Well
for most of the people doing A/Ls in science stream, chemistry is a nightmare, especially for physical science students.
So today I'm going to tell you how to write to a chemistry paper in a much different way than you always do.
Well it worked for me,and you should test this way with a model paper or in a term test before you go to exam.This saves time and also you can easily score 90+.
Lets look at the structure of our chemistry paper
MCQ Paper
1-30 MCQs with 5 answers30-40 ABCD questions
40-50 statement questions
So in an MCQ paper the setting panel always make the first two or three questions easier than the others.so start with that.and go to last page and start answering statements qustions,and after that ABCD questions.
What happens here is this.You have to more careful when writing answers from 30 to 50,we all know how sharply they test our knowledge in chemistry.So when you start the paper answering to first 30 ,an hour will be gone,and you will be stressed.
You have to answer last 20 questions with a clear mind.So when you do last 20 first then the probability of wrong answers will be lower.And after finishing last 20,then start the first 30.
Remember this always,in that 30 ignore physical chemistry questions and finish others first and then go to physical chemistry questions.So finally when you look at the clock,you will be amazed to see that you will be having 15 or 20 extra minutes.(If you need to know more about answering mcqs and score almost 100% click this link. Guess answers to mcqs like a pro! )
2nd Paper
So when it comes to structured essay paper,we all know that 1st question is based on resonance structures and general chemistry,so it is very easy.
I'm good at Organic chemistry,so i usually do the organic chemistry question in structured essay paper next.And then I move on to the Physical chemistry question in essay paper,then i do the organic chemistry question in essay and then Inorganic chemistry question
.When we come to the part C of our essay paper theres a question based on industrial chemistry and environmental chemistry,many people think it is easy and do it.But when it comes to marks,it will do no good for you.Its marking scheme is like A/L biology papers marking scheme.So you definitely have to select the other question in that part.
And then i move on to structured essay paper again and complete it.Believe me or not, you will be able to save 45 minutes.and you can recheck your chemistry paper leisurely during that 45 minutes.:) And you will definitely get 90+ too.Feel free to comment about anything in this post.
Wish you good luck in your A/Ls...and don't forget,that chemistry paper contributes alot to your z score.
Update (2018-07-27)
Since so many students are reading this post I thought of giving you a sneak peek of uni life. To read it click HERE
Update (2019-07-22)
I wrote a new post about doppler effect because I saw that most people confuse when it comes to doppler calculations. Most probably it's because there are so many velocities and you don't know when to apply what. Well now that burden is off the chest. I'm sharing a legit method which will make doppler calculations a piece of cake for you. Click HERE to read it.
Update (2019-08-12)
Many students are really confused with doppler calculations. It was not even a bit confusing to me because of a little strategy my teacher taught me. You can find out more about it in the link below. Hope it will help you guys.
As per your request I also wrote an article about how I did A/Ls. You can find it in the link down below.
How I did A/Ls
How I did A/Ls- Part 2
Time management for A/L students
You can read all of my articles about GCE A/Ls by clicking HERE.
How I did A/Ls- Part 2
Time management for A/L students
You can read all of my articles about GCE A/Ls by clicking HERE.
The video of this blog post is now available on Youtube.
can you give me some pointers on studying the inorganic chemistry part coz I suck at it..
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting and yes.. Inorganic chemistry is all about memory and all you have to do is to practice it... At first I was like " okay there are lots of things to study..so I will study all of them first and start doing questions later.."and then when I study 10 pages I couldn't remember what was in the 1st page.. So all you have to do is to start doing questions..No need to study at all.When you feel like you don't know the answer go and read only that part in your book, and try the second one. When you keep doing it eventually you'll remember everything.After I felt like okay now I can, I kept doing 10 inorganic MCQs per day till the exam.Otherwise you'll forget everything with the heavy work load..You'll have to be in touch with inorganic part since it's all about memory..Hope it helped..and good luck for the exam :) Wish to see you in a university couple of years later..
DeleteThanks for your prompt reply.. I'll follow this method from now on :)
DeleteI assume the best way to study the industrial chemistry part too is by answering model questions.What about the organic part?from what i read in your blog,you are very good at it :)
No..Don't even think about doing the industrial chem and environmental chem question in the paper..It seems to be easy but that's the question students get lowest marks.. You'll have to have a special power to know what's in the marking scheme makers mind..It's like biology papers..If you need an A don't do it.
DeleteFor organic chemistry no need to study.. You just have to understand. Try to understand mechanisms. How it happens.For an example in alkyl halides, Cl likes to leave and a nucleophile will attack the carbon..Try to draw mechanisms by yourself and understand what happens. Never try to memorize organic chemistry coz you will run out of memory too..hehe.. I recommend W.G.siyambalangoda's carbanika pariwarthana pahasuwen book for organic chemistry.I did that whole book thrice before going to the exam.
DeleteThanks..I"ll try them with the model papers from now on and get back to you with the results :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck..and do your best.
ReplyDeleteWell...its been a while ( like 2 years :D )
DeleteI'm happy to say that I'm a university student now :D
Thanks for your valuable advises.
Keep up the good work!!!
Wow. I'm happy for you. Good luck for your future malli !!!
DeleteHow did u understand chemical calculations?
ReplyDeleteThank you sooo much
ReplyDeleteBTW you have any ideas of doing physics mcq like this?
Pls.let me know as soon as possible .
Thank you
Yes. (I posted another article on how to guess MCQs.. actually that's how i survived the physics papers) First thing to keep in your mind about physics MCQs is that whether its the first 10 questions or last 10 you will get 1 mark per question. First 10 are easy and last 10 are so difficult. No matter how long it takes take all the time you need and just finish the 1st 30 questions correctly.. spending a loooong time on last 10 questions will only make it worse. So target the first 30 easy questions. And they always always give questions from past papers.. so make sure you do all the past paper MCQs. And its always easy to guess MCQ answers on physics papers. If you have any more questions please let me know. Thank you!
DeleteThank you for your reply
DeleteCan you tell me what's the pattern to do physics part 2 paper?
yes sure, There is an order of the 2nd paper always. First essay is always from mechanics. Last one is matter and radiation and Heat etc. So target for the lessons you know well. In my case I was bad at heat but I was good at matter and radiation. So I worked hard on that. Structured ones are based on practicals you did. So by studying them carefully and understanding it step by step and doing some past papers and model questions will help you ace the structured part. For the essay part select the areas you are good at and practice. GOOD LUCK !!!
DeleteThank you
DeleteThanks a lot for these tips.
ReplyDeleteBut I am not good at organic as you do.
exam's day after tomorrow,got any last minute exam tips for me,
Thanks a lot for these tips.
ReplyDeleteBut I am not good at organic as you do.
exam's day after tomorrow,got any last minute exam tips for me,
Can you tell me whether it is benificial to have a method for selecting questions in essay paper?
ReplyDeleteHi I am really sorry about the delay. Yes it is very beneficial because then you will not spend time to think what to choose.. you will automatically follow a pre determined pattern which will be very useful in finals.
Deletecan you mail me the 2018 A/L Chemistry marking scheme ?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry. I don't have it.
DeleteYou can find it in here
Deletehttps://www.alevelapi.com/2018-al-chemistry-marking-scheme-sinhala-medium-online-view/
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello there, can you please tell me how to understand and do general chemistry structure question in A part!!! Coz I have tried it many times and spent much time in that, but still I am wicked. How did you do that so easily? Waiting for your response...😐
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteStructured part A general chemistry question tests your knowledge about fundamentals.. (Sp2 sp3 things, bond angles, ionization,lewis structures,resonance etc) Having difficulties in that question means fundamentals are not digested very well.. I suggest you to go through fundamentals once more with practice questions. I will try to post an article about lewis structures and resonance once my exams are done. Until then use following link to have some idea. Thank You!
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Organic_Chemistry/Map%3A_Organic_Chemistry_(McMurry)/chapter_02%3A_Polar_Covalent_Bonds%3B_Acids_and_Bases/2.06_Drawing_Resonance_Forms
Miss ruvi...how to study physics?? Is that possible to become a doctor without a good guidance??
ReplyDeleteHi, Are you from Sri Lanka or from a foreign country?(I am asking because the method of being a doctor is really different. Like yes you can do the MCAT by studying alone.) . And may I know what do you mean by guidance? If you are facing the GCE A.L examination in Sri Lanka, I mentioned some tips for physics in a comment above.
DeleteHi Akki your tips are so good. Thank you! Actually next year I'm gonna do the exam again (2nd time). Shoud I go to any classes ? Because I have an idea to study at home all days. Will it work? Plz help me.
ReplyDeleteHi, I actually did the exam only once. So I actually don't know if going to revision classes is a must. But if you are confident that you can do it on your own, don't waste time to re learn the same lessons you did for 2 years. First findout what you missed in the first time (which concepts you didn't digest or had difficulties with) and try to learn the concepts by heart.And then if you feel like you want a teacher go to a teacher and learn the theory once again. Actually nowadays you can find so many good youtube videos. And then try to do lots of problems on that theory to make sure you truly understood the concept. I always promote self learning over wasting money and time on classes coz if you don't know how to learn on your own you are less likely to survive in the university. I hope this helps and good luck for your examination as well !!!
DeleteThank you so much Akki
ReplyDeleteHere are some Science past papers Advanced level Sri Lanka. There are all the Applied maths, Pure maths, Zoology, Botany, Physics and Chemistry past papers from 1989 to 2000.
ReplyDeletedownload link
https://www.mediafire.com/file/t9js979c80r6dc9/AL_Science_Papers_%281989-2000%29.zip/file
Best Wishes for your Exam!
Hi Akki,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the article and the above comments too. I'm writing my exams this year but inorganic chemistry is still hard for me. I'm too studying the theory first with the hope to do questions after as you did first. But, you said well, couldn't remember afer 2 or 3 days. But... are the remaining days enough for me to get 100% clarification just doing questions and revising?? Please suggest me a best idea.
Thank You.
Yes it is. If you keep doing questions at least 3 inorganic Qs per day at least within a week you will see how good you are at it. Try and let me know. Wish you best of luck for your exams dear. :)
DeleteHi akkii..
ReplyDeleteThank you for your tips and it really work well..but when I do mcq papers i always get stuck in 30,31,32... do you have any idea to improve it to 40+?
Hey nanny(or malli), You have 30+ means you already know the subject and need some polishing to get 40+. My advice is pay attention to the questions you get wrong. You will notice patterns (most probably your weak spots). All you need to do is to improve those areas and you will score 40s in no time! And good luck!
Deletenangi*
DeleteThanks alot akki..
DeleteI haven't cover my lessons yet but exam is getting closer. I need a chemistry class to cover my lessons.
ReplyDeleteHello! How can I help you?
DeleteI need a chemistry class to cover my lessons. Are you doing classes akki?
ReplyDeleteI need to cover the first 06 lessons ��
Hey! I don't do classes but I can refer you to a good friend of mine, but the class will be online. If that's okay send me your contact details and medium.
Delete