Hey guys, just thought i'd share my approach:
For Year 12, it's a bit different. You take differing approaches for U3 and U4.
U3:
You need a solid set of notes that cover the concepts, not too much extra detail. Try to adress each point on the study design. Remember though, Unit 3 is very applied, so these notes should be based on just the core and should help you understand the concepts. You should revise these regularly in lead up to exams. A really good thing to cover in these notes is how analytical techniques such as NMR and IR work (very complicated), and what is actually hapenning during the analysis. There is a new trend towards questions about the principles rather than just reading the spectra in Chem.
Next, make sure you read (not write too much notes) broadly. Read as much resources and study guides as possible, as breadth of knowledge in terms of being exposed to various applied situations is important for the exam.
Example: though it wouldn't have been a great idea to write notes on this, having read about catalytic converters in cars from an extension area in the textbook helped me apply knowledge that i had been exposed to in the unit 4 exam, as a question popped up on catalytic converters.
This makes it a good idea to read TSFX, other study guides etc.
Next, trial questions and trial exams. This is the most important if u want to do well. Get a good study guide or two (I recommend NEAP chem guides or the Lisachem Exam Question book – big blue one available from J&P book sellers). Use questions in these (not book questions) to prepare for SACS. Do tons of practice questions, in fact, try to finish the guides. Also, prepare heavily for SACs by reading into your practicals before hand, and thouroughly understanding the principles behind what is happening. Get a solid set of 25+ practice exams for the mid-year and do all of them in exam situation. Mark them thoroughly and record and revise your mistakes using a Log book that records mistakes under each exam. Make sure you have solid systems for each question. Record down number of Sig Figs for each data set for each analysis question next to the question during the exam. Develop a solid and memorised fool proof step by step technique for reading spectra. Write sample answer structures for the common questions in your log book.
Alternatively, just remember that when answering a question just answer all parts of it, in logical order, using chemistry language - I would say there are no real tricks as such, Chem examiners will try and GIVE you marks rather than take them off (Thushan).U4:
The differences are: Write notes on the bare fundamental s only, no extension. Very summarised.
Ready broadly, but on only the topics that broad reading is required (things like equilibrium are very repetitive, and you should be exposed to enough through exams). So read broadly on only electrochemical cells (TSFX, study guides, textbook etc.) and methods of energy production (advantages and disadvantages, efficiency etc.).
Not us much time for study guides, so only try to do some of the questions.
Do 15-20 trial exams. Not 25+, or else you wont have enough time for maths/eng/others. Persevere with the log book, it's the number one score maximising technique. When reading up on a new question, ask urself "have i made a mistake on this before?". This will help minimise errors.
Good luck, and keep a positive mindset.
EDIT: Discussion is welcome, also, i will most probably be doing chem tuitiion in 2012. PM if interested.
Regards, Istafa