How can i achieve an A* in chem? Stuck at low B

14

Im in yr 12 and i do OCR A chem a level. I need help with chem its been dreadful. especially the maths side of chem.

My grades so far for main tests have been B-> C-> B-> A. I js got the A in the recent mock. Apparently i made a lot of dumb mistakes (havent gotten paper only the mark).

She said cuz of my grades so far shes probs gonna end up predicting me a B, which i understand but I want to get an A* in my mock thts coming up in like March. Can yall gimme sm advice ESPECIALLY for the maths side of chem.

If u wanna ask any specific questions which may help with advice giving feel free to do so. Any advice is HUGELY APPRECIATED.

Reply 1

wani233

4

pmt

Reply 2

sharifnurra

1

Sorry, I tried to write a longer reply earlier but it didn’t submit but here are the main things that helped me:

•

Learning from mark schemes NOT Notes - this will help you answer questions how the mark scheme wants you to and get full marks.

•

Regular topic/past paper questions - self explanatory but you will get used to exam wording/markschemes

•

Keeping track of weak areas by turning questions you get wrong into flashcards or a 'mistakes' file you can revisit.

•

For calculation based questions it's all about PRACTICE (no other way around it). Exposing yourself to harder and more unfamiliar questions will make you bullet proof and questions won't catch you off guard anymore (it will literally become muscle memory). Good websites for harder questions are Access Tuition, Mr Cole Chemistry, and Dalton Chemistry.

•

Use Flashcards and Blurting to avoid the 'forgetting curve' as you learn more content.

B Grade students generally have a good understanding of content and find it easy, but the problem comes from applying the content and trying to satisfy the mark scheme as much as possible. (You'll be surprised at how specific the wording can get)
You should be proud with your current grade, I think you just need to identify where your losing marks and practice regularly. Those 'silly mistakes' you're doing is what's most likely keeping you from achieving A/A* not your conceptual understanding . (BTW I do AQA chem so not sure how helpful those websites are but as someone who went from D to predicted A I hope my advice helps).

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 3

CelestialMD

OP

14

Original post

by wani233

pmt

yes i do use tht already, but need to start using it more:'). thx

Reply 4

CelestialMD

OP

14

Original post

by sharifnurra

Sorry, I tried to write a longer reply earlier but it didn’t submit but here are the main things that helped me:

•

Learning from mark schemes NOT Notes - this will help you answer questions how the mark scheme wants you to and get full marks.

•

Regular topic/past paper questions - self explanatory but you will get used to exam wording/markschemes

•

Keeping track of weak areas by turning questions you get wrong into flashcards or a 'mistakes' file you can revisit.

•

For calculation based questions it's all about PRACTICE (no other way around it). Exposing yourself to harder and more unfamiliar questions will make you bullet proof and questions won't catch you off guard anymore (it will literally become muscle memory). Good websites for harder questions are Access Tuition, Mr Cole Chemistry, and Dalton Chemistry.

•

Use Flashcards and Blurting to avoid the 'forgetting curve' as you learn more content.

B Grade students generally have a good understanding of content and find it easy, but the problem comes from applying the content and trying to satisfy the mark scheme as much as possible. (You'll be surprised at how specific the wording can get)
You should be proud with your current grade, I think you just need to identify where your losing marks and practice regularly. Those 'silly mistakes' you're doing is what's most likely keeping you from achieving A/A* not your conceptual understanding . (BTW I do AQA chem so not sure how helpful those websites are but as someone who went from D to predicted A I hope my advice helps).

TYSM, i'll try my best to implement ur advice moving forward. Congrats on the jump tho from D to A tht is incredible! :>

How can i achieve an A* in chem? Stuck at low B

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