Chemistry help

[hardworker]

So this year I'm doing chemistry 3 and 4 but I'm finding some of the test questions difficult and was wondering on how to improve its the wording of the short answer questions which really trip me up. Because I recently did a neap test at school didn't do to bad in the multi choice but screwed up in the short answer. So I was wondering what I can do to improve its not like I don't understand the concepts but some of the questions I find really difficult to interpret. Thanks in advance and I also just ordered the atarnotes study guide for chem.

[dzames]

Hey there!

Look, one of the hard things about science is short answer questions. They give you a bunch of text and expect you to turn all of that info into an answer. So here's a few tips that I followed when I was doing chem:

For stoichiometry
- underline key numbers like mol, concentration etc so they are easy to see and use
- construct a simple flowchart showing what's going on in the experiment. This helps you to visualise things like dilutions or aliquots and acts as a checklist during your working to make sure you don't miss a step
- in your working, clearly set out what each line is finding. for example, never write 0.1x0.05. Always n(NaOH)=0.1x0.05

For questions that require some form of comprehension
- underline key words that come up. things like what chemical is the oxidant, what sort of reaction is going on, anything that seems really important
- try to identify what area of the course you are being tested on. once you categorise the question, it can seem easier
- make sure that when you are writing your answers to questions you use those important key words relating to the topic. for example RETENTION time or SPECIFIC CATHODE LAMP

Hopefully that helps!
James