<p>I currently have a 51% in honors chemistry, and the semester is now halfway over. I'm terrified about failing this class. I feel like I never understand enough to do well on the tests, and the teacher seems to make the tests intentionally very difficult. I got a 30% on the last test. I can't afford to fail this class, and I know my chances at a great college and a high GPA will be ruined if I do. What can I do to master the material when studying the notes and textbook doesn't seem to work? I'm weak in math and science, but I desperately need to ace every test for the rest of this semester. What can I do? Would buying an AP Chem prep book help? Are there any resources you've found helpful in doing well in chemistry? Please help.</p>
<p>Go to your teacher and talk to them. Ask them for help. Ask them how other successful students study. Ask if they know of any tutors. Start reading the chapters in the book. Do all the practice problems in the book. It might not hurt to get extra books like AP Chem prep book.</p>
<p>Try to figure out why you got questions wrong? Had you not seen the material? Did you forget it? Not know how to apply it?</p>
<p>How are you studying? How long are you studying?</p>
<p>Clearly you aren’t going to solve this on your own, you need some sort of help beyond a book. An AP Chem book may overcomplicate the subject. See your teacher, hire a tutor, join a study group, or preferably, a combination of them all. Also try looking at something like the Khan Academy videos on chemistry, but don’t rely on those exclusively - you need to get into a situation where you’re getting live feedback from other people so they can instantly point out your mistakes.</p>
<p>I suspect you’re one of those students who learns by brute force and just repeats the material back, when a subject like chemistry requires you to understand the material and apply it to problems you’ve never seen before. You probably need to change your study habits, but you’re unaware of how to do that. Seek outside help immediately and your teacher needs to be one of those sources.</p>
<p>What are your weaknesses? Are you doing equations yet? Having trouble memorizing properties of the elements? Not clear on the different types of bonds or orbitals?</p>
<p>I’ve missed a lot of class due to having to leave early for tennis games.I don’t have a good understanding of stoichiometry, which is what the most recent test was on. I have a terrible memory,and I’m very weak in math and science. We’re starting orbitals this week. I’ve been crazy busy lately, but I’ve tried to put in several hours of studying for the tests. I basically forgot everything I’d learned as soon as the test began. I ran out of time and just bubbled in ‘C’ for the rest of the answers );</p>
<p>You should be tutored for every class you miss, at least! Your teacher may not have sympathy for someone who misses class for a sport… You need to make an appt. with the teacher, explain your tennis schedule and your problems with the material and study strategies. You need him on your side…now!
I’m not sure this is a lack of memory or weakness in math and science, as much as it is a lack of effort (excusable or not) in this class…please catch this before it is lost… Good luck!</p>
<p>KHAN ACADEMY. Seriously. The answer to all problems. Also, for stoich the key is to not try to memorize things, but to really work on problem solving skills and applying those skills. It’s not something that you can cram on, but spend a little time every day just working on balancing problems and stoich problems. Stoich is actually one of the most fun parts of chemistry, but it is definitely challenging for those students that have gotten by with just memorizing factual information for most of their school career</p>
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<p>As they say on Mythbusters, well there’s your problem.</p>
<p>You really have a choice, tennis or a good chemistry grade. Or giving something else up to make up the lost time. Or possibly reschedule your classes so you’re missing something easier to make up.</p>
<p>Reminds me of the kids I taught once. “We don’t have time for homework, we have to do the ECs that’ll get us into college.”, second only to “Why do I have to take physics and chemistry? I’m going to be a doctor.”</p>
<p>Sorry, I forgot to mention that the tennis season ends tomorrow! So that aspect won’t be an issue anymore</p>
<p>Yes, but you’ve dug yourself a huge hole, as what you now don’t understand will continue to plague you throughout chemistry. Dedicate yourself to catching up and you might be able to pull it out.</p>
<p>Let this be a lesson and when tennis or another sport roll around again, either schedule around it or don’t let it interfere with your school work. Unless you plan on being recruited for tennis, school work needs to come first.</p>
<p>Some things to do…stop leaving class for tennis (time to prioritize academics ) or don’t leave early unless you can sit in on another class with the same teacher that day, talk to your teacher and see if he/she can give you some extra help after school, talk to your guidance counselor and see if maybe you can switch into non-honors chemistry, get a tutor, look at Khan Academy’s offerings for chemistry</p>