Organic Chemistry made easy!

Many A level chemistry students dread those long essay questions because the worry that what they have spent long nights cramming for will simply not appear. Instead they will have some dodgy, obscure question on a topic that they barely understand.

Remember always revise smarter not longer. Organic chemistry questions tend to revolve around a few simple ideas;

1. Recall; Generally the easiest questions where you simply remember a technique, a formula, an equation or similar and write it down. As these questions simply test your memory with no application they tend to earn the lowest marks (between 1-3)
2. Problem solving; How easy you find these questions depend on how well you have practiced similar questions. You recognise problem solving questions because you are required to apply a formula or a technique to arrive at a solution. These sort of questions tend to have a "tree and branches" or "parent and child element" to them, with a,b,c and d. As a result, they tend to earn medium marks (around 5-6 marks)
3. Analysis; Similar to problem solving in that you apply a technique and may do calculations but analysis requires interpretation of the data presented.
4. Methodology; These are specific questions that apply a learned technique to the synthesis (production) of an organic product. You will probably recognise them better as reaction mechanism questions involving concepts such as nucleophilic or electrophilic behaviour, hydrolysis, condensation e.t.c. The best way to deal with these questions is to learn the technique that is common to the concept. For instance, all nucleophiles will behave the same way and have a similar reaction mechanism. Once you have learnt and practiced one nucleophile, the same technique can apply to all nucleophiles. These questions tend to be good medium mark earners too.
5. Essay: Finally, the high earning questions are essay types that incorporate some or all of the previous four ideas mentioned above. A typical essay question will revolve around a specified topic. Not only are you required to have knowledge of the given topic you are also expected to apply this knowledge in a theoretical setting. Typical marks are upwards of 10 and can decide whether you end up with an A or a C!

Now that you have been through the main ideas you may find it helpful to group your revision topics accordingly. The advantage of doing this is obvious. It will help you target the high earning questions and become more familiar with the answers expected of you.

Also take time to go through past questions and their mark schemes, paying particular attention to what is acceptable and what is not, e.g. using display formula when you are specifically instructed to show skeletal formula.

For more help and advice please leave a comment. Good Luck with your exam preparation!