The Ultimate Guide to Conquering O Levels Chemistry
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It all started with a prank - a simple baking mentos and coca cola volcano that erupted in the face of my favourite Youtuber. Hahahah… pretty lame right. Jokes aside, I was genuinely hooked by this prank. How can two random junk-foods create something so exciting? That simple reaction sparked my curiosity to venture deeper into what else was possible. What other hidden reactions there were just waiting to be discovered in the world around me. When I entered secondary school, I had my first dance with Chemistry when we had our science laboratory experiments. We were tasked to mix 2 substances together over a flame and it would miraculously produce a pop sound.
(Fun fact: The pop sound indicates the presence of Hydrogen Gas)
The presence of these weekly experiments meant that Chemistry, for me, wasn’t just another subject anymore. It was an outlet full of great surprises right down to the atom. As I dug deeper, I realised that Chemistry isn’t just something that happens in the lab. It’s all around us - In our kitchens, the air we breathe and even inside our bodies. The more I learnt, the more questions I had. And so my love for Chemistry began…
This guide to conquering Chemistry in O levels isn’t just your typical read and forget kind of article. It’s more than that. Learning is a process. It’s meant to be enjoyable, not dreadful. Before you start tackling this challenge, learn to find joy in learning. Having the correct approach to revision is pivotal. It makes studying a whole lot easier.
My Secret
Let’s jump straight into it.
(Disclaimer: You can skip the first tip if you’ve read my Biology blog)
1# Study the Syllabus Document Carefully
Back then, I was fortunate enough to have an experienced Biology Teacher who introduced us to the O-levels syllabus document. I decided to apply the same approach to chemistry too, wondering if it would be as effective. I figured there was no harm in trying.
We’re often asked to carry that hefty 300-paged textbook to school and yet most of the content isn’t even directly tested. Most of the essential content is likely covered in your school’s notes—and the best part? They’re so much lighter and more concise. This perfectly illustrates my point: Make use of the syllabus document to make your own notes or supplement what’s missing in your school’s notes. It clearly outlines all the content knowledge that is required from all students helping you focus on what truly matters.
These are my notes for Structure and Bonding:
My notes are intentionally streamlined to include only the content that’s likely to be tested in exams. They are concise and extensively cover all the core details mentioned inside the Syllabus Document.
2# Have fun with Chemistry
Do you know what one ion said to another? I’ve got my ion you. 👀
The brutal truth is that Chem is Try. You’ve got to have the guts and grit to conquer it.
Chemistry often gets a bad rep as one of the toughest subjects among upper sec students. Many find it challenging particularly because it combines abstract concepts with lots of memorising. But here’s one thing: approaching Chemistry with a sense of curiosity and open mindedness can make all the difference.
Think of it like a puzzle. Each reaction, equation and concept is a piece that fits together to reveal a bigger picture. Try to think of your experiences in the lab or at home to reinforce what you’ve learnt. After all, Chemistry is all around us. Making real-world connections to what you are learning can help you appreciate the subject’s relevance and make it more enjoyable for you. Don’t be discouraged if you’ve been struggling and don’t get it all right on the first try. Chem, like any subject, requires lots of practice and patience. Embrace every learning moment as stepping stones towards achieving a better understanding. Move forward with a light-hearted mindset and rise up in the face of adversity. Remember—you’ve got this.
3# Understand clearly what you’ve learnt
Chem is an extremely fast-paced subject. You have to clear any misconceptions or doubts immediately otherwise you’ll find yourself threading down a slippery slope. I have to admit that the concepts and theory are not always straightforward. It requires you to put in the time and effort to read and understand how everything pieces together. Blindly memorising simply will not work for chemistry. In secondary school, every science is similar in a sense but they each have their uniqueness and require a different approach to tackling. Chem, unlike Bio, has extremely varying question types. In order to score the marks, you need to understand what the question is asking and give a response that hits the nail on its head.
For instance, both Graphite and Diamond have a Giant Molecular Structure. But in which situations do you use which element as an example for your explanation? That really depends on the question asked. Read and understand the scenario and other parts of the question. Is it better to use Graphite because it is a good conductor of electricity?
4# Come up with Acronyms to aid your memory
There are so many elements in Chemistry. So how do we remember all of them and in reality, do we even need to know all the elements?
Think of the chapter Metals. I’m sure you’re familiar with the reactivity series of metals table:
Potassium
Sodium
Calcium
Magnesium
Aluminium
Carbon
Zinc
Iron
Nickel
Tin
Lead
Hydrogen
Copper
Silver
Gold
To be frank, elements like tin and nickel are additional information that I included. They are not covered in the syllabus but it could still be tested in examinations hence it’s good to know them. It’s already tough to remember the metallic elements in the reactivity series, let alone their specific position within the table. Here’s an example of the acronym I used back in the day: Please stop calling me a carbon zinc, I nickel truly love Hydrogen, Copper, Silver, Gold (P.S. This may not be the best acronym available but it got me over the line. Use what works best for you)
My Revision Plan
You’re welcome to adjust the order of my revision plan, but I highly recommend following it as outlined, as I’ve carefully curated it for maximum effectiveness.
Annotate the Periodic Table
Personally, I printed out a physical copy of the periodic table. Another thing about Chemistry is the importance of identifying patterns between the elements.
Take “The Periodic Table” chapter for instance. You realise that as you move across the table from left to right, the elements decrease in their metallic properties. This links to the very first topic you learnt in chemistry, atomic properties! The number of protons increases across a period hence the attractive force between the nucleus and the valence electrons becomes stronger. It becomes harder for the atom to lose its valence electrons across a period.
Making these annotations can help you familiarise yourself with the commonly talked about elements as well as their properties and behavioural patterns. Aside from that, you can visualise the different groups of elements. One such group is Alkali Metals consisting of Lithium, Sodium etc. which is Group I of the periodic table.
Make your own notes according to the syllabus document
The syllabus document is your treasure map—be sure to follow it closely and organize your notes based on its contents. To streamline the process and save time, I’ve already compiled the notes into a Google document and transformed them into AI-powered flashcards for easy studying.
Active recall proved to be one of the most effective learning methods for me. It worked exceptionally well because it required me to actively retrieve information instead of passively reviewing it. By using my AI flashcards, I was able to regularly test myself on essential concepts, definitions, and processes, helping me pinpoint any weaknesses well ahead of the exam.
Another thing that really benefitted me was grouping up chapters that are related to one another and revising them all at once. This made chemistry more fun and relatable because you get to understand how exactly it all links together. For instance I would often revise Simple cells and Electrolysis together. Their similarities lie in their involvement in electrochemical processes where chemical energy and electrical energy interact.
Both processes use electrodes (anode and cathode) to facilitate the movement of electrons and ions. Oxidation occurs at the anode and reduction occurs at the cathode. These fundamental reactions are driven by electron transfer. While their purposes and energy directions differ, the underlying principles of ionic movement, electrode function, and redox reactions unify their mechanisms.
Complete the Ten Years Series (TYS) and Practice Papers
By now, if you’ve worked through several TYS papers, you’ve likely noticed that certain concepts or question types tend to appear repeatedly over the years. Recognizing these patterns can be a major advantage, as completing your TYS increases the chance of encountering similar questions in your exam—often with 2–3 questions covering the same or closely related concepts.
Additionally, practicing TYS and other papers serves another important purpose: it helps you become familiar with common question structures, making it easier to identify the expected responses and answer them confidently.
Here’s an example of a Halogens question:
“Describe and explain what will happen when bromine water is added to potassium iodide solution [2M]”
Answer: The Potassium Iodide solution will turn from colourless to brown. Bromine displaces iodine from potassium iodide. Bromine will be reduced to bromide ions and the iodide ions will be oxidised to iodine.
How do we know that Bromine will be reduced to bromide ions and that iodide ions would be oxidised to iodine? Well there are 2 ideas that you need to grasp.
A more reactive halogen can displace the halide of a less reaction halogen
Reactivity of halogens decreases going down Group 7 of the periodic table
Bromine is above Iodine in the Periodic Table hence bromine is more reactive than Iodine and bromine is able to displace iodide. In a similar vein, chlorine can displace bromide and iodide while iodine is unable to displace chloride and bromide. You can also think of it this way: a way more reactive halogen tends to be in the ‘reacted form’ (to be in the form of a halide). So a more reactive halogen would displace the halide of a less reactive halogen
Conclusion
Excelling in O-Level Chemistry goes beyond simply memorizing facts—it’s about adopting effective learning strategies, understanding fundamental concepts, and linking them together in a way that resonates with you. To achieve success, establish a structured revision plan and make full use of resources like the syllabus document, practice TYS papers, and techniques such as active recall. Remember, Chemistry is more than just a subject; it’s the study of the fundamental building blocks of matter and the reactions that drive the world around us.
And that wraps up my ultimate guide to conquering O-Level Chemistry! I hope you found it helpful, especially if you’re a Sec 4 student gearing up for the exam this year. Good luck!
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