Beat the examiners
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How to improve exam answers
Some general advice on how to improve your exam technique and how to improve your answers to exam questions on well-known problem areas. Make sure that the topic is included in your syllabus specification.
1. General advice
Many candidates, even the very good ones, lose marks unnecessarily not because they do not know the factual material or don't understand the chemical concepts, but because of the way they express themselves and use technical language - which is a pity!
One of the simplest examples of this is the use of the terms atom, molecule or ion. Some candidates use these terms interchangeably, whereas at this level you would be expected to be able to distinguish between them. For instance, the classic exam mistake is to talk about molecules when discussing properties of a substance like sodium chloride, which consists only of ions.
Here are some hints you may find useful:
• Read an exam question THREE times:
1. First of all, read the whole question (parts a,b,c etc) quickly to see what it is all about. Often one part of a question follows on another, and gives a clue to exactly what is wanted in each part.
2. Now read through the part you want to answer first and underline/ highlight the important instructions like 'state' (just an answer, no explanation), 'define' (definitions are not usually well answered), 'explain', 'compare' (both substances properties must be mentioned in the answer). Also underline any important chemical words or phrases in the question and AND note how many marks (= ticks in the examiner's marksheet?) are involved.
3. Then, quickly read through to check that you know exactly what the question is asking from you.
When you've answered the question, and you have time, check that you really have 'stated', defined', 'explained' etc, as the examiner asked!
• Avoid the use of 'it' and 'they' wherever possible - say what you mean, call things by their names.
• Keep sentences short.
• A little extra added to an answer, such as an example or mini-diagram, may just convince an examiner that you deserve all the marks, even if your explanation is not 100%.
For instance, when defining the 1st ionisation energy of Na, include the relevant equation: Na(g) -> Na+(g) + e-.
If talking about line spectra and energy levels, including a lttle labelled diagram showing an electron jump (arrow) from a higher to a lower energy level might just add the final polish to your answer - for full marks.
• Always show your working in calculations and include some words to tell the examiner what is going on. A wrong answer on its own gets you no marks, whereas some correct working shown may get you some credit - 1/3 is better than 0/3!
2. ADVICE BY TOPIC - how to answer exam questions on well-known problem areas. Make sure that the topic is included in your syllabus specification. Here are the topics so far:
ATOMIC STRUCTURE: see link Atomic structure
• Isotopes
• H-atom line spectrum and energy levels
• Orbitals and energy levels
• Filling orbitals
PERIODICITY: see link Periodicity
• Trends across the Periodic Table
• Trends across a Period.
• Trends down a Group
COVALENT STRUCTURES AND BONDING: see link Covalent bonding
• Covalent bonding
• Shapes of molecules (VSEPR theory)
METALLIC STRUCTURES AND BONDING: see link Metallic bonding
IONIC STRUCTURES AND BONDING: see link Ionic bonding
INTERMOLECULAR FORCES: see link Intermolecular forces
ENERGY CHANGES: see link Energy changes
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updated: 01 June 2007
