Effective exam strategy in Chemistry A-level

Based on AQA and OCR examiner reports, here are academically sound exam strategies:

Strategy:  the planned approach and techniques a student uses to maximize their performance in an examination.

Key Idea: 

Remember, the strategies you apply must be personal to YOU.  Pay attention to the type of error you make during revision and practise and formulate your strategy accordingly! 

Reading and Understanding Questions

·       Read carefully - Many marks lost through not noticing key details (e.g., Period 3 not Period 2, asking for ionic radius not atomic radius)

·       Identify command words - "Explain" requires reasoning, "State" requires facts only, "Calculate" requires working shown

·       Use information given - Questions often state key information (e.g., "there is a double bond") that students overlook

Answer Precision

·       Learn definitions exactly - Don't paraphrase standard definitions (enthalpy of formation, enthalpy of combustion, etc.). Mark schemes require specific wording

·       Be concise and focused - Examiners want short, to-the-point answers that hit marking points, not lengthy explanations with "waffle"

·       Use correct terminology - "Ionic radius" not "atomic radius" in ionic contexts; "rate of forward/reverse reactions" not just "rate"

Calculations

·       Show all working - Even if the final answer is wrong, you can gain method marks

·       Write out expressions first - E.g., write the Kc or Ka expression even if not asked, as it often carries a mark and helps structure your calculation

·       Check units - Convert kJ to J, check pressure units, state final units correctly

·       Pay attention to stoichiometry - Use correct coefficients from equations

·       Watch for sign errors - Exothermic reactions need negative signs

Diagrams and Structures

·       Be precise with diagrams - Hydrogen bonds must be linear (O-H···O), lone pairs must be shown where required, dipoles correctly placed

·       Draw systematically - For hydrogen bonding, draw the O-H···O first, then build molecules around it

·       Show detail required - Don't assume examiners will "know what you mean"

Time Management

·       Plan multi-step calculations - Identify what you need to find first 

·       Don't get stuck - Move on and return to difficult questions

·       Use mark allocations - 1 mark ≈ 1 key point, adjust detail accordingly

Working with Mark Schemes 

·       Practice with mark schemes - Familiarize yourself with how examiners award marks and what specific information they're looking for

·       Identify marking points - Learn to spot what makes an answer "complete" for the examiner

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

·       Writing in your own words when a learned definition is required 

·       Not reading the question carefully enough

·       Missing negative signs in exothermic calculations

·       Imprecise diagram drawing

·       Using wrong terminology (atomic vs ionic radius)

·       Not showing working in calculations

·       Giving vague explanations without specific detail

The overarching message from examiner reports: 

·      Precision 

·      Clarity

·      Attention to detail

GOOD LUCK!