1. Focus on key concepts not just memorisation
Make sure you really understand things like bonding, periodic trends, equilibrium, stoichiometry, and reaction mechanisms.
2. Practise problems Chemistry exams are heavy on application.
Work through past papers, textbook problems, or practise sheets – and check your answers.
3. Write formulas and definitions on a cheat sheet
Even if you can’t bring it into the exam, rewriting common equations (ideal gas law, molarity, equilibrium constants, etc.) helps commit them to memory.
4. Use active recall
Quiz yourself instead of just re-reading notes. Flashcards (physical or digital) are great for this.
5. Break it down into topics
Spend a short burst of time (say 20-30 minutes) on each area (e.g. organic -> inorganic -> physical -> calculations). Rotate between them to keep fresh.
6. Work backwards
Take a solved example and cover the steps – try to re-derive the answer on your own.
7. Understand common mistakes
Be mindful of units, significant figures, and balancing equations – these are easy marks to lose.
Happy studying!!
