1. Exam Technique F325

2. General Advice Watch the wording you use: don’t say atoms when you mean ions! Don’t contradict yourself in an answer Check you have read ALL of the question!! Look at the number of marks available: generally 1 mark = 1 point If asked for a name use WORDS not formula (unless you are 110% sure!!!)

3. The specification Pp52-61 are invaluable! Use this extensively to check and double check you have covered everything! Learn the wording on the specificiation for various terms Make sure you can explain all the ‘explains’

4. Definitions Make a list for each topic and learn them thoroughly Eg Lattice Enthalpy, SEP, buffer....use the cards on the wiki

5. Calculations You get follow through marks so even if you think your answer to part (i) is wrong – KEEP GOING! Show your working out – you can get marks for this if you make a calculator error! Check if you are asked for 3 sig. figs OR decimal places – if you don’t give your answer to this when asked you will lose a mark! Look out for ‘appropriate’ numbers of SF

6. Practical Work Dig out all the practicals we have done this term and go through with a tooth comb! Make sure you can do all the calculations Learn the equations and observations Explain what has gone on during the practical Look at the examples in the specification in particular

7. Rates Six graph shapes to learn Units – practise! Learn a couple of famous equations and mechanisms

8. Using formulae Learn your valencies, incorrect formulae at A2 are a big of a giveaway – eg. Sodium carbonate, phosphoric acid, ethanedioic acid Only use formula if asked for it e.g. balanced equation – you can misspell a name and get the mark but a mistake in the formula loses you the mark: –Diecrowmate got a mark Cr 2 O 7 - didn’t!!!

9. Equilibria Make sure you mention both rate and yield in ‘best conditions’ questions Revise AS rate of reactions stuff

10. Acids and bases Learn the list/flow chart of equations with rearrangements if necessary Practise acid – conjugate base pairs with any old acids and bases Learn the qualitative explanation of how a buffer works Practise drawing titration curves

11. Lattice enthalpy Practise drawing both types of BH cycles until you can do it without mistakes Make sure you can explain why one compound has a more negative LE than another

12. Transition Elements Learn the colours and shapes! Learn examples of ligand substitution and precipitation Learn examples of stereoisomers Look carefully at Kstab equations and practise

13. Redox Make sure you know your Roman Numerals When writing half equations or redox equations, remember to a) you can only add water and protons to help balance and b) check the charges add up right and left hand sides

14. The Last Question Does not have to be done last! Usually has a lot of marks Usually a redox calculation problem You can pick up lots of easy marks even if you have no idea how to get the last answer Number of moles of the one we know most about Stoichiometric ratio Number of moles of the one we are interested in Final step

15. Odd bits to learn… Advantages and disadvantages of Fuel Cells Advantages and disadvantages of FCVs Manganate half equation