<p>how do you study for chem tests that are practically impossible?</p>
<p>like it covers more than lectures, labs, and the textbook</p>
<p>This is a pretty vague question…</p>
<p>For GenChem, nothing should be very difficult…learn the theories (i.e. acid-base, electronegativity, whatever).</p>
<p>For Ochem, all you can do is go over your notes, learn mechanisms inside and out, read the textbook, do practice problems, and (if you really need to…) build models.</p>
<p>If Pchem, you die! Seriously, that class is rough.</p>
<p>Lab stuff you should have learned while doing your labs.</p>
<p>Read the entire chapter(s) in the text-most people don’t do this. For stuff like acid/base equilibria, do as many extra problems as you can find.</p>
<p>Do you go to washU? The genchem tests here are pretty hard.</p>
<p>I go to Middlebury; it’s insane.</p>
<p>Read not only the assigned text books. Read anything.</p>
<p>Have you talked to the professor? Odds are that he or she doesn’t think there’s stuff on the tests that isn’t in the assigned reading, isn’t in the lectures, and isn’t in the labs. It’s possible that you’re not wringing every last thing of value out of one of those things, and getting an idea of where the stuff that’s totally unfamiliar to you actually is would give you an idea of where you need to improve.</p>
<p>claire18 has a good point, though. Finding other writers who’ve covered the same material, but with different emphases and different language choices can make a huge difference.</p>
<p>I’ve read notes for various chem textbooks too and did all the odd probs (with explanations)</p>
<p>You guys have time to read material on top of what’s already assigned…? That’s ridiculous.</p>
<p>I have time…it’s just at like 2-3am.</p>
<p>Chemistry can be difficult. I read the chapter in the book, went to every lecture and took good notes in addition making a copy of the powerpoint notes he showed us. Do all the practices problems that he assigns. I also got [url=<a href=“http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Schaums-Outline-of-College-Chemistry/Jerome-Laib-Rosenberg/e/9780071476706/?itm=1]this[/url”>http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Schaums-Outline-of-College-Chemistry/Jerome-Laib-Rosenberg/e/9780071476706/?itm=1]this[/url</a>] book and read through it and did the practice problems in it. There was another teacher at my school and I went to her website and downloaded her powerpoints and practice problems. When I started actually doing all those things, I started doing much better on the tests (too bad I started too late!)</p>
<p>Time management is the key word. I read in breaks. I read while watching TV. There are books in my bath room, my kitchen, my handbag - it’s not about reading everything sentence by sentence. It’s about getting an overview.
And, if you don’t understand something, try another author. It saves a lot time..</p>
<p>I would say stop trying to do everything. Do less work, but understand concepts very well. You can derive or figure out just about anything if you work fast enough on the test.</p>
<p>You can’t. Theres no point because the tests are IQ based. So if you’re not smart you can’t ace it.</p>
<p>What do you mean by impossible? Too hard? Too much to memorize? Too many questions on topics outside of your curriculum?</p>
<p>A lot of time professors are trying to see if you can apply what you know to situations you have never encountered. Always look at what is given and what is similar to things that you have seen before and attempt to apply the same principles.</p>
<p>covers more than the lectures, labs, and textbook? doubtful.</p>
<p>Right. You may be focusing on the wrong parts of the lectures or textbook. Like I said, don’t get too caught up with learning all the specifics about everything.</p>
<p>i go to ohio state university and in my gen chem classes it was pretty much accepted everyone got C’s in them their freshman year. For organic chemistry i memorized so much, and i got A’s in all 4 of the ochem classes i took but it was tons of studying like 4 hours a day a week before the test. wait till you get to biochemistry it makes gen chem seem easy</p>
<p>You memorized your way through orgo? Goddamn, that must have been hell.</p>