OCR F321 - 23rd May

There was a thread posted by someone with all the Jan11 papers...its in Chemistry forums somewhere...
Jan10 was a hard paper, Jun10 was an easy paper, Jan11 was a hard paper, so I guess we'll have a medium to easy level of difficulty on Monday hmmm

Definitions are very easy marks...
Calculations are usually worth alot of easy marks if you know how to do them
Oxidation numbers
Redox
Halogens
Group 1 and 2
Shapes of molecules/ions
Electronic configuration of atoms and ions

This is a unit which almost every person does at least twice, so we can expect high boundaries if it is an easy paper.

Must admit, I haven't done much at all for this either. Worried about the F325 so I've been doing a lot of that. I can do all the calculations for moles etc. I think I will probably lose marks on Group 1&2 and the halogens

Good luck with your revision.

There was a thread posted by someone with all the Jan11 papers...its in Chemistry forums somewhere...
Jan10 was a hard paper, Jun10 was an easy paper, Jan11 was a hard paper, so I guess we'll have a medium to easy level of difficulty on Monday hmmm

Definitions are very easy marks...
Calculations are usually worth alot of easy marks if you know how to do them
Oxidation numbers
Redox
Halogens
Group 1 and 2
Shapes of molecules/ions
Electronic configuration of atoms and ions

This is a unit which almost every person does at least twice, so we can expect high boundaries if it is an easy paper.

Arghh really need someones help... I think I'm being a Tad stupid here but I can't grasp oxidation numbers in compunds such as Mg2(NO3)2 would someone please explain??? I'm fine with most compounds e.g MgO where O=-2 and Mg=+2.

Know your defintions well.
Electronics, mass spectra, formulae, equations, balancing equations, ionic equations.
RAM calculations, Mole, converting Moles, reactions and mole ratios! There has'nt been a volume of gas question for quite a few yrs now...Concentration of solutions and titration calculations - examiners love these questions, look at past papers, they're in the practicals and in the written. Ionic and Covalent bonding, Dot Cross diagrams, Shapes of molecules and ions. Metallic bonding, polarisation and intermolecular forces has'nt really featured yet, they have to assess this every few yrs hmmm The physical properties, this is in past papers as well. Group 2 and Group 7, they love to examine these, so it would be wise to know all the trends, patterns and physical properties and electronic configuration etc Also the Redox disproportionation reactions.

Alot of the marks can be lost if for example there is a 3 mark question, ONLY the first 3 points will be marked, and any others will lead to loss of marks. Examination technique is vital to achieve the higher grades, so practice as many past questions as you can. Also remember, almost every candidate will be retaking Unit 1...considering how tough January 2011 was, we should expect a slightly easier paper and very high grade boundaries. Remember when doing moles calculations convert kg's tonnes to grams...that is a common mistake to make. Oxidation numbers and Redox has featured in almost every paper, and examiners reports cite concerns at how some don't know valencies...

if there is a 3 mark question

unless it specifies to give only 2 points, or only 3 points, you can write as much as you like - right?

The examiners have 1000s of scripts to mark, they are not going to be pleased to see loads of writing, it is not an English exam :P

Bullet points are advised, helps with the clarity and a concise answer

If the number of lines is 6, and it is a 3 mark question, 2 or 3 lines is sufficient detail. It is a common mistake to think you must fill all the lines, when infact it is the key points according to the number of marks.

So stick to writing sufficient detail, but remember it is not an English paper, but Chemistry.

Also they will only mark the first 3 points, even if you've given 5 points. It is exam technique specific. This was all highlighted at a PhilipAllan Revision conference by the examiners.

Look at page 3 of the January 2011 Examiners Report, it mentions alot of detail of how they like scripts to be easy to mark.

http://www.ocr.org.uk/download/rep_11/ocr_58284_rep_11_gce_jan.pdf

You definately need to know the Valencies.

ok

no problem

why do they have extra space at the end of my exams?

but you're spot on

What are valencies?!? D:

I haven't read this thread, so i apologize if my question has already been asked, but just wondering if someone could clarify all the colours you get when you react the halogens together, and what happens if you add cyclohexane. Different books just say different things.

Appreciate it.