chemistry Rates of Reaction & Energetics 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
45 Judge a reaction as redox from its type before assigning oxidation numbers Electron direction in a half-equation: left means reduction, right means oxidation Key method Chemistry Chemical Reactions, Acids, Bases & Redox 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
46 Name an unknown product from the atoms left over after the known products Key method Chemistry Chemical Reactions, Acids, Bases & Redox 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
47 Aqueous electrolysis discharge rules: below hydrogen deposits, halide gives the halogen Electron accounting: turn charge into moles, then read every amount off the half-equations In amount MCQs the wrong options are the electron-count and diatomic-gas slips Key method Chemistry Electrolysis & Metals 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
48 Reverse activation energy is the forward barrier plus the heat released Pavlov Chemistry Rates of Reaction & Energetics only this sitting Same method, other sittings
This one has only struck here so far.
49 Strong versus weak acid: only the hydrogen ion properties differ, not the amount of acid Key method Chemistry Chemical Reactions, Acids, Bases & Redox 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
50 Mass by difference: the component asked for is the leftover, and its molar mass is often a decoy Pin exactly what is asked: the examiner plants the natural intermediate value as an option Key method Chemistry Quantitative Chemistry 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
51 Ion charges fix the formula, the reacting ratio and the number of ions Molar gas volume both ways, and the two traps: cubic decimetres versus cubic centimetres, and diatomic gases Pavlov Chemistry Quantitative Chemistry 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
52 Diprotic acid reflex: sulfuric and ethanedioic acid react two to one with a monobasic base Pavlov Chemistry Quantitative Chemistry 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
53 Electron accounting: turn charge into moles, then read every amount off the half-equations Track the bulk solution, not just the electrodes: concentration and pH changes Tunnel Chemistry Electrolysis & Metals 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
54 Bond-energy balance: broken minus formed, counting every bond Exploit the bond-energy option list: sign, factor and phantom bonds Tunnel Chemistry Rates of Reaction & Energetics 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
NSAA 2016 Section 1, Part A (Mathematics questions) 16 decoded 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 The paper at a glance, coloured by move. Click a square to open its question; empty squares are not decoded yet.
1 Rearranging Complex Formulas Pavlov Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
3 Chaining ratios by scaling the common term Pavlov Pure Ratio & Proportion 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
4 Convert means into absolute totals Pavlov Prob & Stats Probability & Statistics 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
5 Successive percentage changes as a product of decimal multipliers Pavlov Pure Ratio & Proportion 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
6 Bearings: use back-bearings and subtraction to find angles Pavlov Pure Geometry 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
7 Setting up the proportionality constant Tunnel Pure Ratio & Proportion 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
8 The solving for x multiple-choice trap Key method Pure Geometry 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
9 Rearranging Complex Formulas Pavlov Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
11 Algebraic Fraction Simplification Pavlov Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
12 Fill the two-way table for overlapping categories Tunnel Prob & Stats Probability & Statistics 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
13 Reduce exponential equations to a single prime base Pavlov Pure Number & Units 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
14 Regular polygons: work with exterior angles, not interior Pavlov Pure Geometry 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
15 Set up algebraic probability trees Tunnel Prob & Stats Probability & Statistics 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
16 System to Single Quadratic Pavlov Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
17 Rhombus area from diagonals Pavlov Pure Geometry 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
18 Polynomial Inequalities Tunnel Pure Coordinate Geometry 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
NSAA 2016 Section 1, Part C (Chemistry questions) 4 decoded 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 The paper at a glance, coloured by move. Click a square to open its question; empty squares are not decoded yet.
47 Quadratics in Disguise Key method Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
49 Geometric Optimisation Tunnel Pure Differentiation 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
51 Integrate With Respect to y Key method Pure Integration only this sitting Same method, other sittings
This one has only struck here so far.
53 Graphing to Count Roots Tunnel Pure Differentiation only this sitting Same method, other sittings
This one has only struck here so far.
NSAA 2016 Section 1, Part D (Biology questions) 9 decoded 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 The paper at a glance, coloured by move. Click a square to open its question; empty squares are not decoded yet.
73 Factor and Remainder Theorem Pavlov Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
75 Circle equation signs: expanded coefficients have opposite signs to the centre Pavlov Pure Coordinate Geometry only this sitting Same method, other sittings
This one has only struck here so far.
77 Discarding the Extraneous Root Key method Pure Sequences & Series 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
79 Shaded areas by structural subtraction Pavlov Pure Geometry 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
81 Pythagorean Substitution to Quadratic Key method Pure Trigonometry 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
83 Roots via the Discriminant Key method Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
85 Perpendicular lines: the product of their gradients is -1 Pavlov Pure Coordinate Geometry 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
87 Quadratic Derivative Conditions Pavlov Pure Differentiation 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
89 Sequential Curve Transformations Tunnel Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
NSAA 2016 Section 1, Part E (Mathematics questions) 18 decoded 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 The paper at a glance, coloured by move. Click a square to open its question; empty squares are not decoded yet.
19 In a vacuum every electromagnetic wave shares one speed, so frequency and wavelength are strictly inverse Pavlov Physics Waves, Sound & the Electromagnetic Spectrum 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
20 Alpha and beta decay bookkeeping: fix the alpha count from the mass number first Tunnel Physics Radioactivity 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
21 Heat transfer is driven by the temperature difference alone, never by the individual temperatures Conduction along a bar: rate is proportional to area times temperature difference, divided by length Scale by the exponents: multiply the factor changes, never recompute the quantity Key method Physics Thermal Physics 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
22 Compound option tables: settle the cheapest quantity first and strike out Key method Physics Energy, Work & Momentum 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
23 Nuclear reactions: balance nucleon number and proton number across the arrow Tunnel Physics Radioactivity 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
24 In a two state question, lock the invariant from state one before touching state two Choose the power formula by the shared quantity, then split power as R or as one over R Key method Physics Electricity & Magnetism 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
25 A closed ideal switch is a plain wire: redraw before you compute Pavlov Physics Electricity & Magnetism 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
26 Scale by the exponents: multiply the factor changes, never recompute the quantity Key method Physics Thermal Physics 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
27 Total path of an oscillating particle is four times the amplitude per cycle Key method Physics Waves, Sound & the Electromagnetic Spectrum 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
28 Free body first: list every force with its sign, then set the resultant equal to ma Choose the system: the whole assembly for the acceleration, one body for an internal force Tunnel Physics Kinematics & Forces 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
29 Find the current first: it is the hub of every electrical chain Pavlov Physics Electricity & Magnetism 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
30 Let the option list choose your units, and kill options by dimensions Turn what you are given into a mass before you divide by a volume Prism with a hole: subtract in the cross-section, multiply by the length once Key method Physics Matter 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
31 Heat transfer is driven by the temperature difference alone, never by the individual temperatures Sort the three transfer modes by what each one actually requires Key method Physics Thermal Physics 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
32 Read a motion graph by gradient and area, one phase at a time Distance, displacement and average speed are three different readings of the same motion Tunnel Physics Kinematics & Forces 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
33 Decay conserves atoms one for one: daughter equals initial daughter plus parent decayed Key method Physics Radioactivity 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
34 When only a ratio is asked, form the ratio and let the unknowns cancel Key method Physics Matter 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
35 The bridge between momentum and kinetic energy Key method Physics Energy, Work & Momentum 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
36 Turn measured times into distances with the right geometric factor for reflected or multi-speed signals Key method Physics Waves, Sound & the Electromagnetic Spectrum 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
