A-levels/June 2024

Help sOhoME

How do I memorize and remember the chemistry U-5 organic? (IAL EDEXCEL). Please give me some effective tips.

Reply 1

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by Help sOhoME

How do I memorize and remember the chemistry U-5 organic? (IAL EDEXCEL). Please give me some effective tips.

Hi @Help sOhoME,

One of the most effective things you can do is use active recall and spaced repetition. Instead of just reading over your notes, test yourself regularly on reactions, mechanisms, reagents, and conditions. Flashcards (physical or apps like Anki or Quizlet) are great for this.

It also helps to group the content into logical chunks. Don’t try to memorise everything in one go, break it up into smaller sections like halogenoalkanes, carbonyl compounds, aromatic chemistry, amines, polymers, etc. Then, within each group, make sure you’re confident with naming, reactions, mechanisms, reagents, and the conditions needed. You’ll start to notice patterns which make it easier to remember.

Another key thing is to really focus on understanding the mechanisms. Don’t just memorise them, try to understand why electrons move a certain way, what each reagent is doing, and how the conditions affect the reaction. Drawing out the curly arrow mechanisms yourself, over and over, is one of the best ways to make them stick.

Lastly, try to actively use the information in exam-style questions as early as possible. It helps reinforce everything and shows you what the examiners are actually looking for. It can be tough at first, but the more questions you do, the more confident you’ll become.

Hope this helps!
Danish
BCU Student Rep