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Chemistry Alevel

What is the best way to revise for chemistry alevel?
A desperate student who is starting to hate chemistry
Thanks.
Original post by AspiringSurvivor
What is the best way to revise for chemistry alevel?
A desperate student who is starting to hate chemistry
Thanks.

Hi @AspiringSurvivor

I would recommend using a variety of different techniques to revise for chemistry as this can help to make revision a little bit more interesting.
Some of my favourite methods when revising chemistry were:

Making mind maps - I would basically just write out all of the key information for each topic. I liked to make these colourful and include diagrams.

Watching YouTube videos - there are lots of videos which help you to revise the key concepts. There are also some revision songs which I found really helpful.

Answering exam questions - this is not the most exciting revision method however it is important so that you can practise answering the questions that might be asked. My usual method would be to answer a question without a textbook, then switch colour and use a textbook, and then finally look at the mark scheme and write down anything that I missed in a different colour.


Does anyone else have any revision methods that they found useful?

I hope that helps!

Sophie
BCU Student Rep.
A-level chem is hard but very predictable which is why grade boundaries are high. Once you realise that they put the same question ear after year with just slightly different wording, you can just learn the stuff that gets repeated in the answers and guarantee yourself the easy marks. Regarding things like unfamiliar mechanisms and application questions, you just get better with practice but there's so much you can do to improve your grade without having to waste past papers:

1.

Make a list of all the definitions that come up over and over again and learn the definitions from your specific exam board. E.g. relative atomic mass, stereoisomerism etc. These are usually 2 marks max but they can add up and are easy marks to get.

2.

Learn all the organic chem pathways with their reagents, conditions and diagrams. I did OCR and if you search up OCR organic chemistry mind map the PDF should come up, they have a blank version too so you can see how much you already know and then see which ones you need to memorise. A good revision activity is having someone pick random pathways and you telling them how to get there and they can check with the mind map. Use the one for your exam board tho because you don't want to waste time leaning something that isn't needed.

3.

Memorise methods of common practicals e.g. how to make a standard solution or setting up a titration. These appear every year and can be worth lots of marks. Some may come up as part of a 6-marker too so it's worth knowing

4.

Linked to the last point, memorise the accurate diagrams for different set ups, e.g. gas collection and practice drawing them with labels. You can lose silly marks for forgetting a thermometer or something minor so make sure you don't lose marks on these.

5.

Make sure you know how to use all the formulas, conversions and all the basic calculations that come up but more importantly pick a layout for answering these questions that makes sense to you and make sure you lay your working out in the exact same way for all of them because the working out marks can add up. Make sure there is no ambiguity in what formulas your using and where you are getting your numbers from so the examiner feels confident enough to give you the method marks.

Original post by BCU Student Rep
Hi @AspiringSurvivor
I would recommend using a variety of different techniques to revise for chemistry as this can help to make revision a little bit more interesting.
Some of my favourite methods when revising chemistry were:

Making mind maps - I would basically just write out all of the key information for each topic. I liked to make these colourful and include diagrams.

Watching YouTube videos - there are lots of videos which help you to revise the key concepts. There are also some revision songs which I found really helpful.

Answering exam questions - this is not the most exciting revision method however it is important so that you can practise answering the questions that might be asked. My usual method would be to answer a question without a textbook, then switch colour and use a textbook, and then finally look at the mark scheme and write down anything that I missed in a different colour.


Does anyone else have any revision methods that they found useful?
I hope that helps!
Sophie
BCU Student Rep.


Original post by Roses.Are.Red
A-level chem is hard but very predictable which is why grade boundaries are high. Once you realise that they put the same question ear after year with just slightly different wording, you can just learn the stuff that gets repeated in the answers and guarantee yourself the easy marks. Regarding things like unfamiliar mechanisms and application questions, you just get better with practice but there's so much you can do to improve your grade without having to waste past papers:

1.

Make a list of all the definitions that come up over and over again and learn the definitions from your specific exam board. E.g. relative atomic mass, stereoisomerism etc. These are usually 2 marks max but they can add up and are easy marks to get.

2.

Learn all the organic chem pathways with their reagents, conditions and diagrams. I did OCR and if you search up OCR organic chemistry mind map the PDF should come up, they have a blank version too so you can see how much you already know and then see which ones you need to memorise. A good revision activity is having someone pick random pathways and you telling them how to get there and they can check with the mind map. Use the one for your exam board tho because you don't want to waste time leaning something that isn't needed.

3.

Memorise methods of common practicals e.g. how to make a standard solution or setting up a titration. These appear every year and can be worth lots of marks. Some may come up as part of a 6-marker too so it's worth knowing

4.

Linked to the last point, memorise the accurate diagrams for different set ups, e.g. gas collection and practice drawing them with labels. You can lose silly marks for forgetting a thermometer or something minor so make sure you don't lose marks on these.

5.

Make sure you know how to use all the formulas, conversions and all the basic calculations that come up but more importantly pick a layout for answering these questions that makes sense to you and make sure you lay your working out in the exact same way for all of them because the working out marks can add up. Make sure there is no ambiguity in what formulas your using and where you are getting your numbers from so the examiner feels confident enough to give you the method marks.


Thank you so much both. Chemistry is the bane of my existence, i am resisting it again this year and it gives me depression thinking about doing it all over again.
i sometimes think if resisting is the wrong option for me. i am so unsure but i can’t turn back now.
I will be using both of your advices.
Much appreciated!

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