Studying for Chemistry Help

[Mr. Study]

Hello!

I would like to know if a good way for studying Chemistry would be doing questions from the book, summarising the book and doing past exam papers (Either open book and then slowly phase out the book or Do them and learn from mistakes).

Thanks for any replies!

[jane1234]

I'd focus on doing questions and practice exams... summarising can be helpful, but in the end you really need to know how to apply your knowledge and not just recite a bunch of facts.
Also, personally I wouldn't do exams open book. I think that if you struggle to remember or know how to do something then you will remember better in the long run. If you just look it up, I don't think that it will stick into your brain as much

[Mr. Study]

I was extremely worried about how to study but it makes a lot more sense, never really seemed to think that way.

Thank you so much for the reply, really means a lot.

[Readinya]

Summarising is helpful for the chromatography, spec and organic chem, but is next to useless for any working out questions like volumetric and gravimetric stuff.

IF you are not confident with concepts before you do any prac exams, this is what i would do:
1. start off with a couple of questions and with reference to an example question that shows the steps to work out. This way, you know how to structure your work, and if you have a generic example that can apply to every question, then you would also understand how other similar questions would be worked out. Refer only to the answerer work solutions at the very very beginning, but as you progress, the back-of-the-book should only be to check if you have the correct number.

2. Start doing questions and exam papers without references (with the exception of the data booklet). Say, do about 60% of trail exams taking as much time as you need, and if you're really really stuck on a question, look over your summary notes or ask a friend/teacher. Make sure you highlight those questions that you don't understand.

3. Once you're pretty confident that you can actually do an exam paper, time yourself. Exam conditions - no noise, (1.5 hours)?, only data booklet. Set yourself a goal to reach: "get 85% of this paper correct". After every paper, formally correct it, and mark as harsh as possible. If unsure about marks, get a teacher or friend to mark it.

[Souljette_93]

Do all three. If you start now, you have heaps of time. But only summarize once, and then focus on the next two. Good luck