All 82 decoded questions of ESAT 2019, in paper order. · A question can reward more than one move, so the counts overlap.
ENGAA 2019 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 Prokaryote versus eukaryote: the defining feature contrast (wall, nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts) Animal cells never have a cell wall or chloroplasts: use it as an instant eliminator Structure implies function: name the cell or tissue from what it is shown doing, then read off its properties One person, one genome: division type, stem cells, and same DNA but different proteins Pavlov Biology Cells 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
56 Structure implies function: name the cell or tissue from what it is shown doing, then read off its properties The biological organisation ladder: check every noun sits at the level (cell, tissue, organ) the option claims One person, one genome: division type, stem cells, and same DNA but different proteins Key method Biology Cells 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
57 DNA structure recall: a nucleotide is phosphate plus sugar plus base, and the backbone alternates sugar and phosphate Pavlov Biology DNA, Protein Synthesis & Gene Technology 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
58 Population curves and extinction risk: a plateau is a limiting factor, and small plus narrow plus restricted is fragile Pavlov Biology Ecology & Plant Physiology 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
59 Ecological abundance: frequency is presence in quadrats, density is count per area, and both need a random sample Key method Biology Ecology & Plant Physiology 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
60 Structure implies function: name the cell or tissue from what it is shown doing, then read off its properties The biological organisation ladder: check every noun sits at the level (cell, tissue, organ) the option claims Key method Biology Cells 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
61 Rate of diffusion or osmosis is set by the steepness of the gradient Key method Biology Membrane Transport, Cell Division & Reproduction 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
62 Copy-number reflex: a diploid body cell has two copies of each gene, a plasmid or gamete one, a protein none Pavlov Biology DNA, Protein Synthesis & Gene Technology only this sitting Same method, other sittings
This one has only struck here so far.
63 Read what actually measures a rate: quantity against time, and equal steps give rate proportional to one over time Key method Biology Ecology & Plant Physiology 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
64 Bacterial binary fission is not mitosis, and the population doubles each division Mutation is the exception that breaks any absolute genetic claim Pavlov Biology Membrane Transport, Cell Division & Reproduction 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
65 Could, may or might means find one valid scenario, not prove it always holds The genetic code is degenerate: a base change need not change the amino acid or the phenotype Somatic changes are not inherited; only gamete (germline) changes reach offspring Key method Biology DNA, Protein Synthesis & Gene Technology 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
66 A mutation present in every cell must have arisen in a gamete or the fertilised egg Key method Biology Inheritance, Variation & Evolution 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
67 Denaturation is loss of the active-site shape, caused by heat, extreme pH or boiling Follow the product to fix the pH direction and read the indicator Could versus must: separate what the data proves from what it only allows Key method Biology Enzymes 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
68 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
69 Oxygen debt is the extra oxygen above rest taken in during recovery Key method Biology Animal Physiology: Systems, Homeostasis & Disease 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
70 Phenotype comes from genotype and environment together, beware the alone trap Key method Biology Inheritance, Variation & Evolution 2 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 Biology arithmetic reflexes: percentage over the original, rate as amount over time, area as radius squared Key method Biology Enzymes 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
72 Read a coding strand in non-overlapping triplets from the left and translate with the table Tunnel Biology DNA, Protein Synthesis & Gene Technology 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
NSAA 2019 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 Alkene addition: one atom to each double-bond carbon, one molecule per bond Classic organic-product distractors the examiner offers Pavlov Chemistry Organic Chemistry, Separation & Analysis 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
38 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
39 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
40 Largest or smallest possible mass: take the extreme isotope of every atom and ignore abundances Key method Chemistry Atomic Structure, Bonding & the Periodic Table only this sitting Same method, other sittings
This one has only struck here so far.
41 Read the reactivity order off the behaviour, do not recall a fixed list Key method Chemistry Electrolysis & Metals 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
42 Read a nuclide symbol into protons, neutrons and electrons Pavlov Chemistry Atomic Structure, Bonding & the Periodic Table 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
43 Empirical formula: masses to moles to the simplest whole number ratio Tunnel Chemistry Quantitative Chemistry 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
44 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
45 Standard qualitative tests to identify ions Pavlov Chemistry Organic Chemistry, Separation & Analysis 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
46 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 Tunnel Chemistry Electrolysis & Metals 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
47 Precipitation gravimetry: only the ion that forms the solid counts, ignore the spectators Key method Chemistry Quantitative Chemistry 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
48 Balance a skeleton equation one element at a time, most constrained first Tunnel Chemistry Chemical Reactions, Acids, Bases & Redox 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
49 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
50 Pick the separation technique from the property that differs Key method Chemistry Organic Chemistry, Separation & Analysis 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
51 Reactivity series reflex: a metal below hydrogen gives no reaction with dilute acid, a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive one Pavlov Chemistry Quantitative Chemistry 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
52 Purity and hydration are just multiplying factors: scale in the right direction and the pre-scaled value is the trap Key method Chemistry Quantitative Chemistry 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
53 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
54 Cathode is reduction, anode is oxidation, and electrons flow from plus to minus outside Molten electrolysis always splits the compound into its two elements Pavlov Chemistry Electrolysis & Metals 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
NSAA 2019 Section 1, Part A (Mathematics questions) 18 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 Exploit algebraic identities to skip expanding surds Key method Pure Number & Units 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
2 Rearranging Complex Formulas Pavlov Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
3 Unwrapping Squared Formulas Pavlov Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
4 Successive percentage changes as a product of decimal multipliers Pavlov Pure Ratio & Proportion 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
5 Simultaneous Linear Equations by Elimination Tunnel Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
6 Algebraic Fraction Simplification Pavlov Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
7 Scaling laws for similar figures and solids Pavlov Pure Ratio & Proportion 4 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 Reduce exponential equations to a single prime base Pavlov Pure Number & Units 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
10 The solving for x multiple-choice trap Rhombus area from diagonals Key method Pure Geometry 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
11 Overlay a coordinate system for complex intersecting shapes Key method Pure Geometry 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
12 Chaining ratios by scaling the common term Pavlov Pure Ratio & Proportion 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
13 Implicit line equations: isolate y to find the gradient safely Pavlov Pure Coordinate Geometry 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
14 Coordinate transformations algebraically Key method 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 Bearings: use back-bearings and subtraction to find angles Pavlov Pure Geometry 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
17 Test abstract statistics with extreme or simple lists Key method Prob & Stats Probability & Statistics only this sitting Same method, other sittings
This one has only struck here so far.
18 3D solids: equating volumes and surface areas algebraically Tunnel Pure Geometry 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
NSAA 2019 Section 1, Part C (Chemistry questions) 1 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 The paper at a glance, coloured by move. Click a square to open its question; empty squares are not decoded yet.
25 Rationalise the denominator using the conjugate Tunnel Pure Number & Units 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
NSAA 2019 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 Areas bounded by intersecting lines: use an axis as the base Key method Pure Coordinate Geometry 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
75 Coefficient Matching from Turning Points Key method Pure Differentiation 1 other sitting Same method, other sittings
77 Pythagorean Substitution to Quadratic Key method Pure Trigonometry 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
79 Shaded areas by structural subtraction Pavlov Pure Geometry 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
81 Substitute to a Polynomial (Exponentials & Logs) Work Backwards from Logarithmic Options Tunnel Pure Exponentials & Logarithms 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
83 Integrals as Linear Unknowns Key method Pure Integration only this sitting Same method, other sittings
This one has only struck here so far.
85 Differentiating to Find an Integral's Expansion Key method Pure Integration only this sitting Same method, other sittings
This one has only struck here so far.
87 Hidden Triangle Constraints (The Obtuse Trap) Pavlov Pure Trigonometry only this sitting Same method, other sittings
This one has only struck here so far.
89 Polynomial Inequalities Tunnel Pure Algebra, Functions & Graphs 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
NSAA 2019 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 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
20 Power is energy per second: convert the time first, and use force times velocity at constant speed Compound option tables: settle the cheapest quantity first and strike out Pavlov Physics Energy, Work & Momentum 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
21 Label the circuit with the two invariants, then carry the one given number across Read the option spread before computing: the distractors name the slip For a non ohmic component the graph is its Ohm law: the circuit picks the axis Tunnel Physics Electricity & Magnetism 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
22 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
23 Energy audit on a heated body: supplied, stored, lost The option list holds your intermediate results: never stop one step early Tunnel Physics Thermal Physics 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
24 Numbered statements: check what each quantity is proportional to, and who each force acts on Key method Physics Kinematics & Forces only this sitting Same method, other sittings
This one has only struck here so far.
25 Trapped gas: build the absolute pressure first, then apply Boyle's law Liquid pressure counts only what lies above the point, layer by layer Tunnel Physics Matter 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
26 Transformers: voltage by turns ratio, current by power, never turns ratio for a non ideal current Tunnel Physics Electricity & Magnetism 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
27 Energy audit on a heated body: supplied, stored, lost The option list holds your intermediate results: never stop one step early Tunnel Physics Thermal Physics 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
28 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
29 Force on a current: the work is deciding what B, I and L really are Key method Physics Electricity & Magnetism 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
30 Alpha and beta decay bookkeeping: fix the alpha count from the mass number first Tunnel Physics Radioactivity 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
31 Force from a momentum change: divide by the contact time, and double the speed for a bounce The bridge between momentum and kinetic energy Tunnel Physics Energy, Work & Momentum 4 other sittings Same method, other sittings
32 Label the circuit with the two invariants, then carry the one given number across When the resistances are identical or never given, call each one R and let it cancel Tunnel Physics Electricity & Magnetism 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
33 Compound option tables: settle the cheapest quantity first and strike out In a collision momentum carries signs and kinetic energy does not Key method Physics Energy, Work & Momentum 3 other sittings Same method, other sittings
34 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 Answer only the phase the question names: every other phase area is an offered option Tunnel Physics Kinematics & Forces 5 other sittings Same method, other sittings
35 Prism with a hole: subtract in the cross-section, multiply by the length once Tunnel Physics Matter 2 other sittings Same method, other sittings
36 Half-life arithmetic: work in powers of one-half, never in logarithms Decay conserves atoms one for one: daughter equals initial daughter plus parent decayed Pavlov Physics Radioactivity 6 other sittings Same method, other sittings
