Aids to Chemistry
Francine Taylor Campbell, Contributor

WELCOME AGAIN to another chemistry lesson series. To students planning to take this exam in June, we sincerely hope that you will work hard to be successful in this subject.

In this lesson, we will critically look at the syllabus and see how well the information presented there can help both students and teachers.

POINTS TO NOTE

* The syllabus outlines exactly what should be taught and to what depth the relevant concepts should be explored. Once the syllabus outline is followed, the student can be assured that they will be adequately prepared for their exams.

* Examinations are designed to test specific areas; namely, knowledge and comprehension, use of knowledge and experimental skills. Thus, students must know and be trained to remember facts, use these facts to solve new problems and be competent at the experimental skills of observation, recording, making measurements, planning and designing and drawing conclusions.

Students must note that knowledge and comprehension carries 45 per cent of the exam weighting, use of knowledge 35 per cent and experimental skills 20 per cent.

* The SBA component is valued at 20 per cent, so students must make use of this situation to gain the maximum number of points from this area.

* Remember that you are not only studying chemistry to pass an exam, but it will help in application for life.

* The syllabus is divided into three main sections ­ principles of chemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry and the options section. Students must ensure that they are knowledgeable in all three areas so as not to be at a disadvantage in their exams.

Remember that section C of Paper Three deals specifically with the option topics hence students can prepare fully for this beforehand.

Based on examination reports, students are continuing to do poorly due to inadequate grasping of basic concepts and chemistry principles.

For this year's series of lessons, we will attempt to go through these basic concepts and lay the foundation for understanding in this subject. Students will be given exercises at the end of every lesson to ensure that they continue to practice and test their knowledge and understanding of the lessons taught. Every effort will be made to have students gain the prerequisite knowledge to understand later topics.

* Francine Taylor-Campbell is an independent contributor.