One of the most popular pre-university qualifications in Malaysia is the STPM. It prepares students for tertiary studies, and chemistry is one of the most popular subjects taken. Chemistry is not only one of the most important subjects for students that come from the science stream but it is also known as one of the most difficult subjects offered in STPM.
To gain a thorough understanding of this subject, it's crucial to adopt a well-planned and strategic approach to your learning and studying techniques. In this article, we will explore a variety of straightforward yet powerful strategies that can enhance your preparation and boost your chances of success in the STPM chemistry exam. We will delve into methods that not only help you grasp complex concepts but also manage your time effectively and optimise your study sessions for maximum retention.
Understand Your STPM Chemistry Syllabus
This has got to be the most important step when it comes to learning and understanding your chemistry paper. A subject’s syllabus is essentially a roadmap of the subject. It not only provides students structure but also enables them to understand what is expected of them. By learning this, they will be able to focus on what is important and plan their studies properly.
The STPM chemistry syllabus will also allow students to prioritise their assessments as there will be details on their marking scheme included in their syllabus. This will help students strategise accordingly.
On top of this, there will also be a list of recommended resources together with readings and materials that can help students understand their subjects better.
If you are faced with a situation where you are unsure about what is listed and stated in your syllabus, you can always approach your chemistry teacher or tutor to help you understand them better.
There are a few major topics which are covered in the STPM chemistry syllabus which we have listed below.
Physical Chemistry
Physical chemistry is a branch of chemistry that combines physics as well as chemistry. This part of chemistry focuses on concepts and looks at the changes of substances. Some topics that fall under physical chemistry are thermodynamics, kinetics and equilibrium
Inorganic Chemistry
Inorganic chemistry is chemistry that deals with inorganic compounds. This part of chemistry not only looks at properties and reactions but also the structure as well as elements of compounds.
Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry on the other hand focuses on the examination of carbon-containing compounds. Students will learn about many functional groups that fall under organic chemistry and how they behave chemically.
Analytical Chemistry
Analytical chemistry is a tad bit different than what was described in the others above. This section looks at the methods as well as techniques that are used when it comes to analysing chemical compounds.
In order for you to be successful in your endeavour to ace your chemistry subject, you must get to know and understand all that we have listed above. With the help of what we have mentioned above should give you a rough idea of how to strategise using your STPM chemistry syllabus.
Study Strategies
Study Plan
To achieve success in your STPM subjects as well as other courses, begin your preparation early and devise a strategic approach to thoroughly understand the syllabus. A fundamental step in this process is to create a study schedule. Start by listing all the topics included in your STPM chemistry syllabus and breaking them down into manageable sections. This organised method will help ensure that you cover all necessary subjects comprehensively before your examinations.
Practice
Another strategy you can use is to make sure you practice past year questions as much as you can. This will not only reinforce the theories and concepts you have learnt but also enhance your chemistry skills while simultaneously familiarising yourself with the format you will be faced with during your examination.
Resources
Always remember to not rely on just one resource. Make sure to use multiple resources. More often than not, students tend to rely solely on textbooks. While textbooks are good and reliable, there are other more fun and rich ways to help you with mastering chemistry. There are many resources available online from websites such as Khan Academy as well as YouTube that can help you tremendously in your goal to ace your STPM chemistry paper. Most of these resources are even free! Do not waste them and incorporate them into your revision so that you will gain an all-rounded understanding of chemistry and its contents, concepts as well as theories.
Study Resources for Your STPM Chemistry Subject
Textbooks
Textbooks are the most common resource that students will have available to them. Although STPM has no official textbooks recommended, your school should have a specific book they have chosen for their students. Use this as it will contain all the materials you will need not only to understand but to ensure that you do well in your STPM chemistry examination.
Online
In this day of technology, you should not discount finding materials that can help you in your STPM chemistry online. There are plenty of online resources that are not only available but also free. As we have mentioned earlier, there are many channels you can follow on YouTube that will help you with your chemistry examination. These videos are known to be fun as well as tailored specifically for STPM students.
Another website you should consider is Khan Academy. Khan Academy also has many subjects and lessons available for free and this includes chemistry. Another website you should visit is also chemguide. They have a comprehensive resource that is set in a way you will be able to understand the concepts in chemistry easily.
Study Groups
Study groups are an excellent way to share and enhance your learning experiences. When you have study groups, you will not only share the resources that are available with each other but you will also share your knowledge with your fellow students. This is an effective way to clarify doubts you all have while making the process of learning more engaging.
Tutoring
Another great way is to have a tutor. As you know, chemistry is a subject that is highly challenging. In order for you to learn and understand the fundamentals of chemistry you should consider hiring a tutor. Our website Superprof is a great way to find and hire a tutor that is suitable for you.
How to Prepare for STPM Chemistry?
Active Recall
One way to prepare yourself for your examination is to use the active recalling technique. This technique involves consistently recalling information from your memory. Practicing this will not only help improve your overall memory but it will also help you understand your chemistry materials better.
Spaced Repetition
Spaced repetition is another way to revise what you have learnt in your chemistry subject. In this technique, the key is gradually increasing intervals instead of cramming everything in one go or at the very last minute. This method is highly effective when it comes to committing what you have learnt to memory.
Mock Examinations
Another way to help you prepare for your examination is to conduct mock examinations for yourself. Simulate the environment of an actual examination and attempt questions, preferably past-year questions. This is one of the best ways to prepare yourself for your actual examination. This way will also help you with your time management during your examination which will benefit you tremendously on that day.
Stress Management
This tip is often forgotten but it plays a very big role for students and how well they perform in their chemistry examination. Because so much depends on their examination, a lot of students go through a lot of stress that affects them not only mentally but also psychically.
There are a few things you can do to avoid stress. The first is to make sure you study consistently throughout the time provided. Always prepare what you need to bring to the exam hall a day earlier. Your bag, your pencil case, identification. Have all of these prepared a minimum of a day earlier.
On the Day Itself
On the day itself leave your house early to get to the exam hall. Bring all the materials needed for the test such as stationery and calculators. Make sure to read through your examination paper to ensure you have been provided with the correct question papers and allocate your time accordingly.
We believe with all of these, you will do great in your examination.
If you are looking for chemistry lessons, you should visit Superprof. It is an online platform that connects qualified tutors with students. Our site and platform is user friendly so you will be able to find a tutor in no time.
We are dedicated to providing our students the best which is why all of our tutors are highly motivated, skilled, experienced and qualified. Our tutors are also dedicated as well as verified by our team. They have diverse experiences and we are sure they will be able to help their students reach the goals they set out for themselves.
Our tutors also offer their first classes for free so this allows both the tutor and the student to get to know each other and plan out their classes properly. This will ensure that both parties can manage each other’s expectations. This is a sure way to ensure that both the tutor and the student will be happy and work together towards acing their chemistry paper.
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