HOW I GOT A* IN A LEVEL CHEMISTRY | top tips + best websites & resources | ACE your chemistry exams

Lulu Halim
2 Sept 202209:12
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this educational YouTube video, Ella shares her top tips and resources for achieving an A-star in A-level Chemistry. She emphasizes the importance of using resources like the website 'cambridgeigcse.com' for simplified notes and 'alevelchemistry.co.uk' for practice questions. Ella advises using flashcards for memorization, focusing on understanding concepts rather than just memorizing, and mastering required practicals. She also stresses the necessity of practicing past papers and maintaining a consistent study schedule. Ella's final recommendation is to utilize 'alevelchemistry.co.uk', which she found incredibly helpful in her own preparation for A-levels.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Use the website 'cambridgeigcse.com' for simplified and well-organized notes that cover AQA and OCR syllabuses.
  • 🃏 Utilize flashcards and active recall techniques to memorize equations and reactions, using platforms like Quizlet or Anki.
  • 🧠 Focus on understanding concepts rather than just memorizing, which helps in easier memorization and answering questions.
  • 🔬 Emphasize practical knowledge, including the use of apparatus and understanding of practical steps, as it is often tested in exams.
  • 📉 Memorize basic equations in chemistry, such as moles, concentration, and yield, as they are fundamental to solving complex problems.
  • 📝 Practice is crucial for A-level chemistry; use resources like 'physicsandmathstutor.com' and 'alevelchemistry.co.uk' for questions and past papers.
  • 📑 Maintain a consistent note-taking habit throughout the year to avoid last-minute cramming.
  • 📚 Regularly revise notes to ensure a thorough understanding of the material before exams.
  • 📉 Continuously practice questions to understand the exam scheme and identify areas of strength and weakness.
  • ⏰ Develop an exam timetable to ensure comprehensive coverage of all topics and avoid forgetting to study any area.
Q & A

  • What is the main topic of Ella's video?

    -Ella's video is about sharing her top tips and resources for achieving an A-star in A-level Chemistry.

  • Why is A-level Chemistry considered hard according to Ella?

    -A-level Chemistry is considered hard due to high grade boundaries and the complexity of the subject matter, which many students find daunting.

  • What is the first resource Ella recommends for A-level Chemistry students?

    -The first resource Ella recommends is 'Chemguide', a website with simplified notes for A-level Chemistry for AQA, Excel, and OCR.

  • How does Chemguide simplify the study of A-level Chemistry according to Ella?

    -Chemguide simplifies A-level Chemistry by providing notes that are already condensed and organized, highlighting key information and equations that need to be memorized.

  • What study method does Ella suggest for memorizing equations and reactions in Chemistry?

    -Ella suggests using flashcards and active recall methods to memorize equations and reactions in Chemistry.

  • Which platforms does Ella mention for creating flashcards?

    -Ella mentions Quizlet and Anki as platforms that can be used for creating flashcards.

  • What is the importance of understanding concepts in Chemistry according to Ella?

    -Understanding concepts in Chemistry is crucial as it helps students to answer questions more effectively and makes memorization of equations and reactions easier.

  • Why is it important to work on practicals in Chemistry according to Ella?

    -Working on practicals is important because a significant portion of exam papers includes questions on practical experiments, apparatus usage, and understanding of reactions.

  • What does Ella emphasize about mastering basic equations in Chemistry?

    -Ella emphasizes that mastering basic equations like moles, concentration, and yield is essential for handling complex questions and calculations in A-level Chemistry.

  • What is Ella's golden tip for A-level Chemistry students?

    -Ella's golden tip is to practice questions regularly, which is crucial for understanding the exam scheme and identifying areas of strength and weakness.

  • Which website does Ella highly recommend for practicing A-level Chemistry questions?

    -Ella highly recommends 'alevelchemistry.co.uk' for practicing A-level Chemistry questions, as it offers a wide range of questions and past papers.

  • What additional tips does Ella provide for A-level Chemistry students?

    -Ella advises students to keep up with lessons from the start, regularly do practice questions, and have an exam timetable to ensure comprehensive revision.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Top Tips for A-Level Chemistry Success

Ella introduces her YouTube channel and the purpose of the video: sharing her top tips and resources for achieving an A* in A-Level Chemistry. She acknowledges the subject's difficulty, with high grade boundaries, and offers guidance for both Year 12 starters and Year 13 students who are delving into more complex topics. Ella promises that the video will be beneficial, especially with her final tip revealing an incredibly helpful website for A-Level Chemistry preparation. She emphasizes the importance of understanding concepts over mere memorization and suggests using a variety of resources such as Camera Virus for simplified notes, flashcards for memorization, and active recall techniques.

05:02
🔍 In-Depth Study Strategies for A-Level Chemistry

The second paragraph delves deeper into specific strategies for excelling in A-Level Chemistry. Ella recommends using Camera Virus for its simplified and well-organized notes, which have been instrumental in her studies. She advises on the importance of memorizing equations and reactions using flashcards and active recall methods, and understanding core concepts rather than just memorizing facts. Ella also stresses the significance of mastering practical skills and understanding the rationale behind each step in required practicals, as this knowledge is crucial for answering exam questions. She provides a comprehensive guide on how to approach practicals, basic equations, and the importance of consistent practice with resources like physics and math system, alevelchemistry.co.uk, and past papers from the AQA board website.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡A-Level Chemistry
A-Level Chemistry is a subject studied at the high school level in the UK, typically taken by students in their final years of secondary education. It is known for its challenging curriculum and high grade boundaries, which means students must achieve exceptionally well to earn top grades. In the video, the presenter shares her strategies for excelling in this subject, making it a central theme.
💡Grade Boundaries
Grade boundaries refer to the minimum marks required to achieve a particular grade in an examination. In the context of A-Level Chemistry, they are mentioned as being 'really high,' indicating that students need to score near the top of the possible range to secure the highest grades. This concept is important as it sets the stage for the tips provided in the video, which aim to help students overcome this challenge.
💡Resources
Resources in the video refer to the study materials and tools that the presenter found helpful in achieving an A-Star in A-Level Chemistry. These include websites, flashcards, and practical guides. The term is central to the video's message as it emphasizes the importance of using the right materials to support learning and exam preparation.
💡Camera Virus
Camera Virus is a website mentioned in the video that provides simplified notes for A-Level Chemistry, specifically for AQA and OCR exam boards. The notes are praised for their clarity and organization, making them an essential resource for students. The term is used to illustrate a specific tool that the presenter found beneficial for mastering the subject matter.
💡Flashcards
Flashcards are a study technique where information is presented on cards, typically used for memorization and recall. In the video, the presenter recommends using flashcards for memorizing equations and reactions in chemistry. This method is highlighted as a key strategy for reinforcing memory and understanding of complex chemistry concepts.
💡Active Recall
Active recall is a learning method where students actively attempt to remember information without looking at the material, which is known to enhance memory and understanding. The presenter suggests using flashcards in conjunction with active recall to improve memorization of chemistry equations and reactions, emphasizing its effectiveness for A-Level Chemistry.
💡Conceptual Understanding
Conceptual understanding refers to the ability to grasp the underlying principles and ideas of a subject, rather than just memorizing facts. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding concepts in chemistry, such as electron movement in organic chemistry or electrode reactions in electrochemistry, to answer exam questions effectively.
💡Required Practicals
Required Practicals are mandatory experiments that students must perform and understand as part of their A-Level Chemistry course. The video stresses the importance of having a thorough knowledge of these practicals, including the use of apparatus and the reasons behind certain steps, as they are often tested in exams.
💡Basic Equations
Basic Equations in the context of A-Level Chemistry refer to fundamental mathematical formulas used in chemical calculations, such as those involving moles, concentration, and yield. The presenter advises students to know these equations by heart and understand them deeply, as they form the basis for solving more complex problems in the subject.
💡Practice Questions
Practice questions are an essential part of exam preparation, allowing students to apply their knowledge and identify areas for improvement. The video highlights the importance of regularly working through practice questions in A-Level Chemistry, using various online resources to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
💡Exam Timetable
An exam timetable is a schedule that outlines when and how a student should study for their upcoming exams. In the video, the presenter recommends creating an exam timetable to ensure that all topics are covered and to avoid last-minute cramming, which can be detrimental to performance.
Highlights

Ella shares her top tips and resources for achieving an A* in A-Level Chemistry.

A-Level Chemistry is known for high grade boundaries and difficulty, making it a feared subject.

The video is aimed at both Year 12 students starting A-Level Chemistry and Year 13 students advancing in the subject.

Camera Virus is recommended for its simplified notes and organization, essential for A-Level Chemistry preparation.

Camera Virus notes eliminate the need for AQA textbook, streamlining study with pre-simplified content.

Flashcards and active recall are suggested for memorizing equations and reactions in Chemistry.

Quizlet and Anki are mentioned as useful tools for creating and using flashcards.

Understanding concepts is emphasized over memorization for effective learning in Chemistry.

The importance of grasping organic chemistry mechanisms and electron movements is discussed.

Electrochemistry is identified as a challenging topic, where understanding concepts simplifies the learning process.

Practical knowledge in Chemistry is crucial, with required practicals and apparatus uses needing thorough understanding.

Camera Virus is praised again for its practical notes, aiding in understanding apparatus and procedures.

Mastering basic equations like moles, concentration, and yield is fundamental for tackling complex A-Level Chemistry calculations.

Practice questions are deemed vital for A-Level preparation, with specific websites recommended for Chemistry.

Physics and Math Tute, along with alevelchemistry.co.uk, are highlighted as excellent resources for practice questions and past papers.

Studymind and AQA's official website are also mentioned as useful for accessing past papers.

The importance of not falling behind, consistent practice, and having an exam timetable are shared as general study tips.

An exam timetable is emphasized for ensuring comprehensive coverage of all topics before exams.

Transcripts

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