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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Chemical Education and Careers => Topic started by: jgaoxx06 on June 08, 2006, 09:50:30 AM

Title: Good ways to revise
Post by: jgaoxx06 on June 08, 2006, 09:50:30 AM
Hey, does anyone know of any really good ways to revise for Chemistry exams? I've been revising lately, but nothing seems to be going in. I'm trying a lot of different ways, including:

- drawing spider diagrams of equations and posting them on my walls
- reading notes into a tape recorder and playing them at night
- writing notes out neatly onto sheets of paper
- reading revision guides

I can't really tell if my revision is working because I've done all my past papers before, so if I do it again, I still remember the answers. Can anyone help? ???
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: Dan on June 08, 2006, 07:39:38 PM
Quote
writing notes out neatly onto sheets of paper

Do this over and over again. That technique has served me well. Try to do it without looking at you original notes, and see how much you can recall. If there's something that isn't sticking. write it out a few times, wait an hour or so and repeat. It will eventually stick. The most important thing is that you understand it - not that you can regurgitate it on command. Also, once you get into the exam room, you will probably discover that you know alot more than you thought you did, so don't get too stressed.
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: jennielynn_1980 on July 08, 2006, 03:29:25 PM
Look for books that have practice questions in them.  You could try the city library and see if they have Coles Notes or similar or if there are text books different from yours that have practice questions in them.
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: Will on July 08, 2006, 03:39:18 PM
See http://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?topic=4578.0 and fill out the questionnaire there. It'll tell you the best mothods of learning for you (hopefully).
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: Alberto_Kravina on July 08, 2006, 05:25:29 PM
See also http://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?topic=8573.msg39563
Title: Re: Good ways to REVIEW
Post by: JZ_1 on July 08, 2006, 07:01:24 PM
Sometimes it feels like nothing is going in, but in fact it is. What I do is skim over books and older tests or exams that I have taken. My method might not be good (since i don't quite remember getting an A as a final grade in any of my Chemistry classes). But for exams, depending on how many times you get to take it, try a variety of things and find which one suits you more.

By the way, I think you meant Good ways to REVIEW, not revise.  :P
Title: Re: Good ways to REVIEW
Post by: jennielynn_1980 on July 09, 2006, 01:13:47 PM
By the way, I think you meant Good ways to REVIEW, not revise.  :P

In Britain they say "revise" and "revision."  Just a different way to say review :)
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: funboy on July 09, 2006, 03:41:00 PM
gotta love colloquialisms

:)
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: skyglow1 on July 09, 2006, 06:40:08 PM
Here in new zealand we use "revise" and "revision" alot too. Never really heard of "review" being used that way :)

For me, the way to revise is writing out notes and condesnging them, then doing a TON of past paper questions for practise and experience, and looking through the mark schemes to see what answers they are looking for.
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: JZ_1 on July 09, 2006, 10:47:07 PM
Wow, in addition to learning more about chemistry, i have learned more about language and places, thanks.

When I see the word "revise", I generally think of a pice of paper full of mistakes and needs revision or changing. Wow, I learned a lot.
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: aaron_tina on July 11, 2006, 07:22:11 AM
Maybe you can do more exercise about it! ;)
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: cuongt on July 15, 2006, 07:56:31 AM
Maybe you can do more exercise about it! ;)
ROFL nice replyahahaahahah
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: zwp920 on October 18, 2006, 03:37:17 AM
Here in china ,general speaking,the method I used is ask myself the question as possible as i can make,and note it.also setup same question what i think is likely to be in the exam.
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: P on October 19, 2006, 11:47:22 AM
Quote
writing notes out neatly onto sheets of paper

Do this over and over again. That technique has served me well. Try to do it without looking at you original notes, and see how much you can recall. If there's something that isn't sticking. write it out a few times, wait an hour or so and repeat. It will eventually stick. The most important thing is that you understand it - not that you can regurgitate it on command. Also, once you get into the exam room, you will probably discover that you know alot more than you thought you did, so don't get too stressed.

I agree, but I wouldn't say they have to be neat as you arn't going to need the duplicates - go for speed and write them from memory several times quite quickly  -  take a break and then do it again.


My favorite revision sessions were spent in a field on a sunny day doing past exam papers and re writing notes from memory over a can of beer.         I figure that if I'm not enjoying the process, then I will get board and fall asleep - or just not take anything in  -  thus, the trying to make it interesting with the field, sun and beer!!
 :)
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: Bronwen Dekker on February 16, 2007, 01:38:02 PM
As a variation on the 'writing notes on a piece of paper' theme, I found it useful to put reactions into one set of categories; and then the next time I wrote them out to put them into different categories.

One type of category list might be: redox, substitution, decomposition...
Another might be: Reactions of alkenes, aldehydes...
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: charco on March 06, 2007, 06:23:14 PM
Always always always try to make lists of themes from memory. Then try and flesh them out. Check your notes to see what you have missed.

Repeat until you can do it both ways i.e. condensing your notes and expanding them

Once you have all of the info it's past paper after past paper.
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: pizza1512 on March 12, 2007, 06:46:47 PM
Doing questions from the back of each section in chemistry textbooks are actually quite helpful...  However, I think the best way to counter chemistry problems is to just state the plain obvious...

Mmm... sorry that wasn't very helpful... try finding out ways that you find easiest to digest the info...
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: AlwaysINXS on April 16, 2007, 03:10:26 AM
My chemistry teacher told me to write out my classwork in note form, put them in a display folder and revise them every night before I go to bed and the morning before the exam. He reckons the brain stews the information over in your head every night when your asleep and morning revision helps freshen them.
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: nermal on April 19, 2007, 02:54:01 AM
This will be handy for me since I'm in year 12…

……anyways, flash cards are allways good; you write out questions with the answers on the back. After a while you forget what the answers are and you can do them. As you do more (perhaps after ever chapter), you add to your collection of flash cards. Another thing I have done (as has been mentioned) is writeing out the notes into a seperate book with worked examples so if you get stuck you can look to your own notes which will be easier to understand then the ones in the text book. Passed exam papers, as also has been mentioned and I have heard sleeping on your notes is good! ;D
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: Nater11 on May 15, 2007, 11:28:40 PM
When im studying for a Chem. test(which, coincidentally im doing as we speak) i just write the equations over and over and over again. I usually fill up quite a few sheets of paper, but im always prepped for the next day
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: organoman on June 20, 2007, 03:29:19 AM
Note down all the headings on a paper and carry it with you all the time.Try to recall several times a day not really while studying but any time.May be while watching TV during breaks or ant time.And try to catch you where you are not clear or making a mistake. Don't go for exact language of text but try and go for content and include every point may be in different language. For reactions only writing and rewriting is the way as far as I know.
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: profmsg on August 01, 2007, 11:51:40 AM
i normally write short notes on each chapter  and stick them on the wall .
so that when i revise, i dont have to go through all the way ( complicated and unnecessary explanation and language) .
this brings me straight to the  required point which saves lots of time.
 after that, i try to write on my own word. if i am abled to write on my own word that mean i will be abled to write in exam....i try few times which gives me confidence at exam....

Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: organoman on August 02, 2007, 12:55:43 AM
That's true profmsg.
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: AcetylCoA on October 23, 2007, 06:26:16 AM
The best for me is to do lots of practice tests before the exam in addition to review the lessons continuously about an hour a day before going to bed.
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: Gleb on March 25, 2008, 05:25:48 AM
does anyone know how to get tape recorder on notes in there a internet website on it thats has recording on the notes or what ??? if you please help that will be much helpful  :)
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: Arkcon on March 25, 2008, 07:14:56 AM
does anyone know how to get tape recorder on notes in there a internet website on it thats has recording on the notes or what ??? if you please help that will be much helpful  :)

You might be able to find web seminars on a variety of topics, download-able to your ipod.  However, a central database, of your particular classes, is unlikely.  That would probably be an invasion of the privacy of the instructor and students.  You can make your own, or borrow a classmates, but you won't find a internet website on it thats has recording on the notes or what ???
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: Gleb on March 27, 2008, 03:27:23 AM
ok then thanks anyway  ;)
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: weiguxp on April 03, 2008, 08:42:01 PM
I personally used digital flash cards. I think there was a good one on download.com, forgot the name.

But you can included diagrams and voice on the cards, and it allows you to flip them over and see the answer on the back. All this is on the computer of course so it allows you to save paper :D
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: Lil-lindz on April 09, 2008, 03:01:18 PM
I allways find if i go through exam questions it helps because you get used to the termonology used
Also if your like me and listen to your ipod alot then record you notes on them and then when your out and about you can listen to them
Also coming up with silly stories and things like that can help to remember important information.
There are several techniques in order to help you remember things but they are very long winded, but work really well if your willing to put the small amount of work into it!!
I wont go into those techniques now, i have to hunt around for the book which contains that information, but when i do i will take you through it!
Title: Re: Good ways to REVIEW
Post by: Lilly on October 20, 2008, 07:49:42 PM
But for exams, depending on how many times you get to take it, try a variety of things and find which one suits you more.
This is definitely something one can try out. Explore what works best for you.
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: wat_lock_jamking on December 02, 2008, 10:37:23 PM
Hey, does anyone know of any really good ways to revise for Chemistry exams? I've been revising lately, but nothing seems to be going in. I'm trying a lot of different ways, including:

- drawing spider diagrams of equations and posting them on my walls
- reading notes into a tape recorder and playing them at night
- writing notes out neatly onto sheets of paper
- reading revision guides

I can't really tell if my revision is working because I've done all my past papers before, so if I do it again, I still remember the answers. Can anyone help? ???

well i usually rewrite notes on flash card and go over them study using past paers etc getting reall yhard questions to work and i do this until it gets easy i pass alot using this technique try it
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: Vidya on December 22, 2008, 10:15:47 PM
Hi
Practice makes a man perfect !!
Dont waste time in making notes and tables You wont be able to memorize them completely until you dont do questions.
Review concepts and practice questions based on that concept .Do at least 3-4 questions on each concept and it will last in your memory for long duration. :)
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: speaking silence on January 17, 2009, 01:37:03 PM
hmmm....i think so ....nothing there is left to say anymore...all wat u have need is to practice specially passed question papers...n for equations ..i must say...write them as much as your fingers permit u... ;D
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: Kaká #22 on February 18, 2009, 06:27:16 AM
Practise makes perfect my friend, that is all I can say.

My Chemistry teacher (great man he is), has a few saying that he likes to drill into our heads. I hope they help you.

Quote from: Mr Wong
Life is like a Piggy Bank. You only get out, what you put in.

Quote from: Mr Wong
This is a rock, and this is a pedal. These two things never get wet. But, I guarantee, if you put the rock, and the pedal in a bucket of water for 24 hours. IT WILL GET WET

Im sure I don't have to explain what these quotes mean. But yeh, just study harder :)

I hope I don't sound like a fool saying these quotes, but they're purely the words of wisdom of my Chemistry Teacher.

Haha, I should probably tell you guys another one. He usually tells these to "non trying" guys of my year.

Quote from: Mr Wong
How can you put your socks up, IF YOU CAN NOT PUT THEM ON

hehe. bye.
Title: Re: Good ways to revise
Post by: nucleophile on June 19, 2009, 06:52:08 AM
Stay clam and revise again and again.
Try  to question yourself and solve some sample questions to build some confidence 8)