On an ongoing basis, pupils should review their class notes daily, and make their own revision notes weekly. They have been given a revision planner and profile sheet to set targets and chart their progress in Chemistry.

Pupils will have 9 ink exercises throughout the year from past paper questions. These are given out a week in advance so pupils can spend time on them, look over their notes and attend supported study if they find them difficult.

There are 9 Practical activities which are carried out in class but can be examined so pupils should have revision notes/mind maps of these and ensure they fully understand and remember them.

All pupils have access to either scholar (own passwords) or www.evans2chemweb.co.uk. Username Rosshall, Password Crookston and should be accessing these resources every week.

All pupils at Higher are given a folder of past paper questions including full written explanations and answers. Pupils should be working on these every week and by their prelim pupils should have already completed all past paper questions from standard grade, Unit 1 MC/A/B, Unit 2 MC/A/B, Unit 1+2 MC/A/B. These were given out at the start of the year. They should now be working on Unit 3 MC/A/B and all past papers from 2000-2012 and any calculations they find difficult.

Every pupil has full written answers to all past paper questions. They need to ensure they check word choice with answers particularly for problem solving and A type questions. They should also be checking the explanations for Multichoice questions to ensure it wasn’t a lucky guess.

If pupil’s have failed any nab/advanced assessment or prelim supported study on a Wednesday/Thursday is compulsory. I would expect all Higher and Int 2 pupils to be attending supported study regularly throughout the year and bringing questions they are having problems with. It is too late to wait till just before the exam.

A large number of pupils find calculations difficult, they should regularly go back to them and practice the extra examples they have been given.

Once the prelim has been assessed, a final decision will be made about which exam each pupil will sit. If your child has failed to achieve 40% in the prelim or failed a NAB, they will sit Intermediate 2. This is to prevent the regrettable and disappointing outcome where pupils achieve a “No Award” in Chemistry in August.

Can I take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of your child’s Chemistry progress, and to wish your child every success in the forthcoming exams. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any concerns or queries.