Guide to Scoring High in IGCSE Chemistry

Introduction

• Speaker: Arian
• Achievement: Scored 96 in IGCSE Chemistry
• Goal: Share strategies to achieve high scores in IGCSE Chemistry

Planning and Syllabus

• Use the Official Syllabus:
  • Essential for tracking topics you'll be tested on.
  • Helps avoid outdated textbook topics.
  • Identify removed and newly added topics.
• Benefits:
  • Avoid confusion with past paper questions.
  • Identify topics like hydrogen fuel cells and chemistry of the environment, which are new and crucial.

Resource Utilization

• Textbooks:
  • Most efficient resource for thorough preparation.
  • Includes crucial details, even for seemingly minor questions.
  • Includes unit-wise practice problems for incremental learning.
• Online Resources:
  • Zotes: Concise notes for last-minute revision.
  • Save My Exams: In-depth notes and topical questions.
  • Nerd Cafe: Detailed notes.
  • Physics and Math Tutor: Notes, flashcards, and topical questions.

Key Topics to Focus On

• Memorization:
  • Atomic and mass numbers of common elements.
  • Cation, anion, and gas tests from the notes for qualitative analysis.
  • Vital for exams as certain tables are only available in specific papers.
• Numerical Problems:
  • Focus on stoichiometry.
  • Pay attention to unit conversions.
  • Common conversions: mole per dm³, g per dm³, cm³, and dm³.
• Organic Chemistry:
  • Viewed as challenging but logical once understood.
  • Utilize mind maps to connect different reactions and functional groups.

Common Theory Paper Questions

• Frequent Questions:
  • Properties of transition elements.
  • Conditions for the contact process or Haber process.
• Preparation:
  • Use official mark schemes to know what is expected.
  • Maintain a notebook or spreadsheet for common questions and answers.

Past Papers

• Importance:
  • Solve at least the last 5 years of past papers.
  • Identify trends and prepare accordingly.
• Strategy:
  • Mark uncertain questions for review.
  • Focus on understanding the required responses via mark schemes.
  • Balance practice across all three paper types.

Practical Paper (ATP) Tips

• Syllabus Document:
  • Contains a section on practical assessment.
  • Lists required reactions and experiments.
  • Familiarize with apparatus and reagents.
• Command Words:
  • Understand words like design, discuss, analyze.
  • Refer to descriptions in the syllabus to guide responses.

Conclusion

• Summary: Following these strategies, with the right resources and preparation, achieving a high score in IGCSE Chemistry can be straightforward.
• Engagement: Viewers are encouraged to subscribe and leave questions or success stories in the comments.

Note: This guide reflects Arian's personal strategies and experiences with IGCSE Chemistry.