There are in general three types of students in our beloved little world. First, is the type that study greatly: these students’ study anything and everything, memorize material to the tiniest full stop, and sink in a unending flood of notes. The second type for better or worse, studies nothing at all. In order to excel at O-Level Chemistry, what students should aim to be is the third type – the smart learners. These are the clever few, who learn the tricks. Having understood the areas they needed to focus on, these students are the ones who are prepared to tackle anything the examiner throws at them, with an excited smile on their face.
Lucky for you, at Seb Academy Chemistry Tuition centre, we have put together 6 of the most efficient answering tips you’ll need in order to excel at O-Level Chemistry. Let’s get started!
- Analyze the Questions
Understanding the question is practically half the mark, and we don’t say that lightly. Sometimes, the answers are given right in the very question. Before attending the exam, study the different questions types and the appropriate answer formats to each. For instance, when a question tells you to state, this most likely indicates the need of a concise, specific answer. On the other hand, a describe question, will sure have more space for writing several points in the answer.
The number of marks of the question is also a clue as to how many points you should write. For example, if a descriptive question has 3 marks, you will need to highlight three key points in your answer. Another important thing to do is to identify familiar words (keywords). In this way, even if the question is very analytical and based on an abstract scenario of sorts, you will still be able to identify the necessary subject matter.
- Befriend the Periodic Table
Periodic tables are your best friend and the sooner you admit this, the better. A wealth of information is hidden in the numbers of the table, information that proves vital to students in the exams. Practice reading the periodic table thoroughly before the exam and understand common calculations terms like mass number, proton (atomic) number etc. Know what each section of the table means and memorize the properties of each group, since these come up so very often in the main exam.
- Link Between Topics
Not every question on the paper is set at the same difficulty. Whereas one may directly ask you to define ionic bonds, another may require you giving some more thought into understanding what the question wants. In many cases, these questions link several topics in your chemistry syllabus. Some common links between topics are:
- Redox reactions and electrolysis
- Acids/Bases and Metals
- Atomic Structure and Chemical Bonding
Practice makes perfect and the more you practice previous question papers, the better you will get at combining the knowledge of multiple chapters at once. You will also be able to identify common patterns that keep recurring!
- Aim to Complete
The key to submitting a fantastic exam, is to keep in mind that at first, you are aiming to finish. If a question appears to be too difficult, you should definitely skip it and go to the next time. Never waste time on a single, difficult problem, because if all your focus is concentrated there, you may not have enough time to attempt the rest of the questions. Complete the whole paper well before the submission time and then go back to the beginning to identify the parts that you left empty – now you are free to edit and cut to your heart’s extent. Most importantly, do not leave any of your responses blank. Even if you’re confused about something, it’s always better to write a response as sensibly and as close to the requirement as you can. This way, you give yourself a chance that what you wrote turns out to be correct.
- Memorize the Essentials
The down side: some things just can’t be avoided. But, the up side? The material isn’t much! The properties of groups in the periodic table for instance, essentially need to be learned (you can’t write the color of iodine without remembering the color of iodine can you?) The properties of metals, Group I elements, Group II elements, Noble gases and so on are things you will need. The best way is to make a booklet of sorts with content like this; when you find yourself forgetting, simply open it to refresh.
- Extra Is Okay (And Sometimes Even Recommended)
The greatest thing about the Chemistry O-Level exam (and this goes for Physics and Biology too) is that writing more than the required number of points in the answer does not penalize your marks. For example, for an answer worth 3 marks if you write 4 or even 5 points in your response, and the first two turn about to be wrong – you’ll still get the full number, that is, 3. Writing extra is a little more time consuming though and if you already struggle with completing the whole paper, I wouldn’t recommend it. However, if you’re looking to improve the chance of bagging those essential marks, then never be afraid to fill in the whole box with as many sensible points as you can.
Read Also:
Gearing Up For O Levels
How to Revise Effectively for the O-Level Chemistry Exam
