Study Hints for Chemistry

  1. General Hints
  2. Complete your homework on time. Since chemistry is sequential, late work means that you will not have mastered an old concept before the next one is presented.
  3. Review your notes and text assignment before attempting the assigned work. Examples are given in the text for most types of assignments and should guide you through the first example. Then do the Self-CheckExercises without referring to your notes.
  4. Check answers in the back of the book or on the answer key posted in the chemistry room. Get help from the teacher if you do not understand your mistakes.
  1. Reading Your Text
  2. Flip through your text and make sure that you understand its layout. The Appendices in the back of the book are full of useful information. In addition to a glossary and an index, there are math reviews, information on scientific notation, graphing, conversion factors, and naming common ions, to name a few. In addition, you will find solutions to the Self-Check Exercises and answers to selected End-to-Chapter Problems.
  3. When you are assigned a reading you will be expected to do the following as part of your assignment before doing any of the End-to-Chapter Problems.

Big Picture: Skim the section(s) assigned, look at the headings and pictures. What is/are the big idea(s) covered by the reading?

Nitty Gritty: Now read the assignment and take notes on key concepts, vocabulary, and do the Self-Check Exercises andFocus Questions as you get to them. For each section you are assigned to read, you should write the number and heading, followed by the notes to that section.

When you are reading don’t forget to read the features that are added to the text to make it more interesting and informative and which make connections to your lives and surroundings, i.e. Top Ten Lists, Celebrity Chemical, and Chemical Impact.

Questions: Think about what you have just read. What do you not yet understand and what do you need help on? Write two columns and label them “What do I get?” and “What don’t I get”. Under each of these headings be descriptive about what you do and don’t understand from the reading. Be specific! This is a very important part of your mental process and your homework will not be complete if it isn’t done.

Problems: Only after you have done the previous things should you do the assigned problems, either at the end of the chapter, or on a worksheet you may be given. Use pencil so you can correct errors. Check your answers before or after class.

  1. Studying Notes

You need to review lecture notes as soon as possible after taking them. Research shows that you will greatly increase your retention if you follow a few easy steps.

  1. Reread your notes and fill in any missing information.
  2. Use a highlighter on important ideas and definitions.
  3. Look at your text notes or the text for further information to fill in anything you are unclear about.
  4. Redo any examples or problems given on a piece of scratch paper.
  5. Mark and note questions in the note margins.
  6. Once you have completed the above, write a short summary of the notes at the bottom of the next page. See if you can recall the important details.
  1. Preparing for Exams

Many students who believe that they are poor test takers have difficulty on exams because they either haven’t learned the material well, or they have poor study habits.

By following the previous suggestions, students can learn and master the material they are expected to know. Anxiety can be relieved if you go into an exam confident that you can handle anything that is thrown at you. Here is how you can gain the needed confidence.

  1. Monitor your understanding as you go along throughout a unit. If you are having difficulties with a concept, come in for help right away. Do not wait until just before the test to come in and then expect enlightenment.
  2. As you prepare for a test, reread your notes and homework assignments. Make sure you can solve all the problems from class and homework.
  3. Before most tests you will be given a practice test. This is not a worksheet, but instead a powerful diagnostic tool for you. Take the practice test under simulated test-like conditions. Use only what you would be able to use on an exam. Do not rely on your notes or book for help.
  4. Grade yourself on the exam. Frequently the answers to any problems involving calculations will be given to you, so you can check your work. This will tell you where you are having difficulties and how you need to focus your energy the night before the test. If you do well on the practice test, you will have confidence going into the exam. If you do poorly, it means you are not yet ready for the exam and you need to get help and spend more time studying.
  5. You will be surprised how much better you feel going into a test if you are confident you can solve the problems without looking at your notes or your book. Most people wait until the test to see if they can do this. It is no wonder they have test anxiety!