To succeed in your college chemistry course, you must study hard and prepare accordingly. Even if you’re naturally gifted in chemistry or if your high school teacher was amazing, you’ll need to make some changes to your study habits to achieve success in your college-level classes. Here are ten tips that will help you to succeed as you embark on studying chemistry for college courses.
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1) Know how your professors test
To perform well in your chemistry class, you’ll need to take a more active role than other students. Professors are notorious for giving tests that aren’t representative of what they say they will be, but knowing how your professor prefers to test can help you approach studying and practicing with an edge. For example, if your professor likes to have five multiple-choice questions with four answer options, it might be wise to study these types of questions so you know exactly where to focus your efforts.
2) Start studying early
Do you have a test coming up? Pull up your schedule, find out what time your exam is, and then set a reminder on your phone so you don’t forget. If you’re taking a closed-book exam, start studying at least a week before. If it’s an open-book exam, I say take advantage of what little help you can get. As far as study habits go, most of them fall into two main categories: review and synthesis. Reviewing involves rereading material from class while synthesizing involves looking at that same material and trying to come up with new ways to apply it. Both are important; neither should be neglected.
3) Practice using all tools available
If you’re looking to ace your chemistry classes, you must take advantage of all learning tools available. No matter what subject you’re studying, there are several useful applications and websites out there. The vast majority of these tools can be accessed completely free of charge. If you haven’t already, take some time today to visit AppSumo or StartupStash and download any application that looks promising.
4) Get organized
The first step in studying chemistry is getting organized. Set aside some time every week or month to go through your notes and organize them by topic or chapter. You don’t have to be an organizational expert—just make sure you know where your homework, class notes, syllabus, textbook, study guides, and practice tests are so you can get back to them when it’s time.
5) Read the textbook
This seems like a no-brainer, but how many students actually read their textbooks? If you’re looking to retain information, it might be a good idea to open that book and let it soak in. Read chapters ahead of time and highlight the main ideas. Even if you don’t understand all of what you’re reading at first, remember that studying is an active process—you have to engage with your materials and come back again and again before they really begin to stick.
6) Review, but not too much
If you’re taking an introductory chemistry course, spend time every day reviewing your class notes and textbook. Be careful not to burn yourself out by studying too much, though—if you do, you’ll end up procrastinating more and doing worse on exams. Aim for at least 20 minutes of study time daily (but if possible, spread it out throughout the day). If you’re still struggling with a topic after several hours of studying, go back over your notes or look over flashcards.
7) Test yourself regularly
Use exams from previous classes as practice tests. If you don’t know what was on a test, then use it as an opportunity to learn about chemistry. Try studying with flashcards and drawing diagrams of molecules. Go over old homework assignments and try completing them without your textbook or notes. Tests are a great way to check your comprehension of concepts and see if you’re ready for exams by evaluating your ability to recall important information, identify core concepts, understand connections between topics and draw conclusions from new information.
8) Work with a tutor, if necessary
A chemistry tutor can help make sure you’re on track and catch any mistakes before they become big issues. There are several ways you can find a tutor, including working with your school or university or by using an online service like Chegg Tutors. By using Chegg Tutors, you’ll work with a qualified expert that will prepare a personalized learning plan just for you.
9) Ask questions in class
Asking questions is one of the most important things you can do in class. It shows your interest in chemistry and helps you understand what’s going on. When you ask a question, it also signals to other students that they should be paying attention and participating as well. Furthermore, if you ask great questions, your professor will want to call on you more often—giving you a chance to showcase your knowledge. So come prepared with some good ones!
10) Eat well and get enough sleep
Nutrition and sleep are two basic, fundamental building blocks of health. While your daily schedule may not always leave room for a large, three-course meal or plenty of shut-eye, small measures can make a big difference in how you feel and perform when it comes time to study. Try filling up on healthy foods like fruit and veggies at lunch, taking short breaks throughout your workday to walk around and stretch your legs, and going to bed early each night so you’re well-rested in the morning.
Last Words:
While some people believe that you either have chemistry aptitude or you don’t, that’s not true. The truth is, you can develop your skills with work and practice. Here are ten strategies that will help you succeed in your coursework while helping you maintain sanity in a stressful situation.