How to Succeed in Your New Chemistry Class

07 Sep How to Succeed in Your New Chemistry Class

It may come as no surprise that most of the students who do well in chemistry once had a hard time with the subject. Chemistry is a multifaceted subject that incorporates mathematics and science concepts. The subject is also incremental, and topics build upon each as you advance in various levels. For this reason, it is a good habit to know the tips you will need to succeed early on in your chemistry school life.

You can join chemistry tuition classes to help you learn and internalize foundational concepts which will help you succeed in school. At the Physics Café, we have some of the best chemistry tutors to enable you to improve your grades and maybe choose a career in a science-related field.

Tips to Follow & Succeed as a Chemistry Student

Take Time to Read

Chemistry textbooks do not have a lot of filler materials. In them, you will find paragraphs giving the concept and showing its application to help you understand. You need to take your time as you read the textbooks while highly engaging your brain. Think about its sentence and its application.

You can ask questions such as whether what you are reading is making sense to you or not. You also need to link it to what you know and see if it fits which fosters your understanding. Additionally, it’s good to note the important points from what you have read. You can read before your classes or chemistry tuition and note down any questions which you can ask your teacher. Reading before the class begins offers many benefits compared to reading afterwards.

Memorize Concepts

You cannot do without memorizing a lot of the material in chemistry. However, you can avoid verbatim memorization as it is not necessary. It is better to understand the basic concepts and meaning of chemistry vocabulary and constructing your own definition.

In memorizing, you need to visualize the concepts and ideas rather than the textbook’s words. Thus, it’s proper to have proper storage of the information in your brain as it allows you to retrieve that information whenever you need it.

You need to find logical material to memorize and within a framework. For example, the periodic table in chemistry is within a framework. Frameworks and mnemonic devices when studying chemistry help boost your understanding of the topics. They set up neural pathways for easier memorizing. Once you have memorized the information, you also need to ensure you retain the information. Studies show that 30% of memorized information is lost within the first day and 90% within a month if the memory is not reinforced.

If you want to succeed and retain the information you read during your additional chemistry classes, you can follow the following methods.

Frequent Repetition

As you study and memorize concepts and ideas, you can write down brief notes on flashcards which you can frequently refer to boost your memory. You can repeat the concepts verbally to yourself to improve memory.

Cross Reference

Apart from spaced repetition, you can improve your memory through the memory palace technique. With this method, you need to associate what you study with a location you are most familiar with. Then, place the information that you study in this spaces which you can retrieve whenever you need the information.

Write Down Notes

Whether you are going for regular classes or chemistry tuition, you learn new information with every new class. During those classes, the teachers will let you know the information that you need to write down. They also help you organize the information logically. As you take down these notes, they should be accurate and neat. Doing this ensures you are reading correct information when going through the notes later.

Often students avoid taking down notes they do not understand. That is not effective. You need to write all notes. You can understand the information later as you study. However, you can also go through the information with the chemistry tutor for a further breakdown of the subject.

Notably, you do not have to write down everything. Reading your textbook before the class begins can guide you on the information that you need to write.

Understand the Concepts

Chemistry like most science subjects is cumulative. Therefore, you have to get the proper foundation. If you want to do well in chemistry, you need to know the concepts. You can use memorizing techniques to retain this information. Since chemistry has practical applications, you can link the information or concepts that you read with real-life examples. In this case, graphics and illustrations are helpful as they help you picture what the teacher is talking about. The better you understand the chemistry concepts the better you will do in class.

Practice to Solve the Problems

We started by saying that chemistry incorporates mathematics skills in its topics. Do not neglect to study your mathematics as it will help you bring together the concepts and the information that you study. Additionally, just mathematics the more you practice and solve chemistry problems the better you become.

Ensure you understand the reason for each step in each formula. When you have this understanding, you can succeed in your chemistry class. Make use of chemistry tutors and study groups to form the best foundation for the subject.

Do Your Homework and Revise Frequently

Often students neglect their homework and hope to do well. When it comes to chemistry, you need to do the assignments if you want to succeed. Additionally, revising frequently also helps you internalize the concepts and boosts your memory.

Conclusion

When it comes to chemistry, active participation is a prerequisite for success. As a student, you need to jump in with both feet. Being partially engaged will not yield many fruits. Ready your textbook before classes and after, keep easy-to-read and understand notes and work on your memorizing skills.