I really want to make an A on my next organic test, anyone help?

[BoxinMoxin]

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so my organic chemistry professor drops a test and we have three tests total

I made a 56 on my first test where the highest in the class was a 93 and the lowest was a 30.

Now for the last exam I sort of crammed but my next exam is on the 14th of October and I want to make an A on it. I mean I do not even know if it possible but I have started studying and I do an hour a day. Here are the topics we are going to cover:

material we are covering = stereochemistry, organic reactions, alkenes, alkynes, reduction of alkenes, hydrogenation of oils, reduction of alkynes, epoxidation, radical addition reaction to double bonds, and polymers/polymerization.

It is saturday and I have studied for two hours, basically just reviewed cationic polymerization, electrophilic addition reactions and ring expansion. Everything we have taken notes on I have reviewed.

How can I best study for the test coming up to the point where I can pull an A?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Do the problems!!!!

 

[CodeBlu]

so my organic chemistry professor drops a test and we have three tests total

I made a 56 on my first test where the highest in the class was a 93 and the lowest was a 30.

Now for the last exam I sort of crammed but my next exam is on the 14th of October and I want to make an A on it. I mean I do not even know if it possible but I have started studying and I do an hour a day. Here are the topics we are going to cover:

material we are covering = stereochemistry, organic reactions, alkenes, alkynes, reduction of alkenes, hydrogenation of oils, reduction of alkynes, epoxidation, radical addition reaction to double bonds, and polymers/polymerization.

It is saturday and I have studied for two hours, basically just reviewed cationic polymerization, electrophilic addition reactions and ring expansion. Everything we have taken notes on I have reviewed.

How can I best study for the test coming up to the point where I can pull an A?

Practice questions. If the test is multiple choice, practice finding the answer before looking at the answer choices. Organic is not hard, cuz usually molecules look big and scary, when all that happens is an -OH is reduced (LOOK AT FUNCTIONAL GROUPS!!!)

 

[deleted357625]

just study man, i had my first test the other day. I felt contempt, hopefully i pulled a B at the least.

 

[BoxinMoxin]

I don't know how to get practice, the way he does things in class is completely different than how the book does the problems.

Thing is I am just reading over my notes and recopying them to get a better understanding.

 

[Doctor246853]

Do the problems!!!!

This is true for everything. From college algebra to physics to organic chem 2. Do problems! Do the problems in your book. Google some problems. Make up so problems. Along with your studying, do problems!
"I got 99 problems but a chick aint one"-Jay Z...thats fine to think like that, just be sure a few of your problems are chem based...

 

[orthomyxo]

Thing is I am just reading over my notes and recopying them to get a better understanding.

That's just a waste of time.

Just because your professor does problems differently than the book doesn't mean you have to do them the same way.

 

[BoxinMoxin]

I have done in chapter problems but they seem so freaking easy compared to the ones he puts up.

 

[aSagacious]

If you can find a cheap version of this book, it's got a great set of practice problems that carried me through orgo and the MCAT. (Don't waste your money on the textbook if you already have one, just get the solution manual)

Organic Chemistry, 8th Ed. - McMurry

 

[moose stuff]

As I've advised before, trample the weak, hurdle the dead.

 

[418865]

Have you contacted your professor yet? The exact same thing you told us..you should tell that to your professor. S/he will gladly (unless the prof is a total douche) help you identify what you might have done wrong and how you can improve on it for the next exam. But above all..I see a lot of people trying to memorize ochem..just "understand" it at the 'exchange of electron level'. Ochem is really all about pushing electrons (i think there's abook called that right? i heard that's beneficial so you may wanna try that too).

but yeah as others have suggested..problems is the key. ask your prof and s/he can help you find the problems too..

 

[elblackwell]

I have done in chapter problems but they seem so freaking easy compared to the ones he puts up.

have you tried asking him for harder problems? I used to ask my teachers for harder problems or a more helpful book. My prof gave me what he considered a good textbook and problem sets that he gave classes a while back. They were very difficult, but they def. prepared me for his tests.
Also, it's very helpful to learn the basic concepts regarding why reactions work (thermodynamics, kinetics, electron delocalization, resonance,etc...). A lot of O-Chem is just variations on a few basic ideas.

 

[Cerena]

Also, it's very helpful to learn the basic concepts regarding why reactions work (thermodynamics, kinetics, electron delocalization, resonance,etc...). A lot of O-Chem is just variations on a few basic ideas.

+1!!!
Understanding these concepts is key to success in ochem!

 

[BoxinMoxin]

tomorrow I will return to this site and recite these concepts to you guys, just describe them to you and you will judge how well I have described them

 

[kexy]

I felt contempt

Freudian slip?

 

[Godric]

I tell everyone that I know to

1. Buy Organic Chemistry as a second language, read it , do every problem in it.

2. Also read your text book (not everything is in the second language book)

3. Do every hw problem, and check the solutions and understand why its right and why its wrong.

I used to redo all the hw from every chapter 2 days before my orgo exams. Honestly orgo is fun and its a highly enjoyable class, but it does require work at first and then it starts to become normal (I miss orgo *sighs*) .

Also maybe 1 hour a day isnt enough time (or 2 hours on the weekend). Maybe you should think about increasing the time to 2-3 hours per day. And lastly enjoy organic chem, you will severely miss it after its over 🙁

edit: start a list of reactions and on the side put the mechanism, and underneath put any details (such as cis/trans, etc).
Also its key you understand what topics led you to do poorly on the first exam. You need to identify them and address those issues, and master them ! Everything in orgo comes back, you build upon everything you learn.

 

[Chir0nex]

A great way to test your knowledge is to sit with a partner and go through an entire reaction explaining what happens in each step and why it happens that way. If you can explain how and why each reaction runs you can pretty much handle any problems involving them.

Also, don't do all the problems for a chapter as soon as you have read it, and don't do them all at once. It is way to easy to just go on autopilot for repetetive problems, since most of the time the end of chapter stuff all follows the same pattern. Mix up your problems so you can't do it all at once.

 

[typicalindian]

read the book
read the lecture notes
do the practice problems
do the practice problems again
do the practice exams

 

[Slack3r]

Get off SDN
Study
????
Profit

 

[Doctor246853]

Get off SDN
Study
????
Profit

Easier said than done.

 

[DrStraggler]

I don't get the point of this post...You're wasting a huge chunk of prep time on SDN.
Honestly, if I'd gotten a bad grade on a test, and another one was coming up, I'd be glued to my textbook.

You're not going to get advice from anyone here that's different from what you already know. Do the problems...over and over and over and over and over until you're somewhat comfortable with it.


Other than that...if you don't already, make some flashcards. They are awesome! You learn while you write them, and while you're flipping through them.

 

[Doctor246853]

I don't get the point of this post...You're wasting a huge chunk of prep time on SDN.
Honestly, if I'd gotten a bad grade on a test, and another one was coming up, I'd be glued to my textbook.

You're not going to get advice from anyone here that's different from what you already know. Do the problems...over and over and over and over and over until you're somewhat comfortable with it.


Other than that...if you don't already, make some flashcards. They are awesome! You learn while you write them, and while you're flipping through them.

All of this. Especially the last sentence. People like to buy flash cards but writing it yourself helps ALOT. Look at me giving advice and I should be studying for a psyc test on monday.🙄 Maybe just a few more minutes of sdn....

 

[Flasheh]

material we are covering = organic reactions

Can you explain this one a little further? It seems like a very broad topic.

Best advice:

But above all..I see a lot of people trying to memorize ochem..just "understand" it at the 'exchange of electron level'. Ochem is really all about pushing electrons

Also, it's very helpful to learn the basic concepts regarding why reactions work (thermodynamics, kinetics, electron delocalization, resonance,etc...). A lot of O-Chem is just variations on a few basic ideas.

A great way to test your knowledge is to sit with a partner and go through an entire reaction explaining what happens in each step and why it happens that way. If you can explain how and why each reaction runs you can pretty much handle any problems involving them.

 

[GassmanMD]

I tutor organic chemistry in the LA/OC area, so if you think I can help, PM me.

 

[StudyShy]

Your next test isn't until the 14th of October? Lucky! Our second on is this Thursday. 🙁

Study hard. SDN less.

 

[Cerena]

I'm actually an organic chemistry TA (have been for the last few years) and I'm making a big blog post about how to study for the test! I'll link you all when I'm done, if you'd like 🙂

 

[StudyShy]

I'm actually an organic chemistry TA (have been for the last few years) and I'm making a big blog post about how to study for the test! I'll link you all when I'm done, if you'd like 🙂

👍

 

[Cerena]

👍

Great, and just so I have an idea, what concepts are you studying in Ochem I? (Just tell me the numbers)

1 Introduction and Review

2 Structure & Bonding

3 Structure and stereochemistry of alkanes

4 Overview of Chemical Reactions

5 Stereochemistry

6 Alkyl Halides, Nucleophilic Substitutions and Eliminations

7 Structures and Synthesis of Alkenes

8 Reactions of Alkenes

9 Alklynes

16 Aromatic Compounds

17 Reaction of Aromatic Compounds

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Great, and just so I have an idea, what concepts are you studying in Ochem I? (Just tell me the numbers)

1 Introduction and Review

2 Structure & Bonding

3 Structure and stereochemistry of alkanes

4 Overview of Chemical Reactions

5 Stereochemistry

6 Alkyl Halides, Nucleophilic Substitutions and Eliminations

7 Structures and Synthesis of Alkenes

8 Reactions of Alkenes

9 Alklynes

16 Aromatic Compounds

17 Reaction of Aromatic Compounds

I always find it odd when a Orgo 1 class doesn't cover IR,NMR, and MS. My school finishes orgo 1 with those and then starts off with Aromatic chem in orgo 2.

 

[NewYorker9]

I tell everyone that I know to

1. Buy Organic Chemistry as a second language, read it , do every problem in it.

2. Also read your text book (not everything is in the second language book)

3. Do every hw problem, and check the solutions and understand why its right and why its wrong.

I used to redo all the hw from every chapter 2 days before my orgo exams. Honestly orgo is fun and its a highly enjoyable class, but it does require work at first and then it starts to become normal (I miss orgo *sighs*) .

Also maybe 1 hour a day isnt enough time (or 2 hours on the weekend). Maybe you should think about increasing the time to 2-3 hours per day. And lastly enjoy organic chem, you will severely miss it after its over 🙁

edit: start a list of reactions and on the side put the mechanism, and underneath put any details (such as cis/trans, etc).
Also its key you understand what topics led you to do poorly on the first exam. You need to identify them and address those issues, and master them ! Everything in orgo comes back, you build upon everything you learn.

exactly what I did, helped a lot with reviewing if nothing else

 

[orthomyxo]

I always find it odd when a Orgo 1 class doesn't cover IR,NMR, and MS. My school finishes orgo 1 with those and then starts off with Aromatic chem in orgo 2.

n = 1, my class taught those things in orgo 2. In fact, I find it odd that they would teach IR, NMR, and MS for the less complex molecules.

 

[Cerena]

I always find it odd when a Orgo 1 class doesn't cover IR,NMR, and MS. My school finishes orgo 1 with those and then starts off with Aromatic chem in orgo 2.

Yeah, that's exactly how it was when I took it.
Now, at my school, they're doing something kind of funky: teaching first years spectroscopy? Which kills them, and they don't retain anything from it, so it seems.

 

[Morsetlis]

You will forget it all by the time med school starts.

 

[Sesom]

Organic Chemistry As a Second Language was mentioned. I found this book to really help me undertstand concepts. Also doing the problems in the textbook is helping. My first test is this Friday so I can't say I have had any success yet but I am getting it down so far.

 

[deleted357625]

i just gotta B on my first exam. found out today... 👎thumbup:

 

[Sesom]

All of this. Especially the last sentence. People like to buy flash cards but writing it yourself helps ALOT. Look at me giving advice and I should be studying for a psyc test on monday.🙄 Maybe just a few more minutes of sdn....

I'd just like to point out that flash cards are only a good idea if you are doing them ahead of time. If you start them too late they are more of a waste of time vs other study methods.

 

[cyron1]

hehehe

 

[Cerena]

You will forget it all by the time med school starts.

Unless you're an ochem TA 🙂
Or, end up enjoying ochem and taking it in your later years.
(back to writing... )

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

n = 1, my class taught those things in orgo 2. In fact, I find it odd that they would teach IR, NMR, and MS for the less complex molecules.

The basic principles of spectroscopy don't change with increasing complexity of the molecules. It's still about functional groups, splitting patterns, and integration. All of which can be easily taught in the context of less complex molecules and then applied later to complex ones like multi-substituented benzenes.

Yeah, that's exactly how it was when I took it.
Now, at my school, they're doing something kind of funky: teaching first years spectroscopy? Which kills them, and they don't retain anything from it, so it seems.

I don't know why it would kill them. Unless it's horribly taught and they don't actually practice it.


[Edit] : Regardless, we both pretty much start NMR at relatively the same point. Late Orgo 1 v.s Early Orgo 2. And then keep doing it throughout Orgo 2.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

I got a 75 on mines, gave a good amount of E.C. though that got me to an 80.
My next is Oct 25 which gives me a load of time to study for it.
For the first test I did almost all the problems, but I neglected to focus on the PKA table (there were 4 questions) andI got all of those wrong. Had I studied and did the problems and got them right, I would've ended up with a 93. 🙁 Oh well, Study harder next time.

 

[Cerena]

I don't know why it would kill them. Unless it's horribly taught and they don't actually practice it.

Yup.
(Taught in first year general chem, rushed, and ineffectively).
I think the best time to learn is late Ochem I.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Yup.
(Taught in first year general chem, rushed, and ineffectively).
I think the best time to learn is late Ochem I.

Oh, I misunderstood you. I thought you meant Organic chemistry 1 students, not general chemistry students. I actually don't even see where you could actually fit the subject into the entire subject since general chemistry is not about individual reactions, but rather the physical aspects of all reactions.

 

[Cerena]

Oh, I misunderstood you. I thought you meant Organic chemistry 1 students, not general chemistry students. I actually don't even see where you could actually fit the subject into the entire subject since general chemistry is not about individual reactions, but rather the physical aspects of all reactions.

Sorry for the misunderstanding!

 

[BoxinMoxin]

did not know this thread was there lol, thank god!

anyways, test is monday, I really want to know what I can do between now and then to set myself up for an A, I studied nearly all day today

material we are covering = stereochemistry, organic reactions, alkenes, alkynes, reduction of alkenes, hydrogenation of oils, reduction of alkynes, epoxidation, radical addition reaction to double bonds, and polymers/polymerization.