Just failed my Chem midterm...

[RWT]

I took my first chem midterm (and first midterm as a college student) a few days ago, and failed it. While my entire class did not fare much better than I, I have passed feeling sorry for myself and am now determined to start changing my study habits so that this won't happen again.

For the last midterm, I had put in a lot of effort and hours, but for some reason, I'm obviously not doing something that I need to in order to succeed. My next chem midterm is in a month, and I am already started to prepare for it... Do any of you have any study tips for me? Any help is greatly appreciated. 🙂 Thank you!

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[WinterLights]

I took my first chem midterm (and first midterm as a college student) a few days ago, and failed it. While my entire class did not fare much better than I, I have passed feeling sorry for myself and am now determined to start changing my study habits so that this won't happen again.

For the last midterm, I had put in a lot of effort and hours, but for some reason, I'm obviously not doing something that I need to in order to succeed. My next chem midterm is in a month, and I am already started to prepare for it... Do any of you have any study tips for me? Any help is greatly appreciated. 🙂 Thank you!

If your professor has practice exams that they have personally written, make sure to utilize them. While you read, make sure to quiz yourself periodically over what you have just read. I find that helps a lot more than just reading and then moving on. Hope this helps, and good luck.

 

[jr doctor in sd]

No worries i just screwed mine up last tues. But i didnt read 2/3 chapters or do the hw for those 2 chapters. Id read EVERYTHING in the book, do all problems, go to office hours, and re-read if you're like me n hate chem...that way u know it so well nothing can catch you offguard

 

[WinterLights]

No worries i just screwed mine up last tues. But i didnt read 2/3 chapters or do the hw for those 2 chapters. Id read EVERYTHING in the book, do all problems, go to office hours, and re-read if you're like me n hate chem...that way u know it so well nothing can catch you offguard

Its hard to excel in something that you hate. You have to find an aspect of chemistry that you enjoy and use it as motivation to do well in the class. That is if the fear of getting a B or worse isn't motivation enough.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Wait for the professors explanation on the curve before you do anything. In my experience, the entire class (at the end) is placed on a bell curve, and adjusted so the class average is around an 80%. So it is important to look at the class as a whole when getting a test back. If you got a 50%, but the average on the exam (note: normally exams aren't curved individually ... but the entire class is at the end. Professors don't like when you adjust the average on the test to an 80% and figure out your potential score from there because everything could change after the final -from my experience at least) was a 35% ... you shouldn't do anything crazy. If you got a 50% and the average was an 85% ... then you should talk to the professor.



600th post 👍 👍 😍

 

[HumidBeing]

Do ALL of the practice problems in the book as you go. Don't wait until right before a test. Buy a solution manual if you don't have one, so that you can check your work.

Make sure that you understand each section thoroughly before going into the next.

Read the assigned text before lecture, if you aren't already doing that. If there is anything that isn't perfectly clear, you will know to pay extra attention to that part in class, and you will be able to ask better formed questions of the prof or TA.

Just take it one step at a time. Chemistry is one of those classes where success comes through doing lots of problems.

 

[RWT]

Just wanted to reply to all of your great advice; I waited and saw that my prof did curve the scores, and so I didn't do as terribly as I thought I did. I've tried a little bit of everything everyone has suggested, but in the end, I think I've found my own special way of doing things; do the reading ahead of time, do all my hw problems, and most importantly, just making it a priority that I learn the material as it is being presented instead of trying to cram for it in the last week before midterms. Anyway, just wanted to extend my thanks to all the advice! 🙂

 

[Ella Shepherd]

Just wanted to reply to all of your great advice; I waited and saw that my prof did curve the scores, and so I didn't do as terribly as I thought I did. I've tried a little bit of everything everyone has suggested, but in the end, I think I've found my own special way of doing things; do the reading ahead of time, do all my hw problems, and most importantly, just making it a priority that I learn the material as it is being presented instead of trying to cram for it in the last week before midterms. Anyway, just wanted to extend my thanks to all the advice! 🙂

Good for you! 🙂 I'm really happy you're doing better. 🙂 Rock on! LOL 😀

 

[Integra99]

Just wanted to reply to all of your great advice; I waited and saw that my prof did curve the scores, and so I didn't do as terribly as I thought I did. I've tried a little bit of everything everyone has suggested, but in the end, I think I've found my own special way of doing things; do the reading ahead of time, do all my hw problems, and most importantly, just making it a priority that I learn the material as it is being presented instead of trying to cram for it in the last week before midterms. Anyway, just wanted to extend my thanks to all the advice! 🙂

I'm glad it turned out well. Don't procrastinate, stay organized, and the plan you laid out is a great way to do well. It's good that you got a little jolt your first semester so it gets you into gear, better than on something major. Learn from it and make yourself proud.

 

[Dendrite]

Just wanted to reply to all of your great advice; I waited and saw that my prof did curve the scores, and so I didn't do as terribly as I thought I did. I've tried a little bit of everything everyone has suggested, but in the end, I think I've found my own special way of doing things; do the reading ahead of time, do all my hw problems, and most importantly, just making it a priority that I learn the material as it is being presented instead of trying to cram for it in the last week before midterms. Anyway, just wanted to extend my thanks to all the advice! 🙂

Eureka! I think you've got it. Just keep up that strategy and you'll be fine.