How to Study for Dr. Maynes’ Chemistry Tests And get A’s

Notes You do take class notes, don’t you? – Helps to remember the material – Going over them refreshes your memory – Use them in conjunction with the Unit Review Notes Makes sure you look at the most important stuff

Homework Review the homework problems – Some may be questions on the test – Take notes when we go over them – Ask questions about the ones you do not understand – Keep them in your notebook for review Which is easier to do if you answered in complete sentences as you were supposed to

Classwork Introduces new concepts or provides practice May provide another way to look at the material compared to the “lectures” Again, a good source of problems for the tests Since Dr. Maynes is available, this is a good time to get one-on-one help without giving up your lunch period Keep Building Skills, Chem Quandaries and Modeling Matters – read over before test

Labs Not just a time to socialize and play Often reproduced in some way on the test – Questions – Problems/calculations – Simulated data sets Ask questions when returned Save lab reports in your notebook Review before test

Quizzes Quizzes highlight important stuff You should expect to see it again – Sometimes the same question! – Sometimes re-worded or extended Study the quizzes Make sure you know what you got wrong and what is the right answer

Dr. Maynes’ Review Notes Designed to guide your study Highlight important points Suggests definitions to emphasize Actually mentions 95 – 99% of material in questions on the test If you don’t recognize and recall something you read in the handout, find time to ask about it

The Book You are expected to have read the Unit/Chapter The best way to “read” a science textbook is to take some notes while doing so – Make believe you are making up “crib notes” on index cards – Then use the cards to study

Memorization There’s very little of chemistry to “memorize” Most of it is relationships and logic But memorize: – Certain few constants and key values – Names and symbols – Information available from the periodic Table on the wall and how to figure it out – Certain few mathematical formulas