How best to revise for Chemistry

When it comes to revising for your GCSE/IGCSE in Chemistry it is important to remember that a technique that works for one person or subject may not work for all. It is a trial and error process to determine the best techniques for you. Below are a few tips that you can try as a way to aid you when it comes to the question of ‘how to revise for Chemistry’.

Tip #1 – Start early and know the basics

Most students leave their revision till either just before or after their mock exams, some even leave it till Easter holidays. The earlier you start, the less cramming you will need to do. Start at the beginning of Year 11, go right back at the Unit 1 even if you think you know the contents. The more solid your foundational knowledge is, the easier you will find understanding the more complex/abstract concepts in chemistry. Everything in chemistry builds upon itself, so make sure you know the basics well.

Tip #2 – Make a Chemistry Dictionary

Science has a language of its own, especially Chemistry. Think about building a dictionary of key terms you come across throughout your GCSE years. Write them down and their meanings. This is something that you can build upon and refer to, not only throughout your GCSE/IGCSE but also A-level years and beyond. You will find this to be a massive help in those moments where your brain just has a forgetful moment, or you are in a rush to complete an answer. When I started my degree in chemistry, this was the first bit of advice the Head of Department at the university I attended gave all students, and it was a lifesaver at times.

Tip #3 – Periodic Table

The periodic table will play a major portion of your GCSE/IGCSE exam, so becoming familiar with it and where elements are located can save you time on your exam. Now I am not saying learn it off by heart, but having a good idea of where certain elements can be found, will save you from searching for them during an exam. If you spend 30 seconds looking for Iron (Fe) on the periodic table during your exam, that is 30 seconds you could have spent writing or doing a calculation later on. Knowing that Iron is a transition metal, and its rough location is in the centre of the periodic table will make a massive difference.

Additionally, there are some elements that are used continually throughout GCSE/IGCSE like Carbon (C), Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), Chlorine (Cl) just to name a few. So, knowing their atomic number or mass number can also save you precious time.

Tip #4 – 6 mark questions – Answer the question

Practice, practice, practice these. It is so much easier to get 3/6 or 4/6 then it can be to get 1/2 or 2/3 at times. Learn how to decipher what is being asked of you. Each exam board has their own way of asking questions, so know what each question phrase means for your exam board, so you know how to answer the question.

Then ANSWER THE QUESTION. That is the most important thing. So many students waffle away writing big answers but never hit any of the indicative points, and score very low. Knowing what your exam board is asking of you will go a long way.

Learning to answer 6 mark questions will also help instil those concepts in your memory, which you can later use to answer short or multiple choice questions. There will always be an application for that knowledge in your exams, so practicing 6 mark questions will not only help you develop a plan of action but develop your understanding of those concepts.

Also, use the mark schemes to help. If you are unsure on how to read a mark scheme for the 6 mark questions, ask your teacher or tutor. They will be able to explain to you on how to read them and learn how to gain full marks on an exam.

Tip #5 – Bonding

Bonding can be a very abstract concept for some people. Knowing the difference between ionic and covalent bonding or metallic and ionic substance for conduction of electricity, are very commonplace where students lose their marks.

Ionic bonding is the transfer of electrons which forms ions. Covalent bonding is the sharing of electrons.

Ionic substances can conduct electricity when molten or in solution due to the free moving IONS, whereas metallic substance have delocalised ELECTRONS, which carry the electrical current.

Tip #6 – Don’t overthink

It can be very easy to overthink an answer. Sometimes the simplest of answers is the right answer.