After a week long of intensive and focus preparation, the Score 100% Chemistry MCQ Mastery Workshop for 2009 ‘O’ Level students was succesful completed yesterday. There were about 40 participants and we had great fun in the day-long intensive workshop which aimed to give them the final tool (and push) to “Up Their Chemistry Grades”!

Who says that coaching can only be effective in small group or individual? =) Certainly, we have proved it over and over again that with proper systems and a passionate / high energy coach (hee..that’s me for this workshop) – we can create a dynamic learning environment for the participants which can synergise their learning capacities and keep their interest and momentum going. I must certainly applaud my ex-Chemistry and Geography Sec Sch teachers that told me this. Of course, credit must go to my recent mentors (they are Gurus i must say) in personal developments and trainings. Thank you so much!

With the completion of this workshop, we (Winners Education Group) has done all we can for the 2009 “O” Levels batch. We wish you the best for your future Academic endeavours and development. And parents – thank you so much for the trust and beliefs! =)

Remember: “80% of the Success; Is just about taking the necessary Actions!”

PS: If your child (you) are interested to join our Dec Holidays Essential Concepts Revision Workshops (Chemistry & Math (A/E)) and 2010 Weekly Coaching Classes, please pre-register with us by clicking HERE. We will get back to you for individual assessment and suitability. Thks.Related Articles:

• O Level Chemistry Students: Thank You & All The Best!
• O Level Chemistry Essential Concepts Revision Workshop – Graduation Photos
• O Level Chemistry – A Brand New Year, A Brand New Beginning
• O Level Chemistry Intensive Revision Bootcamp – Graduation
• Back to 2008 GCE O Levels

At this point of writing, students in Singapore would have finished their 1st set of 2010 ‘O’ Level exam paper. Hope everyone reading this blog enjoyed yourself today.

(Photo courtesy of kevinkoonz)

For Chemistry, many of you should have finished revision by now. Let’s see what you should be doing before your chemistry paper.

1. Collect all the stationaries that you will need

a . Two sets of pen (ink or ballpoint based on your preference) – i mentioned “Two sets” because i realised a lot of students (especially girls) like to bring alot of pens of different colours and mechanism types – and when the examiner announce the start of paper – they are still choosing which pen to use!!! Gosh! Wrong focus!

b. Two sharp pencils for drawing diagrams which is very common in structured questions “Explain with the aid of a diagram….etc”.

c. An eraser (use a Hi-Polymer type) – which easily remove your graphite pencil mark. They are quite affordable these days

d. Ruler – Yes! for drawing diagrams as well as extrapolating date from graphs / charts accurately

e. Calculator – PLEASE bring along your calculator. Without it, you will have problem working effectively and efficiently on Mole Calculations – related question. Can i suggest that you either bring an extra calculator to exam, or alternatively change the batteries in your only calculator? You would not  want to work on your Mole Calculation question half-way and realised you are in trouble? The invigilators have NO extra calculator for you. I knew this because i was a victim during my schooling days and looked like a fool, sweating profusely when it happen.

f. A watch to time yourself – this is important! Exams does not just test you on your chemistry concepts and knowledge, but also how well you plan your strategies in exams. I reckoned it to be just like a soccer game with rules & regulations (in this case it is the time given to you). You need to plan your time well (i.e. strategies like how much time should be spend per question, before you move on).

2. The night before your Chemistry Paper

Remember to sleep early. Do not burn mid-night oil at this point cos it might back-fire on you. I can tell you this based on my personal experience during my University’s Chemistry Paper. There was this paper that i burn mid-night oil till 4am and when i lie on my bed, my head was so full that i did not manage to sleep properly till 7am, that i woke up and proceed to exam hall. The effect? Disastrous! Total blank out when i receive my paper. It was an ok paper but my head was like spinning and searching for answer – that i lost the whole paper. The result? I got a C- for it! Never in my University time that i score a C- in any Chemistry-based paper.

3. The morning before your Chemistry Paper

Some say have a good breakfast, but i think it may back-fire for some. Instead, i recommend students to take their normal breakfast (just like non-exam period) because our stomach and digestive system are acclimatised to it. Imagine you have a very nice and full western breakfast and when you take your Chemistry paper, you are so full to concentrate and worst still, you might need the toilet during the exam.

For those that are sensitive to lactose, perhaps you should change from coffee with milk, tea with milk, latte, etc to Black Coffe or Tea without milk or even plain milo.

Alright, with this post, i hope you are gear up for your Chemistry Paper!

All the best!

To Your Academic Success in Chemistry,

Sean ChuaRelated Articles:

• All The Best to Your Chemistry Paper 2: Theory Exams
• O Levels – Change in School Calendar in S’pore
• F-R-E-E O Level Chemistry Exam Questions
• O Level Chemistry Examination – Kick Start in 18 Days time
• O Level Chemistry Question – Separation / Gases

Error on Page 271 – under Electrolysis

Error on Page 393 – under Organic Chemistry

We have written to Marshall Cavendish to clarify these errors and their Pub Manager (Science) as well as Assistant Managing Editor has confirmed the validity of these errors, and corrections will be made in the next reprint.

At the same time, the Assistant Managing Editor has also been very kind to our students and readers of this chemistry blog – by informing us of other printing errors in the book, as indicated below:

Additional Error on Page 393 – under Organic Chemistry

On page 393, Figure 22.3. Methylpropane should end with the H atom instead of the carbon atom.
Some students thought it is 2-methylbutane instead.

Additional Error on Page 443 – under Organic Chemistry

On page 443, Exercise 25, Question 4, option B should be C3H6.

Additional Error on Page 305 – under Energy Changes

On page 305, Test Yourself, Question 1, delete ‘/mol’. It should read “… value in kJ, for the reaction.”

Hope this information helps.

PS: Let me know how you feel about it. I would love to hear from you.

To Your Academic Success in Chemistry,

SeanRelated Articles:

• More Error in Marshall Cavendish GCE ‘O’ Level “Chemistry Matters” Textbook – Part 2
• Error in Marshall Cavendish GCE ‘O’ Level “Chemistry Matters” Textbook – Part 1
• Chemistry Question – Intro to Organic Chemistry Part 1
• Penalty for using Correction Fluid or Tape in O Levels Examinations
• O Levels Chemistry 2008 Exam Question: Organic Chemistry in Paper 1 (MCQs)

Hope you are revising well for Chemistry Exams. In any case that you would like more challenging exam-based questions to discuss – check out the following questions on Salts!

Question 1:
Which of the following salts cannot be prepared by reacting a metal with a dilute acid?

A. copper(II) chloride
B. iron (II) chloride
C. magnesium sulfate
D. zinc sulfate

&

Question 2:
Which one of the following pairs consists of substances that produce a precipitate when their aqueous solutions are mixed?

A. sodium nitrate, barium chloride
B. sodium nitrate, silver sulfate
C. sodium sulfate, barium chloride
D. sodium chloride, barium nitrate

&

Question 3:
The reaction represented by the ionic equation:

Ba2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) –> BaSO4(s)

takes place readily when:

A. aqueous barium nitrate is added to aqueous sodium sulfate
B. molten barium sulfate is cooled until it solidifies
C. solid barium chloride is added to dilute sulfuric acid
D. solid barium sulfate is heated until it melts

All the best to your final revision for ‘O’ Level Chemistry Exams!

PS: I would love to hear from you on your preparation towards the exams. Hope this website helps you all this while.

Cheers,

Sean =)Related Articles:

• Chemistry Question – Qualitative Analysis / Preparing Salts / Precipitation
• O Level Chemistry – Physical & Chemical Properties of Alkalis
• O Level Chemistry Question – Preparation of Salts
• Chemistry Question – Solubility of Common Salts
• Chemistry Question – Qualitative Analysis

Students in Singapore taking GCE ‘O’ Levels Chemistry Exams and using Marshall Cavendish’s Chemistry Matters as Reference Textbook

Besides the error on Electrolysis Topic that we have posted earlier, there is another error spotted in Organic Chemistry. It is shown on page 393 under “Test Yourself 22.1 – Worked Example”.

As we all know, Carbon (C) is found in Group IV of the Periodic Table and has 4 valence electrons. As such, the maximum number of covalent bonds that a carbon atom can formed is 4!

Zoom into Hydrocarbons B and you realised that the 2nd carbon atoms (counting from right side of structure) have:

1 C=C bond

1 C-C bond

2 C-H bond

This gives the 2nd carbon atom 5 covalent bonds which is incorrect. Please note. The correct structure should have only 1 C-H bond, rather than 2. In that way, you can solve the question which test you on Isomerism in Organic Chemistry.

Note:

Looking at the total number of covalent bonds for all the carbon atoms in an organic compound is the step you should take each time when you draw out the structural formula.

Thank you – if you are one of the two students that broughtthis out for our attention. We appreciate it! =)

PS: Leave us a comment on how you feel about this blogpost and it’s information. We would love to hear from you.Related Articles:

• Chemistry Question – Intro to Organic Chemistry Part 1
• O Level Chemistry Question – Bonding & Structural Properties
• More Errors in Marshall Cavendish GCE ‘O’ Level “Chemistry Matters” Textbook – Part 3
• Difference between Atom, Molecule & Particle
• O Levels Chemistry Tips Blog Marathon – Day 4

Please note that there is a printing error in the chemistry textbook (third impression 2008) that many of you did not realised (just like many of my students, until recently).

The error in print is on Page 271 under the Chapter of “Electrolysis” in Chemistry Matters for Pure Chemistry syllabus.

In the Key Ideas which acts like sub-section summary, it states that “OH- ions will be discharged as oxygen gas. However, if a solution is concentrated in halide ions, the halogen gas will be produced.” – At The Cathode! This is certainly not true as we know that The Cathode in an electrolytic cell is always negative charged and Cations (+ve ions) are attracted towards it and will be selectively discharged.

At the anode which is positively charged, Anions (-ve ions) will be attracted to it and be selectively discharged. As such, the information that “H+ ions will be discharged…..” is also incorrect in the Key Ideas.

(Click on image to have a clearer view)

In view that many of you rely alot on the Key Ideas for summarising the chapter, please take note of this glitch when you are revising for your GCE ‘O’ Level Chemistry Examinations.

Hope this information helps.

PS: If you know of anymore errors in print in this textbook (or other chemistry textbook), feel free to share your information here. Readers (mostly students and educators) will be grateful to you.

PPS: We would certainly love to here from you on this!

Updates on 17th Oct: There is another error in the book on Organic Chemistry. Click here to find out!

Related Articles:

• O Level Chemistry – Products of Electrolysis of Molten Compound
• O Level Chemistry – Definitions of Electrolysis
• More Error in Marshall Cavendish GCE ‘O’ Level “Chemistry Matters” Textbook – Part 2
• More Errors in Marshall Cavendish GCE ‘O’ Level “Chemistry Matters” Textbook – Part 3
• O Level Chemistry – Strategies to Predict Products of Electrolysis for Aqueuous Solutions

Year 2009 had been an exciting year for us @ Winners Education Group.

We have conducted extensive series of Math (A- and E-Math) & Chemistry Workshops Mastery Workshops during the school holidays as well as our weekly coaching classes under Ultimate Leap Programme. Phew! With the last workshop on 7th November 2009 (Score 100% MCQ Mastery Workshop) for Pure Chemistry student, we will round up Year 2009 with all we can do for GCE ‘O’ Levels (IGCSE, IB and IP) students.

I would like to take this chance to thank all my chemistry students for their attention, laughter, fun and discussions for the past 10 months. I have enjoyed your company, and I hope you have enjoyed mine. Parents – thank you for all the trust and belief in our coaching methodologies and motivational/value set. It has been a pleasure working closely with you to help your child:

1. Gain back their interest in Chemistry
2. Build up their confidence academically
3. Improve their Chemistry Grades on a consistent basis

Let’s check out some of recent photos taken for our weekly coaching classes under Chemistry Ultimate Leap Prograame.

2009 Sec 3 Chemistry Class – Graduation Photo

2009 Sec 3 Chemistry Class – Focus Learning

2009 Sec 4 Thursday Chemistry Class – Graduation Photo

2009 Sec 4 Thursday Chemistry Class – Focus Learning

2009 Sec 4 Friday Chemistry Class – Graduation Photo

2009 Sec 4 Sunday Chemistry Class – Graduation Photo

Unable to see your face inside? Perhaps you attended our Mastery Workshops instead. Check out selective photos below from our 2009 Chemistry Mastery Workshops:

March 2009 Holiday Period

June 2009 Holiday Period

July/August 2009 Holiday Period

September Holiday Period

All The Best to your upcoming Chemistry Examinations! & Future Endeavours!

Cheers,

Sean Chua

Master Trainer for ChemistryRelated Articles:

• O Level Chemistry – A Brand New Year, A Brand New Beginning
• Successful Completion: O Level Organic Chemistry Mastery Workshop 2009
• Announcement: 2009 Chemistry Weekly Coaching Programme is Open for Registration
• Chemistry Dec Holiday Program for Sec 4 (2009): Essential Concepts Revision Workshops
• O Level Chemistry Essential Concepts Revision Workshop – Graduation Photos

Many of you are also having your ’study week’ where school lessons has finally ended and you are given the time (2 weeks) to sit down and thoroughly revise through your notes, books, and previous test/exam papers.

For GCE ‘O’ Level Chemistry Exams, you need to know the essential concepts well in order to score the marks you desire. Only about 15% of the exams will be based solely on memorising skills, etc. As such, it is important to know the topics well.

Furthermore, you will be seeing questions in Paper 2 (Written) where one question will be split into many other parts – and each part will test you on a certain concepts i.e. several topics will be tested in one question.

Previously, i have blog before on tips for revising for GCE ‘O’ Level Chemistry Examinations, and you can find them through the links below:

Revision Techniques

Essential Chemistry Exam Skills & Knowledge

How to Revise for a certain Chemistry Topic

Mindset to be the Top Student

How to beat Examination Period Stresses?

Significant figures for Questions related to Mole Calculations

Sulfur OR Sulphur?   Sulfuric Acid OR Sulphuric Acid?

In a few days time, i will share with you on TIPS on:

• How to Prepare Mentally and Physically for the Chemistry Exams
• Strategies for Doing the Chemistry Exam Papers

PS: If you have been revising and studying hard for your Chemistry all the while, but have yet to score the marks you desire – you might not have written what the examiners are looking out for in an answer OR you might have fallen into the trap of common misconceptions on certain chemistry concepts – that many students have. This book Up Your Chemistry Grades Now i have written in Aug 2009 will be a useful GEM to you!

PPS: The above revision tips works for other syllabus such as IGCSE, IB and IP programmes, as well as overseas basic chemistry courses.Related Articles:

• How to Revise for O Level Chemistry Effectively & Quickly
• GCE ‘O’ Level Chemistry Final Leap Programme – Final Revision
• Mid-Year Chemistry Exams (O Levels) – How to Revise Quickly & Effectively ?
• GCE O Level Chemistry Examinations – In 30 DAYS time!!!
• O Levels Chemistry Exams Revision – How to Revise Quickly & Effectively ?

Many students who ace Chemistry know the importance of MCQ (Paper 1), in fact many of them edge out their friends by doing exceptionally well for MCQ to achieve their As in O levels. Based on the information from previous years’ students, many smart and bright students did not Ace their chemistry exams because they lost marks in their Chemistry Paper 1 (MCQs). Generally they scored very well for their Chemistry Paper 2, but when they come to Paper 1 (MCQs), they just “killed” themselves!

Scoring 100% in Chemistry MCQ is definitely possible, in fact easy! if you know ‘THE HOW’.

HOWEVER…

Many many students fall into this trap: many have wrong beliefs & mindsets that MCQ

• is chicken-feet, the easiest paper for O levels
• requires hardly any preparation since they have already studied so hard for Paper 2 anyway

So they spent their available time during exam period after completing Paper 2 on 2nd Nov on activities that has no help in scoring the grades they desire.

MCQ results has a BIG Impact that can affect the overall Chemistry grade but many students fall into the trap of not taking the paper seriously.

If you want to ensure you get the grade you want for ‘O’ level Chemistry, you must CLICK HERE to read more!

Did I mention i am going to share with you 4 strategies on how you should prepare for your Chemistry MCQ to score 100%?

Good News: Early Bird Registration Starts Now >> CLICK HERE for more information

PS: Due to overwhelming response for this last workshop on 2009 ‘O’ Levels, we can only accept 3 more students! Registration will close without prior notice. Act now if you want to make a difference to your Chemistry Grades when you take back your O Level results in 2010.Related Articles:

• O Level Chemistry – Mini Series on Tough MCQs Part 1
• O Level Chemistry – Mini Series on Tough MCQs Part 4
• O Level Chemistry Questions: Acids, Bases & Salts
• 0 Level Chemistry – Preparation for 2009
• 2009 GCE O Level Examination Calendar (Tentative)

Let’s check out a series of multiple choice questions (MCQs) that were sent by my own chemistry students (under the weekly Ultimate Leap Programme). I have seen several students sending me similar questions lately but to be frank – they are not difficult to handle – but you do need to understand and know the basic essential concepts of those chemistry topics.

Let’s check out the email by this student:

Question 1:
Which compound contains both ionic and covalent bonds
a) sodium carbonate Na2CO3
b) Magnesium bromide MgBr2
c) dicholoromethane CH3Cl2
d) ethanoic acid CH3COOH

i forgot if i have learn this or learn how to find.

&

Question 2:
Compound X contains fluorine and one other element. Which of the following properties of X indicates most clearly that bonds in X are ionic
a) X conducts electricity when molten
b)X does not conduct electricity when molten
c) X is almost insoluble in water
d) X is a crystalline solid at room temperature

why is d not the answer D:

&

Question 3:
Which of the following reactions involving substance X does NOT indicate that X is an acid
a) X + KOH –> heat evolved
b) X + CuO –> salt and water
c) X + Fe –> H2 evolved
d) X + NH4Cl –> NH3 evolved

Is A the answer?

&

Question 4:
In which of the following cases would there be NO observable changes when gas X is reacted with aqueous solution Y?

Gas X                      Solution Y
a) CO2                       Calcium hydroxide
b) Ammonia              Hydrogen Chloride
c) Sulphur Dioxide    Acidified potassium dichromate (VI)
d) Chlorine                Iron(II) Sulphate
How to approach this type of questions to get the correct answer?

In the next blogposts, i will share with you more tricky Chemistry Examination Questions.

PS: if you have been studying very hard for your chemistry, but have yet to score the marks you deserved – it may be due to the fact that your concepts of chemistry are not crystal clear yet i.e. there are misconceptions (and thus mistakes and errors) that prevents you from scoring! You may not be answering to what the examiners are looking out for also – which are key words or phraes! The book i wrote last august Up Your Chemistry Grades Now will be able to address it.

PPS: If you usually fared well for your Chemistry Written Papers (Paper 2) but not your Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs Paper 1), it might be either your concepts (not strong) or exam strategies that causing it. Our last Chemistry Workshop (Score 100% Chemistry MCQ Mastery Workshop) in 2009 will be able to address this.

Stay Tuned for more! =)Related Articles:

• O Level Chemistry – Mini Series on Tough MCQs Part 3
• O Level Chemistry Essential Concepts Revision Workshop – Post Analysis Series – Part 1
• O Level Chemistry Essential Concepts Revision Workshop – Post Analysis Series – Part 3
• O Levels Chemistry Questions: More Challenging Exam-Based Questions
• Chemistry Question – Acids, Bases & Salts